Seem to have more heartburns now than before. Never felt so uncomfortable before, so now drinking water like drinking my favourite Ribena.
*deep breathes in, deep breathes out... deep breathes in..* I feel like I'm preparing for labour.
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WHAT IS HEARTBURN?
Heartburn during pregnancy is a very unpleasant experience. It can become so bad for some pregnant mothers that not eating at all seems like the best option. But there are some ways to cope with it to make pregnancy difficulties more tolerable.
One possible cause of heartburn in pregnancy; is the extra pressure on the stomach (during the third trimester) exerted by the growing baby. Also, during pregnancy, the placenta produces the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the smooth muscles of the uterus. This hormone also relaxes the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach, allowing gastric acids to seep back up the pipe, which causes that uncomfortable burning sensation. Progesterone also slows down the wavelike contractions of the stomach, making digestion sluggish. In later pregnancy, the growing baby crowds the abdominal cavity, slowing elimination and pushing up the stomach acids to cause heartburn.
First of all, after meals you should stay upright for at least 20 minutes. This is particularly true before bedtime. And if you must go to bed right after eating, lie with your head propped up a bit so acids from your stomach don't come back up your esophagus and create pain for you.
Papaya enzymes, sold in health food stores primarily, offer some relief as well, though it may be very brief. These little tablets can be taken after meals to help reduce the incidence of heartburn. They also help ease the burning sensation associated with heartburn, providing some much-needed relief.
The usual Tums and other antacids can also be effective. Check with your health care provider first to see which ones you can take during pregnancy.
Taking a drink of skim milk from the refrigerator, provided you are not lactose-intolerant, is also a good avenue to try. It must be skim milk, though. The other types, like whole milk or 2 percent milk, will not work right. This is also a temporary fix, but it can provide relief for up to 20 minutes.
Watch the foods you eat as well. It can vary with each individual, but the obvious things like Mexican food and spicy Italian foods can create big difficulties.
For some women, drinking lots of water can help the problem too, attempting to keep the stomach acids down.
Heartburn is most evident toward the end of the pregnancy and the only real effective solution for it is having a baby. That may give little comfort but it proves there is relief in sight.
*deep breathes in, deep breathes out... deep breathes in..* I feel like I'm preparing for labour.
***************************************************
WHAT IS HEARTBURN?
Heartburn during pregnancy is a very unpleasant experience. It can become so bad for some pregnant mothers that not eating at all seems like the best option. But there are some ways to cope with it to make pregnancy difficulties more tolerable.
One possible cause of heartburn in pregnancy; is the extra pressure on the stomach (during the third trimester) exerted by the growing baby. Also, during pregnancy, the placenta produces the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the smooth muscles of the uterus. This hormone also relaxes the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach, allowing gastric acids to seep back up the pipe, which causes that uncomfortable burning sensation. Progesterone also slows down the wavelike contractions of the stomach, making digestion sluggish. In later pregnancy, the growing baby crowds the abdominal cavity, slowing elimination and pushing up the stomach acids to cause heartburn.
First of all, after meals you should stay upright for at least 20 minutes. This is particularly true before bedtime. And if you must go to bed right after eating, lie with your head propped up a bit so acids from your stomach don't come back up your esophagus and create pain for you.
Papaya enzymes, sold in health food stores primarily, offer some relief as well, though it may be very brief. These little tablets can be taken after meals to help reduce the incidence of heartburn. They also help ease the burning sensation associated with heartburn, providing some much-needed relief.
The usual Tums and other antacids can also be effective. Check with your health care provider first to see which ones you can take during pregnancy.
Taking a drink of skim milk from the refrigerator, provided you are not lactose-intolerant, is also a good avenue to try. It must be skim milk, though. The other types, like whole milk or 2 percent milk, will not work right. This is also a temporary fix, but it can provide relief for up to 20 minutes.
Watch the foods you eat as well. It can vary with each individual, but the obvious things like Mexican food and spicy Italian foods can create big difficulties.
For some women, drinking lots of water can help the problem too, attempting to keep the stomach acids down.
Heartburn is most evident toward the end of the pregnancy and the only real effective solution for it is having a baby. That may give little comfort but it proves there is relief in sight.
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