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Heartburn in pregnant women: how to get rid of
Usually, heartburn in pregnant women appears after the 20th week and remains until the very birth. This is a painful burning sensation behind the breastbone and in the epigastric region. It is aggravated if you eat something wrong, and it is very painful.
Why do pregnant women get heartburn?
Sometimes there is a discharge of gastric juice into the esophagus. Because of this, the mucous membrane of the esophagus becomes inflamed, a burning sensation appears. This is due to the compression of internal organs, for example, when overweight.
Heartburn in pregnant women is common
Heartburn during pregnancy is a common occurrence, as the growing fetus presses on the internal organs. The situation is aggravated by the change in hormonal levels in pregnant women. This slows down the digestive processes, which also leads to frequent bouts of heartburn. By the way, it is only unpleasant for the mother, and heartburn is not at all dangerous for the baby, so there is no need to worry.
How to get rid of heartburn in pregnant women?
In most cases, heartburn can be managed without medication. The following tips will help you with this:
- Minimize the consumption of fatty and fried foods, chocolate. It is they who provoke bouts of heartburn.
- Eat often, but little by little. Eat 5-6 times a day. Try to have meals every 2-3 hours. Take your time while eating, chew your food well.
- Don’t go to bed right after eating.
- Keep your head above your torso while sleeping and resting. You can put an extra pillow for this.
- Try to sleep on your back. This pose is best for preventing heartburn.
- Avoid stress. They cause heartburn, and in general are harmful to the expectant mother.
Drink milk, carrot juice, or grapefruit juice to relieve heartburn that has already appeared. Just a couple of sips will be enough to relieve the unpleasant burning sensation. To enhance the effect, 2-3 drops of natural fennel oil can be added to milk. But as a preventive measure, you can eat nuts – hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts. Also pumpkin or sunflower seeds are suitable for this purpose. The main thing is not to abuse them. Eat a small handful of seeds or a couple of nuts, as they are very high in calories and fatty.
As a rule, a normal diet and adherence to all the described recommendations helps to get rid of heartburn, or at least reduce it to a minimum. However, if this nuisance still continues to torment you, consult the doctor in charge of your pregnancy during your next visit to the clinic.