Tips for Preventing Heartburn While Pregnant
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 reason why pregnant women experience heartburn is because of increased pressure in the abdominal region due to the growth of the baby. Frequently this can force the contents of the stomach up to the esophagus.
There are lots of options when it comes to easing the distress of heartburn during pregnancy. The following tips should give you some guidance in your search for 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.
* Don’t drink beverages that are high in caffeine like tea, coffee and cola.
* 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 lie down to sleep until it’s been three hours since your last 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.
* Keep your head elevated at least six to eight inches when sleeping. You might find a wedge shaped pillow to be helpful. This will assist gravity to keep the acids in your stomach from making their way up 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.
* Watch your posture. Sit erect in a comfortable chair.
* Keep weight gain to healthy levels. Too much extra weight puts more stress on your stomach.
* Quit smoking. Not only is it unhealthy for your baby, it contributes to heartburn symptoms.
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