- What to do to prevent heartburn in pregnancy
- Remedies for heartburn in pregnancy
- Causes of heartburn in pregnancy
Heartburn in pregnancy is a common situation that can easily be relieved by changes in eating habits, such as avoiding fried foods, foods rich in pepper or too spicy and avoiding drinking fluids during meals, which should be done in small quantities. To quickly relieve the burning, you can try to take 1 glass of milk, preferably skimmed, as the fat from whole milk takes longer in the stomach and may not help.
Heartburn is a burning sensation in the stomach area and can extend to the throat and is common to appear in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, however some women may experience symptoms earlier. Heartburn in pregnancy is not serious and does not pose a risk to the mother or baby, although it is quite uncomfortable. However, if heartburn is accompanied by other symptoms such as severe pain, pain below the ribs or pain in the upper right side of the belly, it is important to go to the doctor, as it can be indicative of more serious situations that should be treated quickly.
What to do to prevent heartburn in pregnancy
Although heartburn is a typical pregnancy disorder, there are some precautions that help to combat this problem:
- Avoid foods such as mustard, mayonnaise, pepper, coffee, chocolate, soda, alcoholic drinks and industrialized juices; Avoid drinking liquids during meals; Regularly consume fruits such as pear, apple, mango, very ripe peach, papaya, banana and grapes; Chew well all foods, to facilitate digestion; sit at least 30 minutes after eating, avoiding lying down; do not wear tight clothes on the belly and stomach; eat small portions at a time, several times a day; put a 10-inch wedge cm at the head of the bed, to prevent the body from lying completely horizontally, favoring reflux and heartburn; Do not smoke and avoid exposure to cigarettes; Avoid eating 2 to 3 hours before bed.
In general, heartburn passes after delivery, as the stomach has more space in the abdomen and the female hormones return to normal. However, women who gained a lot of weight during pregnancy may still experience symptoms of heartburn for up to 1 year after delivery. In addition, heartburn can be a symptom of reflux in pregnancy, which should be treated according to medical advice. Learn more about reflux in pregnancy and how treatment should be.
Remedies for heartburn in pregnancy
In most cases, heartburn improves with changes in diet and lifestyle, but in cases of constant and severe heartburn, the doctor may recommend magnesium or calcium based remedies such as Magnesia Bisurada or Leite de Leite tablets. Magnesia, or medicines like Mylanta Plus, for example. However, it is important to remember that any medication should only be taken under medical guidance, as it can be harmful to the baby's development.
Other options are home remedies that relieve heartburn, such as peeling a small piece of potato and eating it raw. Other options include eating 1 unpeeled apple, a piece of bread or 1 cream cracker because they help to push gastric contents back into the stomach to fight heartburn naturally. See also how to treat gastritis in pregnancy.
Causes of heartburn in pregnancy
Heartburn in pregnancy usually appears in the second and third trimester in pregnancy due to increased production of the hormone progesterone, which allows the muscles of the uterus to relax to allow it to grow and behave in the baby. However, progesterone ends up decreasing the intestinal flow and also relaxing the esophageal sphincter, which is the muscle responsible for closing the division between the stomach and the esophagus, which ends up allowing the gastric acid to return to the esophagus and throat more easily., resulting in heartburn symptoms.
In addition, with the growth of the baby, the organs end up with less space in the abdomen and the stomach is compressed upwards, which also facilitates the return of food and gastric juice and, consequently, the appearance of heartburn symptoms.
Check out the video below for more about heartburn in pregnancy and how to fight it:
