Why does heartburn occur with pregnancy
Pregnancy is a special period for a woman. Many changes occur in the body of the mother-to-be as the baby develops. Expectant mothers always think positive and experience good feelings, and sometimes other changes may occur. However, sometimes these ailments experienced by the expectant mother can be annoying.
Some symptoms appear when pregnancy begins. The most obvious symptoms experienced at the beginning of pregnancy are nausea, vomiting and heartburn. Stomach-related disorders are common at the beginning of pregnancy.
What are the reasons?
This disturbing complaint is actually reflux in the medical terms. The progression of nutrient acids in the stomach towards the esophagus leads to damage to the esophagus. This destruction also causes a burning sensation in the chest area. This condition is called reflux. The cause of the heartburn during pregnancy may be due to hormonal and physical changes, as well as many other reasons.
The causes of heartburn during pregnancy are listed below;
During pregnancy, the level of hormones in the body changes significantly. Relaxin and Progesterone increase, and this restricts the functions of the digestive system. It will prolong digestion, absorption, and the blood mixing process of nutrients in the stomach. Prolonged digestion causes indigestion and burning in the stomach.
In addition to the increase in hormone levels experienced during pregnancy, the physical changes can have many effects on the body. As pregnancy progresses, the uterus also grows. The growth of the uterus also prevents the passage of nutrients in the stomach to the intestine. Meanwhile, the wait causes the acid in the stomach to rise up the esophagus. The compression of the stomach can also cause heartburn.
Another change in pregnancy is muscle related. The stomach valve muscle relaxes during pregnancy and cannot function as usual. This causes burning and sourness in the stomach, as it cannot prevent esophagus from escaping. The relaxation of the gastric valve is caused by the increase of the hormone progesterone. Due to the increase of this hormone, the gastric valve relaxes and cannot fully perform its task. As a result, the food will escape to the esophagus.
When does heartburn begin?
Heartburn is a common disorder in the first trimester of pregnancy. In the 2nd trimester, these complaints are almost gone and this period becomes the most comfortable period in terms of indigestion issues. However, these complaints return with the 3rd trimester. Because during this period, the uterus expands with the growth of the baby. This increases the pressure on the stomach. In short, the first 3 months and the last 3 months of pregnancy are known as the periods when heartburn complaints are most intense.
These complaints decrease in the last weeks of pregnancy as the pressure on the diaphragm, chest cavity and stomach decreases as the baby is in the birthing canal. It is stated that there are reductions not only in stomach complaints but also in shortness of breath and respiratory distress during the period when the baby takes a birth position. Complaints such as heartburn can make the mother think that there will be harm to my baby. However, these complaints have no negative effect on the development of the baby.
Suggestions to prevent heartburn
There are some methods to minimize or eliminate indigestion problems during pregnancy. Here’s a few suggestions listed below;
It is very important to consume plenty of fluids during pregnancy. 2.5-3 liters per day is the ideal amount. The consumption of water is important during meals as too much of it could inflate your tummy.
Eating less at short intervals will help heartburn as well. Overloading your stomach by eating too much or going hungry by eating too little is a condition that increases stomach complaints. For this reason, implementing a nutrition program with 3 main meals and 3 intermediate meals during pregnancy will reduce complaints.
During pregnancy, being meticulous about healthy eating will aid a healthy development of your baby. Avoiding processed and packaged foods are advised. In addition, foods that are high in fat, saucy and dishes with a lot of spice should be reduced. Carbonated and acidic beverages, fries, syrupy desserts with high sugar content should not be consumed as they trigger indigestion problems.
Your posture when eating is another factor. Sitting in an upright position while eating reduces pressure on the stomach.
Eating a healthy snack 1-2 hours before going to bed and using a high pillow while sleeping will also prevent heartburn.
Please contact your doctor if the condition persists.
