Heartburn medications during pregnancy

Heartburn is an unpleasant symptom that often occurs in pregnant women. And if in the early stages, heartburn can be provoked by a violation of the hormonal background, then at later stages - pressure on the esophagus and stomach, which increases with the development of the fetus. Medicines for heartburn during pregnancy must be chosen in such a way that they can effectively fight the pathological phenomenon and at the same time are absolutely safe for health. Therefore, initially, heartburn attacks must be fought with the help of a special diet and a healthy lifestyle. If such measures do not give the desired effect, then doctors resort to drug treatment.

Heartburn Causes

Several factors can provoke the appearance of heartburn in pregnant women, including:

• intense production of progesterone
  - a hormone responsible for pregnancy and the menstrual cycle. The active substance has a relaxing effect on the body, causing hydrochloric acid to enter the esophagus along with the contents of the stomach. This leads to irritation of the esophageal mucosa;
  

  Functions of progesterone in a woman's body

• enlargement of the uterus. During pregnancy, the size of the organ gradually increases, which creates increased pressure on the diaphragm and internal organs. Therefore, gastric juice can enter the esophagus of a pregnant woman, which is why heartburn occurs.

On a note! If heartburn was caused by one of these factors, then doctors prescribe medication to eliminate the unpleasant phenomenon. Of course, the entire course of therapy should take place under the strict supervision of a specialist.

Why is it dangerous for pregnant women?

According to statistics, in 90% of cases, pregnant women sooner or later face heartburn. If this symptom manifests itself no more than 2 times a week, then there is nothing to worry about, but if heartburn worries constantly, then you need to take appropriate measures. In such cases, specialist advice is required to select the appropriate medication that can be taken during pregnancy.

What is the danger of a "burning" symptom? First of all, the prolonged course of heartburn negatively affects the functioning of the nervous system. In addition, the patient is in a depressed mood for a long time, which cannot but affect the development of the fetus. Without timely treatment, heartburn can provoke various complications, for example, Barrett's syndrome (a pathological condition that manifests itself in the form of replacement of the epithelium of the esophageal mucosa). To avoid unpleasant consequences, this symptom should not be ignored, but treated.

Treatment without pills

As noted earlier, it is recommended to resort to medication for heartburn only if changes in lifestyle and nutrition did not give the desired effect. First of all, experts recommend making the following adjustments to your diet:

• eat fractionally (often, but in small portions), avoid overeating;
• exclude spicy, fatty and salty foods from the diet;
• stop eating acidic foods;
• reduce the amount of vegetables you eat that contain a lot of fiber (apples, onions, tomatoes, legumes, etc.);
• skip coffee, chocolate, walnuts and strawberries.

On a note! During pregnancy, doctors recommend consuming fermented milk products, carrots and oatmeal daily. The menu should consist of thick cereals and mashed soups. If all these conditions are met, you can not only get rid of heartburn, but also prevent its further manifestation.

Exercising or lying down for 30-40 minutes after eating will help relieve the burning sensation. Therefore, do not sit down and even more so do not lie down immediately after eating, as this will slow down the peristalsis of the digestive tract, which ultimately leads to heartburn. It is also necessary to wear loose clothing that does not create increased pressure in the abdomen. If an attack of heartburn occurs while lying down, then you need to drink a small amount of water, eat biscuits or other unsweetened cookies and walk a little around the room. These manipulations should be enough.

Heartburn drugs

There are many different drugs to combat heartburn, but not all of them are suitable for pregnant women. Depending on the principle of action, medicines are divided into antisecretory drugs and antacids. The action of the first group is to normalize the production of gastric juice, the second - to reduce acidity. Below are the most common heartburn medications that are harmless at the same time.

Table. Review of drugs for heartburn during pregnancy.

Name of the drug, photo	Description
"Pariet"	An effective medication that reduces the secretion of gastric juice. Available in pill form. Regular use of the drug allows not only to quickly get rid of the symptoms of heartburn, but also to prevent its recurrence.
"Ranitidine"	An antiulcer drug prescribed to treat heartburn. The principle of action of the drug is based on stimulating the production of gastric juice. It is recommended to take 1 tablet daily with water.
"Pechaevskie tablets"	It is not a drug, but a biologically active additive - dietary supplement. Its action is to reduce the activity of gastric juice, due to which the manifestation of heartburn is reduced.
"Gastracid"	Another drug that helps get rid of heartburn. It is prescribed for the treatment of duodenitis, gastritis and other pathologies, which are accompanied by a burning sensation behind the breastbone. The active ingredients of this remedy protect the lining of the esophagus and stomach, so that the symptoms of heartburn disappear.
"Maalox"	An effective remedy used in the treatment of symptoms of stomach ulcers, one of which is heartburn. The peculiarity of this drug is that it protects the walls of the stomach long after use.
Rennie	One of the most common treatments for heartburn. The drug "Rennie" is completely harmless to the body, so it is often prescribed to pregnant women. The active ingredient is magnesium and calcium.
"Gaviscon"	An effective protective agent that prevents irritation of the esophageal mucosa. As a rule, "Gaviscon" is used if heartburn attacks occur immediately after a meal. The drug has practically no contraindications, therefore it is prescribed to patients regardless of gender and age.

When unpleasant symptoms of heartburn appear, self-medication is highly discouraged. Even despite the natural composition of a particular drug, improper use or non-compliance with the dosage can harm not only the health of a pregnant woman, but also her unborn child. Therefore, in order to avoid serious consequences, the help of a medical specialist is needed.

Folk methods

Some folk remedies used for heartburn are in no way inferior to synthetic drugs. In addition, they contain exclusively natural ingredients, which makes them safe for women during pregnancy.

Let's consider the most common recipes:

• decoction of heather. Pour 500 ml of boiling water over 1 tbsp. l. chopped plant and leave for 30-40 minutes. Strain the finished product through cheesecloth and take 10 ml before each meal;
• infusion of centaury. Pour 200 ml of boiling water over 1 tsp. l. medicinal plant and leave for 2 hours. Then strain the infusion through several layers of gauze and take 3 times a day for 1 tbsp. l. You need to store the medicine in the refrigerator;
  

  Centaury

• calamus root powder. Grind a few roots in a blender to get a powdery substance. If you do not have a blender, you can buy the ready-made powder at the pharmacy. Take ½ hour. l. powder before each meal;
• fennel seeds. Add some seeds to tea and drink throughout the day. It is recommended to drink no more than 3 glasses of the drink per day;
  

  Fennel seeds

• ginger root. This is a unique plant with medicinal properties. Ginger can be used to prepare various dishes, added to tea, or chewed fresh;
• mix ½ tsp. l. honey, milk and mummy. Take this mixture daily after every meal. After 7-10 days, the symptoms of heartburn will pass, but you cannot stop drinking the medicine. The duration of the therapeutic course should be 3 weeks. This will help prevent heartburn and other digestive problems.

Despite the naturalness of all folk remedies, it is imperative to consult a doctor before using them. All actions must be coordinated with him, because the health of the unborn child is at stake.

Prevention

Treatment of heartburn during pregnancy is a difficult and responsible task that requires specialist supervision. It is much easier to prevent the development of this symptom.

To do this, you need to perform the following preventive measures:

• taking antispasmodics without good reason is not recommended, since they contribute to a decrease in the tone of the sphincter, which leads to the throwing of stomach contents into the esophagus, provoking the appearance of heartburn. The most common antispasmodic drugs include "Papaverine" and "No-shpa";
  

  "No-shpa"

• never take baking soda. Many people recommend it as an effective folk remedy for heartburn, but the symptom in this case is eliminated for a short time, while provoking an intense release of pepsin and hydrochloric acid. Soda also contains sodium, which can cause swelling;
• to avoid side effects or serious complications, all medicines should be taken only as directed by a doctor. Some preparations contain aluminum and magnesium, the excess of which can harm the body;
• eat a balanced diet. Often, heartburn occurs through the fault of the patient himself, who is not eating properly. First of all, the symptom occurs when overeating or eating spicy food. Therefore, in order to avoid problems in the future, you need to revise your diet;
  

  You need to eat right

• do physical therapy. There are special gymnastic exercises for pregnant women, the regular implementation of which helps to accelerate metabolic processes. A good metabolism, as a rule, is the key to the normal functioning of the entire body.

Observing all of the above recommendations, you can prevent the appearance of not only heartburn, but also other pathologies of the digestive system.

Video - How to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy