Managing Pregnancy Related Heartburn
Pregnancy and heartburn all too often seem to go hand in hand. One of the causes of this is the raised hormonal levels that are due to pregnancy. This leads to softening of the ligaments which normally keep the lower esophageal sphincter tightly closed. Therefore, stomach acids are largely unhindered in travelling up to the throat and esophagus.
Another contributor to heartburn during pregnancy is the added pressure that the developing baby places on the stomach area. Often that can cause the stomach acids to climb up to the esophagus.
There are various methods by which a pregnant woman can reduce the discomfort caused by heartburn. Here are some tips that should provide some heartburn relief.
* Stay away from foods that are known to cause heartburn. Included in this list are spicy foods, tomato products, chocolate, fried and fatty foods, and citrus.
* Stay away from caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea, and soda.
* Avoid alcohol, which you should anyway for the health of your baby.
* Consume smaller portions of food. Eating mini meals spaced throughout the day will ease the pressure on the stomach.
* Don’t eat too fast.
* Don’t go to sleep for at least three hours following a meal. You’re less likely to experience nighttime heartburn.
* Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. However, don’t drink too much while you’re eating. This will cause the stomach to expand more and push out the stomach acids.
* While sleeping keep your head elevated approximately six to eight inches. A wedge pillow might be useful for this. This gives gravity some help in keeping your stomach acids from climbing the esophagus.
* Avoid restrictive clothing. Restricting the abdominal area will often lead to heartburn.
* Bend at the knees, not at the waist. This keeps pressure off the stomach.
* Don’t slouch. Sit erect in a comfortable chair.
* Don’t gain an excessive amount of weight. All that surplus fat puts added pressure on the stomach.
* Quit smoking. Not only is it unhealthy for your baby, it contributes to heartburn symptoms.
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