Why is heartburn in pregnant women? Uncomfortable bed or wrong sleeping position. Can a pregnant woman take herbs to get rid of heartburn?

Content of the article:

Many women in an interesting position are interested in how to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy in the third trimester. The symptom occurs often and is due to the physiological characteristics of the body during this period. It happens that heartburn signals the development or exacerbation of a serious gastrointestinal disease. There are medicines and folk remedies that reduce discomfort, burning and pain in the stomach and throat, but you can take any of them only after visiting a doctor and a medical examination.

Why pregnant women in late stages suffer from heartburn

Heartburn in the 3rd trimester is a symptom that many women notice during pregnancy. The degree of severity and signs that appear with a burning sensation in the epigastric region, behind the sternum and in the throat differ. It happens that heartburn at 36 weeks of gestation is accompanied by pain in the intestines, and at night the sensations intensify and prevent the woman from even sleeping.

The main reasons that provoke heartburn:

  1. The pressure of the growing fetus on the diaphragm. The enlarged uterus shifts the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, including the stomach, so that there is little room for food in it. The sphincter, which pushes food from the lower esophagus into the stomach and keeps it there, is weakened. Therefore, part of the gastric contents is "squeezed" back into the esophagus.
  2. Congenital insufficiency (weakness) of the sphincters of the esophagus or duodenum.
  3. Unsuitable food abuse and overeating.
  4. Gastrointestinal infections. For example, a frequent provocateur of heartburn is the Helicobacter microbe, which invades the gastric mucosa and damages it, making it sensitive to the effects of aggressive gastric juice. Often nausea and vomiting join heartburn in the 3rd trimester.

If a burning sensation in the throat, pressure and abdominal pain after eating are constantly felt, a pregnant woman should consult a doctor. Such symptoms may indicate serious illnesses, for example, chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, duodenitis, cholecystitis.

The organs of the abdomen, although squeezed by the growing uterus, cope with the digestive function, if the woman is healthy, follows simple rules of prevention. Therefore, severe heartburn is a reason to be wary and visit a gastroenterologist in order to avoid possible complications that can adversely affect the life and health of the woman and the fetus.

General principles of how to treat heartburn in the third trimester of pregnancy

35 weeks is the period when the pregnancy comes to an end, and the woman is about to go to the hospital. Nevertheless, even in the 3rd trimester, the expectant mother should be careful about choosing a treatment that will relieve heartburn.

If the attack happened suddenly, you can resort to medications that the doctor prescribes, and even remedies from the people's first-aid kit.

Unpleasant sensations in the throat and discomfort in the abdomen after eating help to remove medications and prevention rules, so that heartburn therapy during pregnancy is complex. A woman who notes heartburn at 33 weeks of gestation and later should first of all:

  1. See a doctor.
  2. Correct nutrition.
  3. Streamline your lifestyle.
  4. Learn to control emotions.

Stressful situations and an unconscious reaction to an event that has occurred aggravate the course of the symptom and accelerate the onset of heartburn in late pregnancy.

Medicines: what you can do for heartburn during pregnancy

Antacids are effective medications for heartburn in the third trimester, for example at week 27 and later. They envelop the mucous membranes of the stomach and esophagus, protecting organs from the destructive effects of gastric juice, extinguish hydrochloric acid.

Heartburn at 34 weeks is an indicator by which these drugs are prescribed to a pregnant woman. They are highly effective and have few pronounced side effects. For heartburn, the doctor prescribes the following medications for pregnant women:

  1. Phosphalugel. It is 20% aluminum phosphate, which has a sorbing and neutralizing effect. One of the unpleasant side effects of the medication is constipation. In addition, it can interfere with the absorption of nutrients that are absorbed through the stomach lining, so it is often not worth taking.
  2. The doctor prescribes Almagel less often, since a pregnant woman should not take it for more than 3 days. The medicine works for a short time.
  3. Maalox should also not be taken for more than 3 days. This drug relieves pain, so it is taken if heartburn is accompanied by pain.
  4. Iberogast is a phytopreparation that represents an alcoholic tincture of medicinal herbs. It is prescribed if the pregnant woman cannot take other medicines for heartburn.
  5. Gestide is a combination antacid that is well tolerated and does not cause side effects. This is one of the safest drugs during pregnancy.
  6. The safest for pregnant women is Rennie for heartburn, which acts quickly, eliminating pain and burning sensation.

If the cause of heartburn lies in Helicobacter pylori, then the exacerbation of the disease during pregnancy is not treated, since a woman cannot drink antibiotics for a long time. Instead, medications are prescribed that reduce the intensity of heartburn attacks, relieve pain, and reduce acidity in the stomach.

Folk remedies

Heartburn at 32 weeks of gestation and later can be treated with folk remedies. Before using any medicine prepared at home according to the prescriptions of your grandmother or acquaintances, you should consult your doctor.


Folk remedies for heartburn mainly relieve symptoms, soothe the burning sensation, and reduce pain. But they cannot neutralize the cause of heartburn, for example, increase the muscle tone of the esophageal sphincter or get rid of H. pylori.

One of the effective remedies is freshly squeezed potato juice. This method has rules that a pregnant woman must adhere to:

  1. The potatoes must be fresh, that is, the current harvest. Last year's, stale, sprouted, greened tubers are not suitable. They contain a dangerous toxin that will cause severe poisoning.
  2. You can only consume juice from fresh, intact tubers and drink it immediately after pressing.

If at 29 weeks and later a woman feels a slight burning sensation, slightly carbonated water will help to relieve the discomfort. It is best to let all the gas out of the water before drinking. Mineral water should be drunk in small sips during the day.

Other folk remedies that can be used to combat heartburn in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy:

  • Raw nuts or sunflower and pumpkin seeds can help relieve burning sensation and discomfort. Better to just chew a handful of seeds, swallowing the resulting saliva. The seeds and nuts contain vegetable fats that protect the esophageal mucosa from the aggressive effects of gastric juice.
  • If the pregnant woman tolerates dairy products well, then she can drink a glass of warm low-fat pasteurized milk as a snack (not after a meal, but as an independent meal). Whole food, sweet milkshakes are not suitable and will not save you from heartburn, but on the contrary, will aggravate the condition.
  • 2-3 times a day before meals, you can drink herbal teas, for example, chamomile or lemon balm broth. To prepare the medicine, you need to brew a couple of teaspoons of dried chamomile inflorescences or lemon balm leaves with a glass of boiling water, leave for a quarter of an hour and drink in small sips.
  • A decoction of flaxseeds works well. A tablespoon of flax is poured into a glass of cold boiled water, insisted for a couple of hours, boiled and left overnight. In the morning, the broth acquires a jelly-like consistency.

This remedy protects the stomach lining from digestive juices, but it tastes bad.

Nutrition rules for pregnant women

If a woman experiences heartburn at or after 31 weeks of gestation, she should adjust her diet and daily menu:

  1. It is best to pick and stick to an accurate mealtime, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You should not allow an intense feeling of hunger as well as overeating.
  2. You need to drink enough fluids, but it is better to drink a little. Boiled water, warm milk, herbal teas, for example, chamomile (note: chamomile can be drunk during pregnancy no more than 1 glass per day) are useful.
  3. The menu should be replete with nutritious, healthy foods such as whole grain cereals, lean dietary meats, mashed vegetable soups, baked and puréed fruits and vegetables.
  4. If a woman tolerates dairy products well, it is permissible to eat cottage cheese, only fresh grainy ones, and drink milk. Preference should be given to low-fat meals and use dairy products as snacks.

All meals must be fresh. Pregnant women who experience heartburn should avoid fried heavy or fatty foods, coffee, and black / green tea. You cannot eat in public catering, food must be homemade, freshly prepared.

Lifestyle

Heartburn at 30 weeks of gestation requires a woman to correct her diet and her usual lifestyle. Care must be taken not to overwhelm physically and emotionally. It is best to alternate physical activity with rest. You can’t "sit up" and "sit up". Leisurely walks in the fresh air are suitable as a warm-up.

With regard to sports, it all depends on the physical fitness of the woman before pregnancy. If a person is used to leading an active lifestyle, playing sports, dancing, riding a bicycle, attending a gym, then during pregnancy there is no need to exclude sports if there are no serious contraindications.

A burning sensation in the throat is definitely not a serious obstacle to an active lifestyle, if a woman generally feels well and the attacks are not caused by an exacerbation of a gastrointestinal disease.

Particular attention should be paid to the quality of sleep. Often, heartburn worsens if a woman takes a horizontal position, so it is better to sleep half-sitting, placing a high, dense pillow under the back. The sleeping area should not be perfectly level, and the head should always be raised above the body.

Medicines and home remedies will help alleviate the symptoms, however, you should know exactly what should not be taken so as not to harm the baby's health:

  • You should refrain from taking medications frequently. They are only used to relieve the intense heartburn that comes with pain, nausea, and vomiting.
  • You should not take medications that have not been studied, so there is not enough information about how the substances contained in medications affect the fetus.
  • Often women are advised to take baking soda, which supposedly reduces the burning sensation. However, sodium bicarbonate works for a short time, and then provokes more intense heartburn. This method is harmful not only during pregnancy, but even in absolutely healthy people.

If the attacks persist, despite the preventive measures taken by the woman, and the thirty-first and subsequent weeks of pregnancy continue, it is necessary to visit the attending physician.

How to prevent severe heartburn

The only way to prevent intense attacks is to take care of your health and maintain a diet during the entire period of pregnancy.

A woman should have enough rest, go on maternity leave on time and devote herself to taking care of her own condition and the health of the unborn child. It is better to exclude unsuitable food from the daily menu in advance, without waiting for bouts of burning and pain.

You should spend enough time outdoors, avoid stressful situations, drink enough fluids, excluding coffee, strong black tea, and sugary carbonated drinks.

Medical examinations cannot be neglected. It is necessary to take tests, take multivitamins, undergo the necessary studies and notify the doctor about changes in well-being if heartburn manifests itself at 28 weeks of pregnancy or later.

Every second woman experiences heartburn during pregnancy. Even if none of them had ever felt such unpleasant sensations before, there is every chance of feeling that this is heartburn during pregnancy. In what trimester should I expect her? How can you reduce or prevent discomfort?

Violation of the balance of acidity in the stomach in women in the "position" appears as a result of hormonal changes in the body.

Heartburn, what is it?

Uncontrolled ingestion of stomach contents into the esophagus, causes a feeling of bitterness in the mouth, burning sensation in the epigastric region. This process is called heartburn. According to the results of social surveys, about 80% of women suffer from heartburn during pregnancy. She mostly torments in the last trimester, when the baby is old enough, but there are earlier cases of bitterness.

Basically, the bitterness begins after eating. For some, it lasts for several minutes, while others are forced to endure for several hours. Bitterness can appear several times a day. If your morning meal ends with heartburn, don't expect it to come back. But you should not worry, this condition does not affect the child's health. Let's try to figure out why this is happening.

Causes

Why is the body of the expectant mother prone to heartburn? What provokes it?

First trimester

Heartburn in pregnant women in the first months occurs as a result of changes in hormonal levels. Released large amounts of progesterone have a relaxing effect on smooth muscles. That is why the sphincter, which holds the food lump and does not allow it to go back into the esophagus, relaxes and allows the contents of the stomach to pass through.

There are cases when diarrhea joins heartburn and nausea in the first trimester. It does not always mean poisoning, sometimes diarrhea helps cleanse the body. For your own peace of mind, you must exclude the presence of infection.

Second trimester

The reason for the bitterness of the second trimester is an enlarged uterus. It, increasing in size, presses on the internal organs, including the stomach. It squeezes, shifts a little and throws its contents into the esophagus. During this period, you must carefully monitor the amount of food eaten and avoid overeating.

Third trimester

The onset of bitterness in later stages can aggravate the pelvic position of the baby. The kid, resting his booty down, constantly presses his head against the muscular septum between the peritoneum and the chest, squeezing the stomach. A large fetus, especially if the mother has two or three babies in her stomach - the reasons that affect the appearance of heartburn in the later stages.

Symptoms

Heartburn while carrying a baby may not show as mild symptoms as in ordinary people. It can be distinguished from other disorders of the digestive system by the following features:

  • early discomfort in the epigastric region;
  • then burning and sour taste in the mouth;
  • rumbling in the stomach, belching;
  • heaviness, bloating, sometimes diarrhea;
  • metallic taste.

There are signs after eating, when the motor processes of the stomach are disturbed during the first stage of digestion. During the period of unwellness, you want to lie down, but the unpleasant sensation does not go away, but worsens.

Heartburn as the first sign of pregnancy

It is not easy to determine the presence of pregnancy in the early days, even for doctors. Most do not notice any changes in themselves in the first month, but there are cases of the first signs even in the first week. Many women sincerely believe that heartburn is the first sign of pregnancy, because before that there was no bitterness. This may be true, because the hormonal background begins to change from the first days of the birth of a new life. Sensitivity is individual for everyone and the appearance of signs too.

Very bad heartburn

Sometimes it is difficult for a pregnant woman, terrible bitterness arises very often. She creates not only discomfort, but also disturbs the psychological balance of the expectant mother, which affects the health of the baby. On the one hand, such a phenomenon is the norm, because the uterus is very close to the stomach, pressing on it. But you can't let the situation go by itself; severe heartburn can have serious consequences. The most common is inflammation of the lining of the esophagus. The terrible burning sensation in the esophagus cannot be underestimated. Tortured by strong, constant bitterness, pain, see a doctor.

Heartburn at night

Burning sensation may appear at night. The situation is far from harmless, even dangerous. Heartburn at night means acidity. In this situation, it is important to assess the nature of the symptom. If the bitterness has made itself felt only once, do not worry. Most likely, the reason is food at night. But if she comes back, torments her, feels pain in the stomach - this means problems. It is necessary to take action, be sure to consult a doctor.

The most effective control that overcomes the terrible burning sensation is prevention. It is easier to prevent than to cure later. The correct diet, enriched with vitamins and minerals, without harmful foods that can cause heartburn, prevent burning. Here are a number of recommendations, following which you can avoid unpleasant sensations:

  • Antispasmodic drugs should not be abused. It is necessary to give up herbal teas, which relax the function of the esophageal valve.
  • Control your weight gain. The higher it is, the greater the risk of heartburn.
  • You can not make sudden movements, remove all tight clothes from the wardrobe.
  • Keep track of the amount of water you consume. It doesn't need to be drunk very much, but enough to prevent bitterness. Be sure to drink clean water, without gas.
  • Avoid constipation and diarrhea.
  • Try to keep your back straight. When the spine is bent, additional pressure is created on the stomach.

What to do during treatment?

Fighting heartburn is difficult. Treatment always begins with dietary adjustments. Diet is an irreplaceable assistant in solving problems of the digestive tract.

Nutrition and diet

Most of the problems of the gastrointestinal tract (constipation, diarrhea, heartburn) depend on improper food intake. Expectant mothers need to avoid spicy, fried, fatty foods. Avoid coffee, sweets, sour fruits and vegetables. Better to go straight to a fractional meal. Eat more often, but in small portions. When eating, one should not rush, chewing everything thoroughly. The last meal should be 2 hours before bedtime.

Medications

Adjusting food intake did not bring the long-awaited relief, consult a specialist. He will prescribe medication. The use of medicines for heartburn during pregnancy is carried out only under the supervision of a physician.

There are not many approved medicines. Rennie tablets are one of these drugs. They can easily cope with high acidity, but the calcium they contain can lead to early strengthening of the baby's bones.

To treat heartburn, doctors allowed such well-known remedies as "Smecta", "Maalox", "Almagel". But they have a number of caveats, and in a special situation, you should beware.

Homeopathy

What help does an expectant mother need if heartburn does not stop? Homeopathy can cope with frequent attacks. This is an unusual method of treatment that treats the problem with substances that cause similar reactions. Special tablets do not neutralize acidity, they are able to fight by normalizing the biochemical processes that led to the disorder. The main advantage of the method is naturalness, there is no toxic effect of the drug on the mother and baby.

With constant sour eructation, "Rowan pseudoacacia" is prescribed, and if not only sour eructation appears after eating, but also pain in the stomach, it is worth taking "Bismutumsubnitrikum". Homeopathic remedies are prescribed taking into account the individuality of the patient, a separate program for their admission is drawn up.

Pregnancy cannot be approached as a disease - this is a normal state of the body. However, it leads to intense work of organs and certain changes in them. Often, such changes are uncomfortable and inconvenient.

More than 50% of pregnant women experience heartburn. Closer to childbirth, she becomes an obsession, which is very difficult to get rid of. She spoils the mood, discourages the desire to do the usual things, can appear even at night.

Prolonged heartburn leads to chest pain, belching.

Accustomed to the fact that pregnant women cannot take medications, expectant mothers endure, or, even worse, use the most famous "home" method - they drink soda. Let's try to figure out how to help yourself so as not to harm the unborn child.

Information

Heartburn is a condition that occurs when the acidic contents of the stomach are thrown into the lower esophagus. Free hydrochloric acid irritates the lining of the esophagus, causing a burning sensation and warmth behind the breastbone or under the spoon. The condition is aggravated by a violation of the self-cleaning function of the esophagus, a decrease in the obturator function of the sphincter. Heartburn is the most common companion of most diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

This trouble can overtake a pregnant woman at any time, but most often it happens in the second and third trimesters. Heartburn of pregnant women is isolated as a separate symptom, which does not indicate other changes in the gastrointestinal tract, it appears during pregnancy, is caused by it and goes away after childbirth. It can appear at any time of the day, more often after a meal, especially with nutritional errors. It can last from several minutes to several hours, during the day it returns many times, the sensations intensify when taking a horizontal position, when changing the position of the body - bending, turning from one side to another.

The main causes of heartburn

The main reason is hormones. With the onset of pregnancy, hormones are synthesized in the body, which should help a woman to bear a child - they reduce the tone of the uterus. However, their action is not selective, in addition to the tone of the uterus, the contractile activity of the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and blood vessels also decreases. Under the action of progesterone, the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes, which is responsible for preventing the return of food from the stomach into the esophagus, the tone of the stomach muscles decreases by 50%, it is emptied much more slowly.

And the pregnant uterus also affects the development of heartburn - it pushes the organs upward, changing their position, and increases intra-abdominal pressure.

In addition, often during pregnancy, diseases appear that had a latent course before. Only 20% of pregnant women experience heartburn for the first time during pregnancy.

The purpose of treatment is to reduce the harmful effects of aggressive factors on the mucous membrane, to prevent severe changes. The first place to start is strict adherence to your diet and lifestyle changes.

Help without medication

The following simple rules will help to alleviate the condition:

  • avoid body positions that provoke the development of heartburn (do not be in an inclined position for a long time);
  • if there are no contraindications, it is better to sleep with the head end of the bed raised - the angle of inclination is about 15 degrees;
  • do not wear embarrassing clothing;
  • avoid physical exercises that increase abdominal tension;
  • follow all recommendations for the prevention of constipation - they also increase intra-abdominal pressure;
  • do not rush to lie down immediately after eating, it is better to take a walk, or just stand, otherwise, the evacuation of food from the stomach will slow down.

Diet again?

It is recommended for pregnant women to eat more often, up to 6 times a day, in small portions. Sometimes this approach to nutrition is enough to reduce the frequency of heartburn. To neutralize the acidity of gastric juice, it is imperative to include food antacids in food, foods that have an alkaline reaction - sour cream, cream, cottage cheese, milk, boiled meat and fish, vegetable and butter, white bread.

Vegetable dishes are best taken pureed, boiled or stewed. Baked apples work well. It is better to refuse "heavy" food. It includes fatty fried meat and fish dishes, spicy and smoked dishes, hot spices and sauces. It is also worth limiting vegetables that contain coarse fiber - radish, radish, white cabbage, garlic.

It will not be superfluous to limit yourself to your beloved in the use of sour fruit juices and chocolate. Soda, fizzy drinks, coffee, and strong teas also make heartburn significantly worse.

If the diet didn't work

Two groups of drugs are used to treat heartburn. The first acts directly on the production of hydrochloric acid, the second neutralizes the already formed acid, without affecting its formation. Consideration of the first group does not make sense, the appointment of these drugs requires medical advice and control. Self-medication can lead to disastrous consequences for the child.

Antacids

Anti-acid alkaline agents, or antacids, act on the released hydrochloric acid, neutralizing it. In addition, they accelerate the evacuation of gastric contents, reduce muscle spasm of the stomach walls.

This is the most studied group of drugs that have been used by humans since ancient times. Even in ancient Rome, crushed coral (calcium carbonate) was prescribed to patients with heartburn. In terms of frequency of use, they are inferior, except perhaps with an iron preparation.

Sodium bicarbonate for heartburn

Baking soda is often used in everyday life as a remedy for heartburn. It belongs to the fast-acting absorbed antacids. With uncontrolled intake and abuse, soda, quickly dissolving, can lead to uncompensated alkalization of the internal environment of the body. Excretion occurs with urine, its alkalization contributes to the formation of stones. In addition, fluid retention in the body occurs, the development of edema, which is highly undesirable in pregnant women.

Besides, the effect of baking soda is rather short-lived. When interacting with gastric juice, carbon dioxide is formed. It has a pronounced sokogonny effect, stimulating the secretion of the next portion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Heartburn manifests itself with renewed vigor - a vicious circle.

For safety

When choosing a drug, do not pay attention to advertising and beautiful packaging. Non-absorbable antacids are allowed during pregnancy. These include calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate or hydroxide, aluminum phosphate or hydroxide. These substances, alone or in combination, are found in the drugs you are allowed. They do not dissolve in water, which means they are not absorbed and do not change the acidity of the internal environment.

After taking the drug, the effect develops a little more slowly, but lasts longer than after taking soda. In reasonable concentrations, such drugs are prescribed to pregnant women, because do not have a harmful effect on the baby's body. Antacids fix the formed hydrochloric acid on their surface and neutralize it. Preparations that contain magnesium also increase the resistance of the gastric mucosa to the effects of hydrochloric acid.

We observe dosages

Even with non-absorbable antacids, care must be taken. Products containing aluminum, if abused, lead to softening of the bones. The mechanism is simple - aluminum in the intestine forms an insoluble compound, aluminum phosphate. In case of an overdose, phosphates are consumed to neutralize aluminum, their concentration in the blood decreases and is washed out from the bones. Aluminum is able to accumulate in the brain and kidneys, disrupting their function, both in the fetus and in the woman.

Aluminum and calcium salts can contribute to constipation, while magnesium, on the contrary, has a laxative effect. Therefore, it is not recommended to use these drugs for more than two weeks. It is also worth avoiding dosage forms with the addition of alcohol and anesthetic components. Give preference to combined drugs, their components partially neutralize the side effects of each other.

Treatment for heartburn in pregnant women should be comprehensive. It is worth resorting to prescribing pharmaceutical drugs when other measures no longer work. But do not rush to drink in handfuls, perhaps a half or even a quarter dose will be effective for you. A decrease in the intake of drugs into the body during pregnancy, even with their relative safety, is only welcomed.

With heartburn in pregnant women, before attributing the condition to pregnancy, it will not be superfluous to exclude the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, which can first make itself felt during this period of a woman's life.

Statistics say that about 80% of all pregnant women suffer from heartburn, during all 9 months of pregnancy.

What is heartburn?

In most cases, severe heartburn during pregnancy begins to manifest itself during the third trimester. This sensation is more like a strong burning sensation and discomfort in the sternum.

Heartburn is not a constant phenomenon, since already in the last months it begins to manifest itself less and less often, and after pregnancy it completely disappears. Previously, the people believed that the manifestation of heartburn is associated with the growth of the child's hair inside the woman, but today, having many years of experience in monitoring pregnant women and the fetus, doctors can confidently say that this is not at all the case.

Heartburn in the third trimester is a common case in pregnant women, but there are times when a woman begins to suffer from heartburn in the earliest stages of pregnancy. The appearance of heartburn in the early stages can be completely associated with the manifestation of toxicosis.

In order to successfully get rid of the manifestations of heartburn, without harming either the expectant mother or her baby, it is necessary to understand why it manifests itself, what causes it.

Heartburn during late pregnancy torments every third woman during pregnancy. In 60% of all cases of heartburn, it begins to manifest itself only at 19-20 weeks of pregnancy and may not stop until the baby is born.

The main factor that can cause heartburn is unhealthy diet.

As many are well aware, not only a large amount of food, but also its quality can have a negative effect on the body.

If the pregnancy falls on the New Year holidays, you should limit yourself a little in food and in its quantity. Do not overeat or eat anything. Festive tables should not affect the quality and quantity of the food taken.

Since proper nutrition is the key to a healthy mother and unborn child.

Causes of heartburn in pregnant women

By itself, heartburn is an intense burning sensation. Heartburn during early pregnancy can occur after eating. Doctors note that the most frequent manifestations of heartburn fall in the evening. As we already said, you should not believe in folk omens, since heartburn is a symptom that needs to be paid attention to. Each symptom indicates that some processes (positive or negative) are taking place in the body. In particular, heartburn occurs as soon as gastric juice (acid) enters the esophageal cavity, thereby burning it and causing an uncomfortable sensation. During pregnancy, women release a special hormone called progesterone. Its action is due to the fact that it weakens the lower muscular sphincter, which is the connecting element between the stomach and the esophagus.

This is the first cause of heartburn. The second reason may be a diffuse enlargement of the pregnant woman's uterus. The thing is that when the uterus enlarges, it begins to put pressure on the organs that are in the neighborhood (intestines, stomach). Because of this, the size of the stomach can be severely compressed, which can cause heartburn even with a small amount of food.

Many women should understand that pregnancy entails strong changes and restructuring of the body for the functioning of two people. These changes cannot bypass the functioning of the intestines or stomach in any way. It is necessary to understand that a pregnant woman may experience such uncharacteristic manifestations as: profuse belching, problems with stools, severe nausea, bloating and heaviness.

Do not think that these are all symptoms of a manifestation of serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. They should not be ignored, if only for the reason that all these negative manifestations have an uncomfortable effect on a woman's sensitivity. In the early stages, the manifestation of pregnancy can only be indicated by the presence of the birth of a fetus in a woman's body. It is necessary to understand that vomiting, heartburn, belching can begin to fail even before the disappearance of menstruation. In the early stages, heartburn is a sign of a disruption in the normal flow of hormones in the body. In particular, the level of chorionic gonadotropin begins to increase in the blood of a pregnant woman.

How to get rid of heartburn without medication?

If you follow a few simple rules during pregnancy, you can get rid of a slight feeling of heartburn. To do this, you need to reduce or completely eliminate fried or fatty foods from your diet. It is also necessary to split your food.

As in the case of proper nutrition for weight loss, it is necessary that the number of meals is about 5 times a day, while eating in small portions. To avoid heartburn after a meal, try not to lie down. It is better, right after eating, to go and take a slow walk in the fresh air.

It's important to know! The manifestation of heartburn is an extremely unpleasant phenomenon, however, they do not in any way affect the health and condition of a growing baby. If you start to resist the manifestations of heartburn in time with the help of a free and measured diet, then you may not have to take medications, which are likely to affect the baby, although not much.

Folk remedies for heartburn during pregnancy

To eliminate heartburn, you can try alternative methods of treatment. During heartburn, a glass of milk can help well, it will stop the burning sensation. The juice of grapefruit or carrot has the same properties. The doctor may also advise you to eat several nuts, but you need to remember that you should not overdo it with nuts, since a large amount can only make heartburn worse.

Precautions

Women who are in a position should not take antispasmodics if there is no need for it. Antispasmodics are drugs that relieve muscle spasms in internal organs. The group of antispasmodics includes No-shpa and papaverine, these drugs can be found in the medicine cabinet of every housewife. Antispasmodics can cause heartburn because they relax the esophageal sphincter. But not only drugs can cause heartburn, mint has almost the same properties.
There are many different folk remedies for heartburn. Soda solution helps with heartburn very well; this treatment is quite popular. But do not forget that soda relieves the burning sensation, but not for a long time. But when soda enters the stomach, soda interacts with gastric juice and carbon dioxide is produced, which in turn forms new hydrochloric acid and heartburn appears again. Do not forget that soda can lead to swelling of the body, which is contraindicated in pregnancy. This is due to the fact that soda contains sodium, which is absorbed into the intestinal walls, so the body begins to flow.

How to treat heartburn and not harm your health?

If you are pregnant and have heartburn, then take antacids instead of antispasmodics and baking soda. The composition of these preparations includes a salt of magnesium and aluminum. These compounds destroy the acid that is in the gastric juice, forming a protective film along the walls of the entire stomach, and also increase the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter. Now such drugs as Almagel, Maalox, Rennie, Gaviscon are very popular.

But antacids have side effects, such as constipation. Constipation is associated with the presence of calcium and aluminum salts in the preparations, but at the same time they contain magnesium, which in turn has a laxative effect. Therefore, you should not take these drugs for a long time. When you are taking antacids, pay attention to the fact that they can absorb other medicines. Therefore, start taking new medications some time after taking antacids.

If nothing helps with heartburn ...

If you have already tried all the recipes for traditional medicine for heartburn, took several different medications and still you have a burning sensation, then immediately consult a doctor. Maybe this is due to childbirth, which will begin soon and will be able to solve your problem without difficulty. Heartburn may indicate diseases of the digestive tract or liver, which is possible during pregnancy. But there is no need to worry ahead of time, it is better to just consult a gastroenterologist.

During pregnancy, the medicine is prescribed only by the attending physician. Antacids help someone, and folk medicine for someone, the main thing is that your treatment does not harm your fetus.

Pregnancy is a condition that often makes itself felt even before the moment when the expectant mother has a delay in her period or before she sees a positive test result. Hormonal and physiological changes that begin to occur in a woman's body from the first moment of conception manifest themselves very quickly, affecting her feelings, mood, and well-being.

What to do if a girl has heartburn in a position

Early heartburn during pregnancy is a common symptom that is accompanied by nausea. Some women believe that they have problems with the gastrointestinal tract, and turn to the local doctor. After consulting a gastroenterologist and passing tests, it turns out that the woman is in position. In most cases, heartburn continues for 4-5 months, and sometimes throughout pregnancy. The symptom goes away after childbirth. A pregnant girl should know why heartburn occurs in the early stages, how to reduce the discomfort that interfere with a normal life.

Heartburn as a Sign of Pregnancy

Based on the listed causes of a burning sensation in the stomach and the limited means that can be taken by expectant mothers without risk to the fetus, it will probably not work to get rid of heartburn. But by listening to the following tips, you can alleviate your condition:

Heartburn as a sign of pregnancy

In case of heartburn, pregnant women need to change clothes for more comfortable ones, which will not tighten and press on the epigastric region. It is better to use a pillow higher, a completely horizontal position will encourage the passage of hydrochloric acid and food particles from the stomach into the esophagus.

Heartburn in early pregnancy

  1. Veins and blood vessels become visible under the skin. They indicate that the blood volume has increased. Additionally, tachycardia may occur. Hearts are learning to work in a new way.
  2. Hormonal changes affect a woman's mood. Increased fatigue, sudden mood swings may occur.
  3. Pain in the lower abdomen. They are similar to pain before menstruation, but indicate an increase in the size of the uterus or the threat of miscarriage.
  4. The waist begins to change in size. At first, only a woman with a narrow waist and hips can notice these manifestations on herself.
  5. Chest pain. This symptom indicates the approach of menstruation. But if there is a delay in menstruation, this also occurs due to another hormone - prolactin. He is responsible for preparing the woman's breasts for breastfeeding. It is he who leads to increased sensitivity during pregnancy.
  6. The head hurts badly. Another of the symptoms, which indicates the presence of pregnancy, and occur before menstruation. Hormones are to blame. It is not recommended to take drugs at this time if there is a delay in menstruation. They can harm the baby.

Can heartburn be considered a sign of pregnancy?

Similar manifestations also occur when there is no doubt in the new position, that is, in the second and third trimesters. But at the initial stage, the answer to the question "Can heartburn be a sign of pregnancy?" not so unambiguous. And it should be considered in conjunction with other symptoms, more accurate. This is a delay in menstruation, changes in the skin and mammary glands. If these signs are absent, then it is not pregnancy that is to blame for heartburn, but a digestive disorder.

How to get rid of heartburn in early pregnancy

  1. Relaxation of the smooth muscle muscles of the internal organs. This change is associated with increased production of progesterone. This hormone, together with the uterus, relaxes the muscles of the digestive organs and the sphincter that connects the stomach to the esophagus. As a result, the digestion and movement of food through the departments slows down. The connecting valve begins to open more often, which leads to the ingress of gastric juice and pancreatic enzymes on the walls of the esophagus. The mucous membrane is irritated, there is a burning sensation in the esophagus, under the spoon, behind the sternum.
  2. Binge eating. A pregnant woman often has an increased appetite. The digestive system cannot handle the stress. This leads to belching, flatulence, and severe heartburn.
  3. Change in taste preferences. During pregnancy, there is a craving for pickles, smoked meats, sweets. Abuse of these products against the background of hormonal changes provoke discomfort in 1-2 hours or immediately after eating. Salty, spicy, fried foods, canned food increase the acidity of gastric juice. This leads to a baking sensation in the esophagus.
  4. Exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases - gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis. In this case, heartburn is combined with other symptoms.
  5. Changes in the composition of gastric juice. The concentration of hydrochloric acid increases due to hormonal changes, which leads to an imbalance in the microflora. There is a protective mucus on the walls of the stomach and esophagus. When the pH of the gastric acid changes, the barrier breaks down. The acid injures the esophagus and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. From this there is a burning sensation, sore throat. Severe irritation of the mucous membrane can provoke vomiting in a pregnant woman.

Heartburn is a sign of pregnancy before delay

Today for the first time I went to get registered for pregnancy, the period is 6-7 weeks. For some reason I do not understand, the doctor said that she would register at 11-12 weeks. I quickly examined it with a mirror and a finger (inside), did not feel my stomach. I told her that I had already undergone an ultrasound, and the ultrasound showed that everything was OK, with the exception of the cyst of the corpus luteum, but even then, Uzist said that this was not considered a pathology. My complaints were severe nausea, vomiting and terrible heartburn, which diets do not help at all. Doctor.

Can heartburn be a sign of pregnancy?

At a gynecologist's appointment, pregnant girls ask themselves when heartburn begins and how long should it be expected? Experts note the fact that heartburn and burning attacks manifest themselves exclusively individually. So, attacks can begin to appear on the 4th week or after the 20th.

Heartburn and nausea as a sign of pregnancy before delay

The first tip is to eat right, often, but little by little, do not eat for two. Enjoy your meal, do not rush to eat everything quickly, chew your food thoroughly. In the evening, try to have a light meal for dinner, no later than 2-3 hours before bedtime. Dairy products, unsweetened yoghurts, low-fat cottage cheese, fermented baked milk will be useful. Try to consume less chocolate, tomatoes, hot spices.