Heartburn during pregnancy
Nicole Wendler holds a PhD in biology in the field of oncology and immunology. As a medical editor, author and proofreader, she works for various publishers, for whom she presents complex and extensive medical issues in a simple, concise and logical manner.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.Heartburn during pregnancy is common: around every second pregnant woman suffers from it. The harmless but sometimes extremely uncomfortable burning pain in the epigastric region occurs especially towards the end of pregnancy. Read here what promotes heartburn during pregnancy and what you can do about it.
Why is heartburn so common during pregnancy?
Heartburn occurs when acidic gastric fluid rises up the esophagus. This reflux, also called reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD), is possible when the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus no longer works properly.
During pregnancy, the hormone progesterone ensures that smooth muscles relax. The primary aim is to avoid unwanted contractions of the uterine muscles. However, due to progesterone, the smooth muscles in other parts of the body also relax, including the muscle ring between the stomach and esophagus. This fact and the fact that the stomach empties more slowly during pregnancy promote reflux.
In addition, as the pregnancy progresses, the growing uterus pushes up against the intestines and stomach, making it easier for the acid to rise. If the baby kicks hard, it can also lead to heartburn.
Pregnancy: how is heartburn expressed?
Pregnant women who suffer from heartburn usually feel bloated with belching after eating. The symptoms increase when lying down, when bending over and under exertion and become more frequent as the pregnancy progresses.
Depending on the extent to which the acidic stomach contents irritate the sensitive lining of the esophagus, heartburn is noticeable to different degrees during pregnancy. Overall, the following complaints are possible:
- Belching of air
- Backflow of stomach contents into the mouth
- Pressure in the upper abdomen, feeling of fullness
- Burning in the stomach area, behind the breastbone, in the throat and pharynx
- Sore throat
- chronic cough
- Hoarseness, thick voice
- difficulties swallowing
- Nausea or vomiting
- sleep disorders
Heartburn During Pregnancy: General Tips
Even simple measures help to prevent or at least limit the backflow of gastric fluid:
- wear comfortable and loose clothing that does not constrict the stomach (no belts)
- do not lie down immediately after eating
- Don't eat anything about two hours before going to bed
- sleep with the upper body slightly elevated
- ensure regular exercise and fresh air
- do not smoke
Heartburn during pregnancy: adjust eating habits
Several smaller meals spread over the day (instead of a few large ones), chewing every bite well and drinking as little as possible with the meal - these measures reduce heartburn. Pregnant women should also know which foods promote gastric acid formation and which ones inhibit it:
What to avoid if you have heartburn during pregnancy
Some foods increase acid build-up and thus heartburn. During pregnancy, affected women should therefore limit the consumption of foods and drinks that produce or contain acid:
- Citrus fruits
- legumes
- Onions
- fatty and spicy food
- Sweets (such as chocolate, candy)
- Coffee, black tea
- carbonated drinks
- vinegar
Cheap food for heartburn during pregnancy
Certain foods bind stomach acid and soothe heartburn during pregnancy. Therefore, if you have symptoms, use more foods such as:
- zwieback
- White bread
- oatmeal
- Milk, condensed milk
- Almonds, hazelnuts
- green vegetables
Heartburn medication during pregnancy
If none of the measures mentioned so far do not help, heartburn can also be treated with medication during pregnancy. However, pregnant women should only take preparations that bind gastric acid. These include certain minerals such as calcium, aluminum and magnesium. With drugs that inhibit acid formation or accelerate gastric emptying, however, caution is advised: Here the doctor should first weigh the benefits and risks of use during pregnancy against each other. Therefore, consult your doctor if you want to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy with medication.
Tags: Baby Child baby toddler teenager
