Heart burn during pregnancy
Nearly half of expectant moms have the feeling of burning and discomfort from mouth to stomach to bowel throughout your pregnancy.
Early in pregnancy, your body produces large amounts of the hormones progesterone and relaxin, which tend to relax smooth muscle tissues throughout your body, including those in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. As a result, food sometimes moves more slowly through your system, resulting in indigestion issues of all kinds, from that bloated, gassy feeling to heartburn. This digestive slowdown may be uncomfortable for you but allows better absorption of nutrients into your bloodstream and subsequently through the placenta and into your baby.
Heartburn occurs when the muscle ring that separates the esophagus(food pipe) from the stomach relaxes, allowing food and harsh digestive juices to reflux up from the stomach into the esophagus. These stomach acids irritate the sensitive esophageal lining, causing a burning sensation.
Following simple steps help to ease heartburn pain:
1.Skip foods and drinks that can make it worse, such as citrus; spicy, fatty (especially fried
or greasy) foods; caffeine; and carbonated drinks.
2.Eat several small meals throughout the day.
3.Take your time when eating.
4.Drink liquids between and not during meals.
5.Avoid eating or drinking for 2 hours before bedtime.
6.Donot lie down immediately after meals.
7.Raise your head when you sleep.
Talk to your doctor about medicines that are safe to take for heartburn during pregnancy.