If you conduct a survey and ask women the question,what bothered them most during pregnancy, eight out of ten will answer unequivocally: heartburn. Moreover, heartburn often occurs even if a woman has never encountered this problem before. What is heartburn? Women describe it as follows: a burning sensation in the epigastric region, throat, a sharp sour taste in the mouth. These sensations arise due to the fact that the contents of the stomach, including gastric juice, get back into the esophagus. As a result of the effect of the acid that is part of the gastric juice, the mucous membrane of the esophagus becomes inflamed. As a rule, heartburn most often makes itself known in the second half of pregnancy. Heartburn occurs either immediately after eating or while the woman is lying down. On average, heartburn lasts from several minutes to several hours. In especially severe cases, heartburn can torment a woman almost continuously. And it is not surprising that the question of how to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy is very relevant.
Causes of heartburn during pregnancy
There are a number of reasons that explain thisthe fact why heartburn most often occurs in pregnant women. One of the main reasons is none other than a change in the hormonal background of a pregnant woman. This happens in the following way: between the esophagus and the stomach there is a sphincter - a special muscle that prevents the contents of the stomach from being thrown into the esophagus. During pregnancy, the level of the hormone progesterone in the woman's body increases several times, which is responsible for relaxing the smooth muscles of the uterus. However, along with the uterus, other organs also relax, including the same sphincter, as a result of which the contents of the stomach all end up in the esophagus. In addition, another factor affects the frequency of heartburn: as the baby grows, the uterus increases in size, gradually supporting the stomach with its volume more and more. And this also significantly contributes to the throwing of the contents of the stomach into the esophagus. In addition, under the influence of hormones, the acidity of gastric juice increases significantly, which also significantly aggravates the situation. Many mothers worry that heartburn somehow negatively affects the course of pregnancy or the condition of the future baby. However, in reality, this is not true - heartburn does not pose any threat to either the mother or the child. But, nevertheless, it brings a huge number of very unpleasant minutes to the expectant mother.
How to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy?
All pregnant women want to get rid ofheartburn by hook or by crook, often resorting to such harmful methods as the use of baking soda and others. However, although they bring temporary relief, they have a negative effect on the body of a pregnant woman. To properly and successfully combat heartburn, you need to minimize the impact on the body of the factors that provoke its occurrence. It is known that heartburn occurs due to the relaxation of smooth muscles. Therefore, you should try to avoid taking drugs that have an antispasmodic effect, as they further relax the sphincter of the stomach. If the doctor has prescribed you treatment with such drugs, tell him about heartburn and ask to change the treatment. Remember that heartburn can be provoked by compression of the stomach between the growing uterus and the diaphragm. Therefore, try not to overeat unnecessarily, do not tighten your stomach with clothes. Also try not to bend over - it is better to squat, bending your knees. This will also reduce the risk of another heartburn attack. Try not to lie down immediately after eating - stay upright for at least an hour after eating to avoid food from the stomach being thrown into the esophagus. In addition, there are also a number of products that increase the frequency and intensity of heartburn attacks, as the stomach produces increased acid to digest this food. This is why it is so important to properly plan your diet during pregnancy. The expectant mother should completely exclude from her diet such products as:
- Coffee, caffeinated and carbonated drinks, including carbonated mineral water, as well as sour juices and compotes.
- Any pickled vegetables and other dishes.
- Sharp, salted and smoked foods, spicy spices and seasonings.
- All sour fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes, as well as berries.
- Fermented milk products can also provokethe development of heartburn, so do not abuse them. But they can not be completely abandoned either, because they contain the necessary calcium for the mother and baby.
- Also, do not abuse sugar and sweetdishes - they very often provoke attacks of heartburn. Very often the question of how to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy is given to sweet tooth.
Often, expectant mothers, having suffered greatly fromheartburn attacks, buy the first heartburn medication they come across at the pharmacy and start taking it without control. However, you should not do this - many of these drugs have a number of side effects and contraindications, so before taking them, be sure to consult with your doctor. It is the doctor who will help you choose exactly those heartburn remedies that have a soft enveloping effect on the mucous membrane of the esophagus, without having any harmful effects. However, even if the doctor has prescribed a heartburn medication to a woman, she should not forget that it is very important, in addition to pharmacological drugs, to follow a diet, which has already been written about above. Also, an important role in the fight against heartburn is played by the diet: it should be fractional. Portions should be small so that there is no feeling of overeating, and the break between meals should be no more than three hours so that there is no feeling of hunger. Of course, excluding night hours. The last meal should be about two hours before bedtime. Despite all your efforts, you are still worried about how to deal with heartburn during pregnancy? Perhaps milk will help you. To reduce heartburn, a pregnant woman is recommended to drink about a liter of milk during the day, in small, equal portions. Some doctors recommend adding fennel oil to milk - at the rate of one drop per liter. However, please note - the oil must be exclusively natural, otherwise the situation may only get worse. For example, any jelly wonderfully envelops the stomach and esophagus, soothes the irritated mucous membrane of the esophagus and quickly relieves heartburn. Ordinary potato juice also relieves attacks of the most severe heartburn very well. To do this, squeeze the juice from one peeled potato and drink it immediately. As a rule, heartburn disappears in a couple of minutes. Many expectant mothers find almonds, raw oatmeal, grated carrots and even regular chalk, eaten in small portions throughout the day, helpful in reducing heartburn and preventing its recurrence. Experiment and you will definitely find the products that will help you. After all, the right menu is the best way to combat heartburn during pregnancy. Regular ginger also helps very well. It is a very good remedy for pregnant women to get rid of heartburn. It can be consumed either in the form of a ready-made powder or simply cut off small pieces from the root and slowly chew them every time heartburn begins to bother you. Finally, it is necessary to remind expectant mothers that excessive stress and tension also often lead not only to heartburn, but also to many other complications. Therefore, rest more and enjoy your pregnancy! We recommend reading:
