Pregnant women may at times feel some painful sensation on their chest and they usually refer to this as heartburn. This burning sensation may be happen when the valve that is located between the esophagus and the stomach does not function properly. The stomach acids may go back to the food pipes in this case. Heartburn in pregnancy may be expected because of the tendency of the progesterone hormone to relax muscles as well as this particular valve. When the stomach acids get into the esophagus, the linings are irritated.
Heartburn during pregnancy may likely happen more during the third trimester as the developing fetus puts more pressure on the stomach and the intestines which in turn may push the stomach acids back into the food pipes. Pregnant women may not be able to prevent the occurrence of heartburn during pregnancy but they can do something about it in order to lessen or minimize it.
Pregnant women should avoid eating foods or drinking beverages that may cause gastrointestinal distress such as carbonated drinks as well as alcohol. There are many kind of food that they need to stay away from or at least minimize their intake like caffeine, chocolate and also citrus fruits. In order to lessen the occurrence of heartburn during pregnancy, they are also advised to eat small portions of food but they can eat more frequently like small meals spread all throughout the day.
When eating, pregnant women need to chew their food properly and although they are advised to drink several glasses of water in a day, they should also avoid taking drinking large quantities of juices and other fluids especially with meals. This would enable them to lessen the sensations of heartburn during pregnancy. Pregnant women also need to have at least an hour or two after the last meal before they go to bed.
To decrease this chest pains brought about by heartburn during pregnancy, women may also try to sleep with their head elevated by using wedge pillows. This will help them keep the acids in the stomach and prevent it from returning to the esophagus. Pregnant women have to watch their weight gain so they would prevent obesity to occur as this can also contribute to heartburn during pregnancy.
There may be some over the counter remedies for heartburn during pregnancy but pregnant women have to ask for the advice of their doctors. They have to make sure that what they are taking is safe not only for themselves but for their babies as well. Heartburn during pregnancy may not be totally avoided but pregnant women can do some safe things in order to help themselves minimize its occurrence.
