Heartburn in Pregnancy
Pregnancy only lasts nine months and you want to try to enjoy to every moment because they do fly by very fast. In fact, you should plan to take photos of yourself and try to get out and about and experience the world as a pregnant woman. However, one of the things people don’t often explain to you about pregnancy until you’re already pregnant is that it is filled with various day to day ailments that can often seem like they’re robbing your of your joyful experience.
One ailment is heartburn. While many healthcare providers will tell you that your second trimester is when you will experience these things, many women experience the ailment all throughout the pregnancy. Having a basic understanding of what causes heartburn and constipation and tips on how to prevent it should help you get through those months a little easier.
Heartburn is caused by the build up of stomach acids that come into the throat and create that burning sensation. In pregnancy, this is usually caused by body changes and the fact that the baby pushes up on your stomach causes it to rush back up into your esophagus. Below are some tips you can follow in order to prevent heartburn:
• Eat small meals and eat them often.
• Eat and drink very slowly.
• Drink fluids an hour after having a meal, but if you need to drink with a meal just keep it to tiny sips.
• Eat less fried and fatty foods. Ice cream, pizza, chips, sausage, pastries, etc can all cause heartburn so keep them to a minimum.
• Take an antacid tablet with calcium if you think you will consume something spicy or some other food that will cause heartburn. Some brands that are safe in pregnancy include Rolaids and Tums. Buy the chewable tablets so you can carry them around with you and take them to work easily.
• Drink less coffee and soda. These beverages often have caffeine in them and caffeine causes heartburn.
• Be aware of other foods that cause heartburn like chocolate, spearmint, etc.
• Wearing loose fitting clothing will help your stomach from feeling squeezed which often causes those stomach acids to travel back up towards your chest.
• Don’t lie down immediately after a meal.
• Limit stress and situations that cause stress. Stress causes your whole body to be irritated and jumpy which can lead to heartburn. Just try to relax as often as possible.
The best thing about all this advice on heartburn is that you should be doing all these things anyway. Between eating lots of fruits and vegetables and avoiding fried foods not only will you have a healthier pregnancy but if you keep the habits up postpartum you are likely to feel more energized.
If all of the above things do not naturally help you reduce the heartburn you may be experiencing, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider soon. They can provide you with strong heartburn medicine that has been proven effective and safe during pregnancy.
