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Heartburn is a common condition in pregnancy. This problem manifests itself as an unpleasant burning sensation in the esophagus. Unfortunately, some pregnant women struggle with this problem from the first weeks of pregnancy, and over time, heartburn only gets worse. Fortunately, the remedies for heartburn are simple and don’t hurt your baby.
Heartburn in pregnancy makes life difficult for many pregnant women. Most often, symptoms do not appear until late pregnancy. Heartburn is caused by progesterone, which makes the valve that obstructs the stomach much weaker than usual. In late pregnancy, this problem can also be aggravated by the growing uterus, which presses against the stomach from below.
Heartburn in pregnancy – symptoms
The symptoms of heartburn during pregnancy are similar to those of any other person. It is therefore a pain in the chest, an unpleasant burning sensation in the chest and / or throat at the end of a meal. Sometimes a pregnant woman also feels an acidic, salty liquid at the back of her throat and has difficulty swallowing.
Heartburn in pregnancy – causes
During pregnancy, the main cause of heartburn is high levels of progesterone and estrogen, which weaken the smooth muscles of the digestive tract. As a result, the muscle that separates the esophagus and stomach contracts. The escaping stomach acid irritates the delicate esophageal mucosa and an unpleasant burning sensation appears.
Symptoms especially intensify in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
Heartburn in pregnancy – treatment
Heartburn in pregnancy annoys almost every woman. Fighting it is not easy and it is often difficult to talk about complete elimination of symptoms. If we want to alleviate the burning, it is worth remembering a few simple rules that will help us control the problem. Pregnant women should:
- avoid overeating and overloading the stomach;
- choose loose, comfortable clothes that will not put pressure on the abdomen or waist;
- prepare smaller meals more often – avoid three larger and heavy meals;
- eat slowly and chew each bite thoroughly;
- avoid foods that trigger or worsen heartburn symptoms. They include, among others hot, spicy, fatty or fried food, but also e.g. chocolate, coffee, tea or mint;
- when reaching for something on the ground, avoid bending – it’s better to kneel;
- sleep with your head elevated so as not to put pressure on the stomach valves;
- eat a clove of raw garlic each day or take garlic capsules due to its allicin content;
- drink ginger, chamomile or dandelion root tea;
- avoid eating carbonated drinks, which increase the volume of food in the stomach, which makes it easier to throw the contents into the esophagus;
- massage the chest and upper back with e.g. lemon, orange or neroli aromatherapy oil and black pepper oil;
- use homeopathic remedies;
- avoid salt in food;
- eat the last meal approx. 2 hours before bedtime.
These remedies for heartburn in pregnancy should provide some relief. However, if the pregnant woman is still suffering from heartburn, it is worth visiting a doctor who will help choose safe medications for acidity that can be used by a pregnant woman.
Omeprazole and calcium salts are currently successfully used to treat heartburn in pregnancy.