What are the causes of heartburn during pregnancy?

Burning sensation in the sternum or under the spoon, which is called heartburn, triggers the transfer of stomach contents into the esophagus.

The esophagus mucosa is not designed to interact with corrosive digestive fluids such as hydrochloric acid or bile, so irritation, a slight chemical burn, and heartburn is only a natural mechanism, painful sensations, designed to tell you that the correct circulation of digestive fluids is disturbed.

Burning can serve as a sign of serious enough diseases of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, but it can also torment an absolutely healthy person.

Heartburn during pregnancy is most often triggered by changes through which the woman's body passes.

Early life pathology

If you have often experienced heartburn, the resumption of this symptom may indicate an exacerbation of a chronic disease.

Gastritis and peptic ulcer disease can react to hormonal changes in the body, changing the regime of the day, stress, increased eating. In a word, if you are not having heartburn for the first time, then it's best to consult a doctor.

In a healthy woman, heartburn during pregnancy can be triggered by an unbalanced diet.

Frequent consumption of fried, sweet, spicy, salty, lack of vegetables in the diet, excessive infatuation with acidic fruits - all this can bring the digestive system out of balance, increase the secretion of hydrochloric acid and provoke heartburn.

Frequent consumption of carbonated beverages and legumes( beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas) leads to an increase in the amount of gas in the stomach and increases intra-abdominal pressure, so that the cardiac sphincter( a jumper between the esophagus and stomach) can not completely close, and a small amount of hydrochloric acidAnd other digestive juices enters the esophagus.

Coffee and chocolate relax the cardiac sphincter, further reduce its tone. Abuse of such products often ends with various problems with digestion, so they should be avoided or consumed in limited quantities.

The cause of heartburn in the early stages of pregnancy may be the failure to observe the correct regime of the day.

Irregular nutrition and the habit of overeating after a long break between meals can cause burning not only in patients with stomach ulcers, but also in absolutely healthy people.

When a woman is pregnant, at first it can be difficult to control the feeling of hunger, so overeating or a long time without snacks often causes heartburn.

Afternoon sleep and exercises that involve the abdominal area( slopes, twists), squeeze the stomach, deform it, which leads to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure and throwing a small amount of hydrochloric acid into the esophagus.

That's why doctors recommend after a meal to walk a little to give the stomach time to digest food, and only after 1,5-2 hours to start the exercises.

Heartburn in the second trimester

Unlike early heartburn, which is relatively rare, in the second trimester, many women suffer from this ailment.

The main reason - hormonal changes in the body and active growth of the fetus. Since the baby needs more and more space, he starts to gradually tighten the internal organs of the mother, move the intestine, diaphragm and deform the stomach.

To avoid spasms and ensure a more smooth stretching of the uterus, the body begins to produce a hormone progesterone, which relaxes smooth muscles.

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Cardiac sphincter( a jumper between the stomach and esophagus) also refers to smooth muscles, therefore it loses its tone, the ability to close tightly.

In combination with increased intragastric pressure, this often leads to heartburn and eructation.

Progesterone causes changes not only in smooth muscles, but throughout the body.

Intestine becomes more sensitive to various foods, it is easier to irritate.

The stomach begins to produce more hydrochloric acid, while the digestive muscles contract less actively, the digestion process slows down, which can also cause heartburn.

On these terms, heartburn in pregnant women can be caused by uncomfortable clothing, which squeezes the stomach: tight elastic bands, belts, tight clothing from dense fabrics.

Slopes, turns and almost any physical activity at this time can increase intra-abdominal pressure and provoke burning or belching.

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The issue of proper nutrition, moderate consumption of fatty and heavy products, soda and chocolate becomes even more urgent.

Given the reduced activity of the cardiac sphincter and digestive muscles, overeating can result in heartburn even in women with a strong gastrointestinal tract who have never encountered such a problem before.

Burning on late terms

In the third trimester, the main cause of heartburn is the size and position of the fetus. The baby on these terms not only sufficiently strongly displaces the mother's organs, which leads to deformation of the stomach and increased intragastric pressure, but also begins to move.

Burning and discomfort in the stomach after a plentiful meal with a large fruit is almost inevitable.

Progesterone continues to excrete in elevated amounts almost throughout the entire gestation period.

The exception is the last month, when the body begins to prepare for childbirth and increase muscle tone. Heartburn during this period can pass by itself.

Despite the fact that in late terms, burning is considered the norm and in most cases provoked by natural changes in the mother's body, it is necessary to inform the doctor about the frequency and intensity of this illness.

Often the cause of heartburn is pelvic diligence of the fetus and exacerbation of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, so just ignore it, too, is not worth it.

Treatment of heartburn during pregnancy

During pregnancy, even the most harmless drugs, the use of which is permissible during the carrying of the fetus with an official instruction, can have a negative impact on the general condition of the baby and on the health of the mother.

Therefore, the safest and most effective way to combat heartburn is to observe the right regime of the day and nutrition.

Several simple rules can be distinguished:

• does not overeat - this leads to overfilling of the stomach and increased intra-abdominal pressure. The consequence of too abundant food can be not only heartburn, but also heaviness in the stomach, nausea, belching;
• eat at least four times a day, or better - more often. Fractional meals in small portions will help your stomach to digest food faster and not to give off excess hydrochloric acid;
• do not lie down immediately after a meal, wait at least 20 - 30 minutes sitting or, best of all, walk a little;
• do not sleep after eating - during sleep digestive processes are inhibited, digestive juices do not circulate, which often causes discomfort in the stomach;
• do not bend over and do not exercise as soon as you eat;
• Avoid fried, salty, sour and spicy - these foods irritate the mucous, so they can cause not only heartburn, but also other digestive problems;
• reduce the consumption of products such as tomatoes, chocolate, white bread, sweet, hard-boiled eggs, fatty meat.

If the diet and fractional food do not help, then you can take the medicine. Before use, it is best to consult a doctor, especially if you are taking any other medications.

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Pregnant women are most often prescribed non-absorbing antacids - drugs that neutralize hydrochloric acid in the stomach and envelop the mucous, protecting it from irritation.

Among the most popular drugs can be identified:

• Almagel - a fast-acting drug based on aluminum and magnesium compounds. Neutralizes hydrochloric acid and creates a protective film on the walls of the stomach, adsorbs toxins, soothes pain. Almagel promotes the washing out of phosphorus from the body, so it is not recommended to use it for a long time;
• Maalox - a drug of similar effect, additionally absorbs gases, so it easily removes heartburn after excessive consumption of legumes or strong drinks;
• Gaviscon - a drug based on sodium and calcium compounds, on contact with hydrochloric acid forms a neutral gel that envelops the walls of the stomach and esophagus.

If you do not want to take medicines, then you can try folk remedies: potato juice, almonds, pre-soaked peas.

Medicinal herbs should be used with caution, only after consulting a doctor.