Heartburn,
burning sensation in the chest and throat, and
sour, acidic taste in the mouth are all too
familiar features during pregnancy.
Heartburn during pregnancy
is caused by a number of factors. The increased
levels of hormones during pregnancy can soften the
ligaments that normally keep the lower esophageal
sphincter (LES) tightly closed. Relaxation of the
LES can cause the food and acids to reflux into
the esophagus or throat. As the uterus grows in
size, more pressure is put on the stomach forcing
the contents through the LES into the esophagus
causing heartburn.
It
may not be possible to eliminate heartburn
altogether during pregnancy but some
remedies can definitely minimize the
discomfort.
1.
Avoid foods that are known to trigger heartburn
like chocolate, citrus foods and juices, tomatoes,
mustard, vinegar, mint products, spicy, fried and
fatty foods.
2.
Avoid beverages containing caffeine like tea,
coffee, and colas. Caffeine relaxes the LES and
allows acid to regurgitate into the
esophagus.
3.
Alcohol is also best avoided.
4.
Eat several small meals throughout the day rather
than three large meals to avoid putting excessive
pressure on the stomach.
5.
Do not rush through meals. Eat slowly and calmly
and chew food well.
6.
Wait for at least three hours after the last meal
to go to bed.
7.
Drink plenty of water between meals. Large
quantities of fluids during meals can distend the
stomach putting more pressure on the
LES.
8.
Elevate the head of the bed by six inches with the
help of blocks or bricks or use a wedge
pillow.
9.
Wear loose, comfortable clothes especially around
the waist and stomach.
10.
Bend at the knees instead of the waist. Bending at
the waist puts more pressure on the
stomach.
11.
Improve posture. Sit upright rather than slouch in
a comfortable chair.
12.
Too much weight gain puts more pressure on the
stomach. Watch what you eat and maintain a healthy
diet.
13.
Smoking is to be strictly
avoided.
14.
As far as possible use herbal remedies like
chamomile, licorice, catnip, fennel, ginger etc
rather than over-the-counter antacids and acid
suppressors. They are a lot safer and just as
effective.
15.
Honey mixed with warm milk gives relief from
heartburn.
Most
of these remedies can also be used to
prevent further bouts of heartburn even post
pregnancy. Prevention of heartburn is often
the best policy.
Note
that the heartburn
treatment using medicaments can be very
challenging during the pregnancy, since most drugs
are not recommended to pregnant women.
However,
pregnant
woman could achieve immediate relief from their
heartburn by choosing the holistic approach that
tackles
the internal environment that contributes to
heartburn in the first place. By choosing the
natural approach you can eliminate and prevent
heartburn safely and effectively.
