Dyspepsia of pregnant women in most cases is associated with the reflux of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus, the so-called acid reflux. In this case, heartburn and a number of other unpleasant symptoms can begin. To relieve the manifestations of the disease, pregnant women are prescribed antacids, and in the chronic course of the disease, drugs that suppress the release of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
Dyspepsia is understood as a set of symptoms that combine the manifestation of various disorders of the digestive process. Dyspepsia of pregnant women is quite widespread, in a certain period of time the symptoms of the disease are recorded in 50% of pregnant women.
Acid reflux is accompanied by the flow of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus. In this case, the mucous membrane of the esophagus may become inflamed, which is accompanied by the appearance of symptoms of dyspepsia.
The sphincter, which plays the role of a damper and protects the esophagus from the backflow of acid, weakens during pregnancy and partly loses its ability to contract. This is primarily due to endocrine changes in the body of a woman. Moreover, the fetus puts more and more pressure on the stomach over time. Both of these factors together cause gastrointestinal reflux.
After childbirth and the normalization of the level of hormones in the blood, all the symptoms of dyspepsia go away by themselves. Risk factors for dyspepsia include certain medical conditions that a woman may have had before pregnancy. This is primarily gastroesophageal reflux and inflammation in the esophageal mucosa.
Symptoms of dyspepsia in pregnancy
Most often, the symptoms of dyspepsia in pregnant women are minor, but in some cases the disease is acute. The most common manifestations of the disease are: heartburn, pain and discomfort in the abdomen, chest pain, nausea and vomiting, increased gas formation. Patients are concerned about the feeling of fullness in the stomach after eating. Symptoms of the disease in most cases appear from time to time, most often the pathology makes itself felt in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Treatment of dyspepsia in pregnancy
First of all, when symptoms of dyspepsia appear during pregnancy, women should pay attention to the nature of the diet and, possibly, change their lifestyle. When symptoms of the disease appear, it is necessary to exclude certain foods from your diet and eat food in small portions with a frequency of at least six times a day. Dangerous foods include tomatoes, chocolate, high-fat foods, spicy foods, fruit juices, coffee, alcohol, and hot drinks.
The harmful factors include nicotine, which has a relaxing effect on the esophageal sphincter. Patients suffering from dyspepsia are advised not to stay in a horizontal position for too long and not to bend over too often during the day. Avoiding night attacks of dyspepsia helps to refuse food on the eve of going to bed and the correct posture during rest: with the back and head raised at a slight angle.
You should be aware that some drugs can also cause dyspepsia during pregnancy. These include anti-inflammatory and pain medications, as well as a number of antidepressants and sedatives.
With a mild course of the disease, the treatment of pregnant women is limited to a properly selected diet and a change in the woman’s lifestyle. If such therapy is not effective enough, then it is recommended to take certain medications, such as antacids and alginates.
Antacids help to neutralize the acidic environment in the stomach and quickly relieve the symptoms of pathology. Pregnant women are not recommended to take medicines, which include sodium bicarbonate and magnesium trisilicate – because of their harmful effects on the development of the fetus. If a pregnant woman suffers from high blood pressure, then she is recommended to take drugs with a low sodium content.
Quite often, treatment regimens for dyspepsia in pregnant women include both antacids and alginates, which help protect the mucous membrane from an acidic environment. There are also alginates designed specifically for pregnant women.
If the symptoms of the disease do not go away after taking antacids, then the doctor may prescribe drugs to the woman that suppress the secretion of hydrochloric acid. For maximum effectiveness, drugs in this group should be taken constantly, and not only during an attack of dyspepsia. The only drugs recommended for use during pregnancy in this group include ranitidine and omeprazole. Other drugs during pregnancy are not prescribed.
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