At what week does heartburn appear during pregnancy? How to deal with heartburn during pregnancy? If all else fails

During pregnancy, many new and sometimes not very pleasant sensations may arise associated with the development of pregnancy and the growth of the fetus. One of the most unpleasant among them is heartburn.

Heartburn can occur in pregnant women even if the woman has never experienced it before. According to statistics, three out of four pregnant women experience heartburn, and for some it is so strong and intrusive, so unpleasant that the woman is ready to take any measures just to get rid of this feeling at least for a while. However, not all methods of getting rid of heartburn are acceptable during pregnancy, as they can affect the health and development of the baby. Therefore, in matters of treating heartburn, you should definitely consult a doctor, even if you plan to use traditional medicine, herbs, and seemingly harmless improvised methods of struggle.

Myths about heartburn

There are myths about heartburn during pregnancy, one of which says: “if a woman has constant heartburn, it means that the baby is growing curls and will be born very hairy.” This is, of course, a joke, and hair growth does not in any way affect the development of heartburn and its severity. None of the baby’s hairs irritate the esophagus - the uterus, as thick as a finger, reliably protects the baby from the esophagus, and 99% of babies lie head down.

They also talk about heartburn in connection with marigolds - “if there is severe heartburn, it’s the baby’s marigolds growing,” and he touches and irritates the esophagus with them. Based on the previous explanation, you yourself already understood that this is also nothing more than a myth, a fairy tale to calm the nerves of suspicious pregnant women. In fact, the “fire” in the area of ​​the sternum and esophagus has a completely physiological cause, also related to the baby and his growth, but in no way related to his fingers or hair. Accordingly, knowing the true nature of heartburn, you can understand how to deal with heartburn during pregnancy most effectively.

What causes heartburn?

Heartburn, or acid reflux, acid dyspepsia, is a subjectively unpleasant sensation of burning and heat directly behind the sternum, in the epigastric region or along the esophagus. This feeling is unpleasant, causes discomfort to the expectant mother and can disrupt her appetite and mood, causing anxiety and a desire to urgently take something to alleviate the condition. Most often, this can occur due to the reflux of gastric contents with aggressive gastric juice into the cavity of the esophagus, where the mucous membrane is not suitable for contact with acid. The esophagus has a thin and delicate mucous and neutral environment, the sharply acidic contents of the stomach cause irritation and inflammation, and pain receptors give a feeling of heat and pain.

However, the reflux of acid into the esophagus itself does not just happen if there are no predisposing factors or diseases. During pregnancy, the reflux of aggressive gastric juice provokes compression of the internal organs by the growing uterus, with an increase in body weight and with active bending of the body and an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. During pregnancy, the growing uterus puts more and more pressure on the stomach, bringing it into a more and more vertical position, due to which acid from it can be more actively thrown into the esophagus. In addition, during pregnancy, due to the action of estrogen hormones, smooth muscles relax, causing the lower esophageal sphincter to relax somewhat, which facilitates the reflux of contents. Therefore, it is with increasing pregnancy that women experience heartburn more and more often. In the early stages of pregnancy, in women who do not suffer from stomach diseases, heartburn practically does not occur or it is a variant of the course of toxicosis.

Heartburn can occasionally occur during periods of active movement of a woman from about 25-26 weeks, when the uterus begins to actively grow, but mainly occurs after bending over, straining or overeating. But closer to 32-36 weeks of pregnancy, heartburn can be provoked by even minor errors in eating, bending over to put on shoes, or even lying on the bed.

Among other things, high levels of certain hormones during pregnancy can significantly affect digestion, slowing it down and weakening the tone of the smooth muscles of the digestive tube. This lengthens the time required to evacuate food from the stomach, which results in increased acidity of gastric juice and an increase in its aggressive effect on the esophagus. As a result, this reduces the peristaltic movements of the esophagus from top to bottom, which normally prevent the contents from the stomach from being thrown into the esophagus along with hydrochloric acid.

The occurrence and course of heartburn

Usually, heartburn begins some time after eating, especially if it was a heavy breakfast or lunch, and the woman ate fatty, spicy or salty, fried foods flavored with spices, drank sour fruit juices or tomato juice, ate dry food, or drank coffee. Typically, heartburn lasts from a few minutes to several hours, sometimes until the next meal or medication. However, the duration and intensity of heartburn can be very variable, depending on the individual sensitivity of the woman and concomitant digestive diseases. For many women, heartburn does not last long, is easily eliminated using simple methods and does not interfere with their ability to lead their normal lives. But there are many for whom heartburn can become a very difficult symptom, subjectively difficult to bear and simply tormenting the expectant mother. Sometimes heartburn can be so severe that a woman cannot drink or eat normally; in addition, heartburn often disturbs a woman’s sleep, as it worsens in a lying position, which is why expectant mothers sleep half-sitting, which is quite uncomfortable.

How can you treat heartburn during pregnancy?

Excessively painful heartburn or very annoying attacks that occur during pregnancy can be eliminated by using a special type of medication. These drugs belong to the group of non-absorbable antacids. They have the ability to neutralize and sometimes also absorb hydrochloric acid, which is secreted by the walls of the stomach. In addition, these drugs envelop the walls of the stomach, due to which relief comes quickly, literally in a few minutes. With all their active action, antacids of this group do not enter the bloodstream at all, which means they cannot harm the baby.

These drugs include a group of antacids that contain aluminum, calcium or magnesium. This group of drugs includes such modern drugs as Maalox, Almagel, Rennie, Taltsid, Gastal, Gaviscon. And everything would be fine with these drugs, if not for one “but”, in addition to hydrochloric acid of the stomach, they are able to absorb and bind many other useful substances in the digestive tube. Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to combine the use of antacids with other drugs prescribed to pregnant women. In addition, these drugs are classified as medications with their own indications and contraindications, therefore, their use must first be discussed with your doctor.

In addition, one of the unpleasant side effects of many antacid drugs, especially relevant for pregnancy, is the provocation of severe constipation by these drugs. Manufacturers are trying to deprive their drugs of this negative side effect, but so far only Rennie is relatively free from it. The drug contains calcium and magnesium carbonate, and magnesium in the drug has some laxative effect. In addition, the drug stimulates the secretion of protective mucus in the stomach, which helps to better suppress the activity of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. However, there is evidence that excess magnesium can negatively affect the development of the fetus; gynecologists recommend, if possible, avoiding the systematic use of these drugs.

There is another group of drugs containing bismuth nitrate - these are Vikalin or its analogues. They also fight heartburn quite effectively, but there is no information about the safety of taking them during pregnancy, and therefore it is better to avoid drugs from this group while pregnant, unless the doctor himself decides to prescribe them for you.

In general, any of the drugs taken for heartburn should be discussed with a doctor - the doctor will select both the drug itself and its maximum permissible dosage in order to eliminate or reduce side effects.

Folk remedies for heartburn

Of course, any pregnant woman understands that the fewer medications taken during pregnancy, the better for the fetus. Therefore, expectant mothers refuse medications against heartburn in favor of folk or grandmother’s methods. Usually the first thing used for heartburn is baking soda, but this method is highly not recommended during pregnancy. The thing is that soda, when it begins to interact with gastric juice, forms carbon dioxide, which in itself has an effect that stimulates the secretion of gastric juice. As a result of stomach irritation, the formation of additional portions of acid is stimulated, which is why heartburn returns even stronger and more severe. In addition, soda solution can easily be absorbed into the blood, which can lead to alkalization of the blood and disruption of the acid-base balance of the blood, which leads to serious metabolic disorders. This provokes increased swelling, which often occurs in the second half of pregnancy. In addition, a violation of the acid-base balance provokes toxicosis.

If heartburn occurs frequently and disrupts your usual life, but you don’t want to use medications at all, you can try to resort to traditional medicine methods. However, first discuss methods of getting rid of heartburn using folk remedies with your doctor so that he approves of your choice. These can be tinctures of heather, centaury, calamus rhizomes and many others.

It is important to remember that heartburn itself does not affect the development of the fetus and its general condition in any way. However, enduring an unpleasant burning sensation behind the sternum is not at all useful, and sometimes you simply won’t be able to endure it, since the manifestations are very significant. Of course, if you can do without medications, great. Use simple remedies aimed at reducing acid concentration. Fresh seeds or almonds, a glass of milk, fresh cucumber or carrots, mineral water, mint tea or mint gum usually help. Every woman usually finds one or two effective ways to get rid of heartburn.

There are a number of tips to combat emerging episodes of heartburn and actively prevent its occurrence. These include the following recommendations:

1. You should try not to use antispasmodics, since it is because of them that the esophageal sphincter can relax too much, which can contribute to heartburn. Herbs, such as mint, also have a similar relaxing effect. If you have heartburn, you should avoid drinking herbal teas.

2. You need to know that the higher the weight gained during pregnancy, the greater the risk of heartburn.

3. If you have frequent heartburn, eat small portions, but often, so that there are no long breaks between meals and there is no chance for acid to accumulate in the stomach.

4. Always eat slowly, chewing every bite of food thoroughly.

5. Be sure to include foods that have an alkalizing effect in your diet. These are products such as cream and milk, cottage cheese and sour cream, steam omelet, boiled meat or fish without salt and spices. Vegetable oil, butter, and day-old white bread also work well against heartburn.

6. Vegetable dishes or vegetable side dishes can be consumed without special restrictions if they are boiled or fresh, baked, especially pureed. But with fruits everything is more complicated - if you have severe heartburn, it is better to bake them.

7. Introduce foods such as boiled beets, steamed prunes or dried apricots into your diet. This will help prevent severe constipation, since straining and increased intra-abdominal pressure can also provoke heartburn and interfere with a woman’s well-being.

8. Avoid fatty and heavily fried foods, smoked foods, hot sauces and seasonings. It is worth giving up sour fruits and compotes, vegetables with coarse fiber - cabbage, radishes, radishes, as well as onions and garlic. It is worth severely limiting your diet to hard-to-digest nuts and mushrooms, chocolate and cocoa, black tea and coffee, fizzy drinks and soda.

9. During heartburn, you should give up tomatoes and oranges, vinegar and mustard. Remove lamb, lamb and goose fat from your diet.

10. For dinner, you should choose the lightest dishes without meat, usually omelettes, salads, vegetables, and dairy. And after dinner, try not to eat anything two to three hours before bedtime.

11. You shouldn’t lie down immediately after eating; you need to sit or stand or take a walk for at least half an hour. With the body in an upright position, it is easier for food to leave the stomach quickly.

12. Avoid bending over and exercises that strain the abdominals, watch your posture and straight back. Excessive slouching promotes the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus, as pressure on the abdomen increases. Try to always keep your spine straight.

13. To sleep and rest, use an elevated position of your head and upper body, placing more pillows under your shoulders and back.

14. If heartburn begins while lying down or while sleeping when turning your body from one side to the other, you can get up and walk quietly around the room for a while, drink a glass of cold still water or eat biscuits.

15. Check your clothing to make sure it does not constrict your chest and stomach.

16. It is necessary to consume a sufficient amount of fluid daily; due to the restriction of fluid intake, heartburn may be worse.

Nothing helps!

Sometimes situations may arise when all methods, including drug therapy, have already been tried, but heartburn returns again and again. In this case, there is no point in hoping that heartburn will subside and leave you alone; you should consult a doctor and consult a gastroenterologist. Sometimes this can be a symptom of an exacerbation of digestive diseases that require treatment with more serious medications.

Sometimes you just have to endure heartburn, relieving it a little with improvised means and medications, but after childbirth it usually disappears immediately. Therefore, do not be nervous or worry, heartburn only gets worse from worry.

Photo - photobank Lori

Heartburn during pregnancy is observed in 50–80% of women; it can occur at any stage, but more often in the second and third trimesters. From the 20th week, about 30% of pregnant women complain of frequent heartburn, and by the 38th week - already 80%, and in 25% of cases, heartburn is observed daily.

Heartburn is a burning sensation behind the breastbone and in the stomach, which occurs most often after eating and intensifies when lying down. It appears because aggressive gastric juice enters the lower part of the esophagus and irritates its mucous membrane.

Causes of heartburn during pregnancy

1. The hormone progesterone, specific for pregnant women, has a relaxing effect on the muscles of the esophageal sphincter, which is why it begins to “pass” gastric juice in the opposite direction. That is why heartburn can also occur during early stages of pregnancy, when progesterone begins to dominate, although, of course, it appears more often in the second and third trimesters.

2. As pregnancy progresses, the growing uterus begins to compress the internal organs of the abdominal cavity, including the stomach, which also contributes to the reverse flow of gastric juice into the esophagus.

3. Due to the slowdown of intestinal motility in expectant mothers, the digestion process takes longer than in non-pregnant women, which can provoke fullness of the stomach and reflux of its contents into the esophagus.

Features of heartburn during pregnancy

Most often, heartburn appears in the second half of pregnancy, although it is not uncommon for this problem to arise from the earliest stages. As a rule, an attack occurs immediately after eating or some time after it (about 5–10 minutes).

If the expectant mother goes to lie down immediately after eating, this can also cause heartburn.

An attack of heartburn during pregnancy can last a few minutes and soon go away on its own, or it can continue for many hours and bother you even after taking medications. Much depends on the individual characteristics of the organism.

They provoke the occurrence of heartburn and errors in the diet of the expectant mother (eating fatty, fried, spicy foods).

In addition, toxicosis, accompanied by frequent vomiting (and therefore irritation of the esophagus by vomit), which is a frequent accompaniment of the onset of pregnancy, can also contribute to the appearance of heartburn.

Should heartburn be treated during pregnancy?

Of course yes. Research in recent years has shown that the constant irritating effect of gastric juice on the mucous membrane of the esophagus can lead to erosions and ulcers, and this is also a trigger point in the subsequent development of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in a woman, complications of which can include ulcers and strictures (narrowing) of the esophagus, precancerous and cancerous lesions. Therefore, it is imperative to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy. She can't be tolerated. If this problem occurs, you should consult an obstetrician-gynecologist who is monitoring your pregnancy. You may need to consult a gastroenterologist who will find out the cause of the disease and prescribe treatment. It is worth noting that there are enough remedies for heartburn.

Diagnosis of heartburn during pregnancy

To find out the cause of heartburn during pregnancy, your doctor will usually:

1. Prescribes a general blood test, determination of serum iron levels, and a stool test for occult blood (to exclude bleeding from ulcers or erosions).
2. Conducts instrumental examination (most often it is esophagogastroduodenoscopy).
3. Uses the “alkaline test”: if heartburn goes away quickly in response to taking antacids, this indirectly indicates the presence of GERD.

Treatment of heartburn

The main remedy for heartburn in a pregnant woman is taking a drug from the group of antacids. Antacids coat the esophageal mucosa, protecting it from the irritating effects of hydrochloric acid, and also neutralize the acid itself. The effect of the drug begins within 2 minutes. These products are harmless to the expectant mother and baby, as they only have a local effect and are not absorbed into the bloodstream. Your doctor will help you decide on a heartburn remedy.

Tips to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy

• Try not to go to bed immediately after eating, wait at least 15–20 minutes.
• Eat small meals frequently, 5–6 times a day.
• Avoid spicy, salty, fatty and fried foods. Try to pay attention to what food you most often get heartburn after and avoid it.
• Eat slowly, chewing your food thoroughly.
• Avoid constipation, include in your diet foods rich in fiber (fresh and boiled vegetables, bran, cereals).
• Do not wear tight, tight clothing that squeezes your stomach.
• Don't smoke, don't drink alcohol.
• Monitor your weight gain and avoid excessive weight gain.

• Do not take antispasmodics without a doctor's prescription, as they also have a relaxing effect on the esophageal sphincter.
• Include alkaline foods in your menu (milk, cottage cheese, sour cream, omelettes, boiled meat and fish, vegetable oil).
• Watch your posture - do not slouch, try to sit and walk with a straight back to avoid compression of internal organs.
• Sleep on a bed with the head of the bed raised.

It is important to understand that heartburn is far from a safe condition, and it requires treatment. Therefore, when it appears, you don’t need to endure and suffer; tell your doctor about this problem, and he will definitely help you.

Attention!

Using a baking soda solution internally on the advice of “knowledgeable” relatives will help only for a short time by neutralizing the effect of hydrochloric acid, but at the same time, firstly, it will disrupt the acid-base balance in the body, and secondly, it will stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid and lead to to a new attack of heartburn.

Folk remedies for heartburn

• Drink a glass of milk - although it won't last long, it will help relieve the attack.
• Make an infusion of heather (15 g of common heather, pour 500 ml of water, boil for 2-3 minutes) and drink it 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day half an hour before meals.
• You can drink 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil, it will help a little due to its enveloping effect.
• Try drinking carrot and potato juice before meals.

According to statistics, heartburn in pregnant women occurs in 50% of cases. Most often, symptoms appear after the 20th week and accompany women until childbirth. Unpleasant sensations in the chest can bother both expectant mothers who were previously familiar with this disease and completely healthy women. What can a pregnant woman drink?

Features of manifestations in pregnant women

A quarter of pregnant women suffer from heartburn every day. Most people experience this problem in the second and third trimesters. According to obstetricians and gynecologists, in the ninth month of pregnancy, symptoms of the disease appear in 80% of women. But early pregnancy is not a guarantee of safety; a small number of expectant mothers experience discomfort already in the first half of pregnancy.

Typically, heartburn symptoms appear immediately after eating or after 10-15 minutes and are worse when lying down. Sometimes a feeling of discomfort can bother you even if you ate food a couple of hours ago, or on an empty stomach. Heartburn lasts from a few minutes to several hours.

Why does heartburn occur in pregnant women?

There may be several reasons for this:

• under the influence of the pregnancy hormone progesterone, the muscles become more elastic, this provokes the reflux of digestive juice into the lower esophagus;
• the fetus growing in the uterus over time compresses the woman’s organs, the volume of the stomach decreases, as a result of which symptoms of heartburn appear;
• due to changes in hormonal levels, digestion processes in the pregnant woman’s body slow down, which can also cause a burning sensation;
• eating foods that most often cause symptoms of the disease: baked goods, carbonated drinks, fatty foods, sour fruits, etc.;
• toxicosis, accompanied by vomiting, irritates the esophagus - discomfort occurs behind the sternum.

Heartburn during pregnancy: treat or endure?

According to experts, heartburn during pregnancy should not be left without proper attention. Like any other disease, it must be treated. Over time, these unpleasant sensations can develop into a more serious illness. But it must be remembered that any treatment must be agreed with a doctor. Especially if the woman’s condition requires taking medications.

If the expectant mother needs drug treatment, obstetricians-gynecologists usually prescribe drugs from the group of antacids.

How to prevent the appearance

There are a number of rules, following which you can significantly reduce the likelihood of heartburn while carrying a baby:

• It is necessary to monitor nutrition: a pregnant woman should exclude spicy, fried, fatty, sour, salty, and smoked foods from her diet. Monitor not only the cooking method, but also the quality of the products.
• Eat small meals 5-7 times a day, avoid overeating.
• Do not go to bed immediately after eating. This habit can lead not only to heartburn, but also to excess weight gain. You should have dinner three hours before going to bed.
• Do not eat foods that most often cause heartburn in a woman.
• Chew your food well.
• Get rid of bad habits - alcohol, smoking.
• Do not take antispasmodic drugs without a doctor’s prescription (papaverine, drotaverine, no-spa, etc.).
• Include enough vegetables and dairy products in your diet.
• Do not exercise immediately after eating.
• Drink at least 1.5-2 liters of water per day.
• Don't eat too hot or cold food.
• Avoid consumption of chocolate, carbonated drinks, baked goods, sour fruits, coffee, tea, fast food, and spices.
• Don't wear tight clothes.
• Avoid stress.
• Monitor oral hygiene and treat teeth on time.
• Sleep on a high pillow.

Traditional methods of treatment

In an “interesting situation,” not only many medications are contraindicated, but also herbs. Therefore, traditional medicine in the treatment of heat behind the sternum suggests the use of certain foods that can help cope with the signs of the disease. The following can help get rid of unpleasant sensations:

• fresh cucumber;
• dairy products: milk, ayran, kefir (1 tbsp.);
• vegetable oil (1 tsp);
• oatmeal cooked in water;
• mineral water without gas: “Essentuki”, “Borjomi”;
• pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds;
• jelly;
• persimmon;
• boiled green peas;
• nuts: hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews;
• low-fat puree soup;
• apple;
• carrot juice or finely grated carrots.

Is it possible to drink soda while expecting a baby?

Baking soda can instantly suppress the signs of illness. But this heartburn remedy has only a short-term effect. Most often, after drinking soda, the burning sensation returns again. According to experts, sodium bicarbonate should not be taken orally during pregnancy, as this can further aggravate the situation and lead to a new attack. Doctors also note other consequences of long-term use of soda:

• Water retention in the body may be caused;
• the digestion process worsens;
• the acid-base balance in the body is disturbed;
• dizziness, nausea, headaches, decreased blood pressure may appear;
• there is a risk of other gastrointestinal diseases.

Activated carbon

Many expectant mothers during heartburn are saved by ordinary activated carbon. The drug is not absorbed into the blood, which means it does not harm the child. It is taken at the rate of one tablet for every 10 kg of a woman’s weight. The tablets can be crushed or taken whole with water or milk. Activated carbon absorbs acid in the stomach, due to this the condition of the pregnant woman improves.

But this harmless drug may also have contraindications: if a woman suffers from constipation or is prone to it, she should not take activated charcoal.

Can you take herbs for heartburn?

While expecting a baby, women are limited in taking medications, since the use of most of them is unsafe during pregnancy. But few people know that not only chemicals, but even herbs are contraindicated. Plants that seem harmless at first glance can cause miscarriage, uterine tone, softening of the cervix, kidney problems, etc. in a pregnant woman.

On the Internet you can find many recipes for herbal teas that are designed to help relieve the symptoms of heartburn. Thus, infusions of chamomile, anise, St. John's wort, sage, etc. are common. All these plants are prohibited during pregnancy.

Before brewing aromatic herbal tea to relieve burning in the chest, you should consult a specialist. Especially if a woman has chronic diseases, allergic reactions, threat of miscarriage or pregnancy pathologies.

Heartburn Products

Women in an “interesting situation” are recommended to eat steamed, stewed, boiled or baked foods. Products should not affect the level of stomach acidity. Here is a list of foods that a pregnant woman suffering from heartburn can eat:

• porridge with water: buckwheat, oatmeal, rice;
• jelly;
• low-fat dairy products;
• greenery;
• boiled meat (without fat): chicken, rabbit, beef;
• ripe fruits: melon, pear, watermelon, sour apples, apricot, banana, strawberries;
• eggs;
• boiled, fresh vegetables: cauliflower, cucumber, green peas, carrots, zucchini, potatoes, broccoli, pumpkin;
• jelly;
• vegetable oils;
• low-fat broth;
• dried fruits (in limited quantities): prunes, dates, dried apricots;
• fish;
• white bread crackers.

Is this dangerous for the fetus?

If heartburn during pregnancy appears for natural reasons that are typical during this period, the “fire” behind the sternum does not pose a danger to the child. But a woman may not know about the causes of unpleasant sensations. It is possible that the pregnant woman has some gastrointestinal diseases that can affect the course of pregnancy. Or, as a result of heartburn, ailments may arise that did not previously bother her. Therefore, if the expectant mother has symptoms of the disease, it is imperative to inform the doctor about this.

What to do

20% of women experience heartburn for the first time during pregnancy. In such a situation, the following instructions should be followed:

• The first thing to do for a pregnant woman who suddenly has heartburn is to try to prevent acid from entering the esophagus. Therefore, if the expectant mother is lying down, it is better for her to get up and walk around the room a little.
• Try drinking a glass of warm water in small sips. This will help remove the bitterness in your mouth and, perhaps, completely relieve the discomfort.
• eat a small amount of one of the above-mentioned foods. You are allowed to experiment: a method that did not help one woman may relieve symptoms in another.
• With your doctor's permission, you can take the medicine.

Even if the burning sensation has passed, the pregnant woman should not immediately go to bed or take up exercise - this can provoke a secondary release of digestive juice into the esophagus.

In the future, for prevention, in the morning you can drink water with the addition of one teaspoon of honey. The duration of the course is one month.

A “fire” in a pregnant woman’s sternum appears as a result of physiological changes in the body. Heartburn can take you by surprise both at the beginning of the period and in the ninth month. To avoid illness, you need to monitor your diet and take preventive measures. To relieve symptoms, it is better to use traditional methods. Before taking medications, you should consult with your obstetrician-gynecologist.

Pregnancy is both a joy and a test in the health of every woman. While expecting a child, a woman does not experience the best feelings in her health.

This may include fatigue, headaches and nausea. Heartburn also occurs during pregnancy. It appears unexpectedly and occurs in 3 out of 4 pregnant women.

You need to know how to eliminate its manifestations, but also try to avoid it.

Causes

Why does heartburn occur? Stomach discomfort increases as the baby increases in size.

This is due to the pressure of the fetus on the contents of the stomach and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract.

The release occurs into the esophagus and throat, accompanied by a burning sensation. At the bottom of the esophagus there is a sphincter that closes after food enters.

But for certain reasons, a disruption in the functioning of this muscle occurs.

Can heartburn be harmful during pregnancy? Indirectly, yes. Because of this disorder, the stomach cannot fully digest food and receive the necessary microelements and vitamins.

But if heartburn occurs periodically, then it will not bring particularly discomfort.

Heartburn in early pregnancy

Why does heartburn occur throughout pregnancy? Previously, it was believed that this symptom could appear in the later stages of pregnancy.

In fact, heartburn in the early stages of pregnancy also appears very often. This occurs especially often during the first three months.

The reason lies not in the child, who puts pressure on the internal organs, but in the increased amount of the hormone in the blood. After conception, the amount of progesterone increases thousands of times.

It helps a woman bear a healthy child. If the amount of this hormone in the blood is low, a miscarriage may occur.

How does progesterone affect the gastrointestinal tract? It increases the elasticity of the stomach walls, which weakens the stomach muscles. Additionally, acidity increases.

Often a woman is admitted to the hospital with a digestive system disorder, and thanks to tests and examination by doctors, pregnancy is established.

Vomiting, diarrhea and heartburn may indicate pregnancy.

Heartburn during early pregnancy can occur due to poor nutrition:

1. Fatty and fried foods.
2. Various sauces.
3. Flour products.
4. Cakes, chocolate.
5. Black bread.
6. Carbonated drinks.

Each body is individual, and it is necessary to determine after what specific food heartburn appears. You may need the help of a nutritionist.

When can this sign be ignored? Heartburn in the early stages is not a cause for serious concern. This is considered a natural process during early pregnancy.

A woman will experience heartburn throughout her pregnancy, especially as the baby grows older.

At what stage during pregnancy does heartburn begin? When is it necessary to eliminate and fight for the first time a sign of this disease?

It occurs already in the early stages, even from the first days, and can tell the expectant mother about pregnancy. This is due to increased production of a hormone that helps protect the fetus.

What medications are there for pregnant women? Experts recommend abandoning standard medications for this disease.

They should be replaced with traditional methods of treatment.

This can be a decoction of centaury, fried sunflower seeds and dill. This helps relieve heartburn well.

If no folk recipes help, then you can take a few Rennie tablets. They have minimal side effects.

Recently, a large number of different drugs have appeared that help eliminate the unpleasant symptom, but do not harm the baby.

The most common and frequently used are Almagel, Rennie and Maalox.

• Almagel. This drug helps normalize acidity and eliminate heartburn;
• Maalox. It is a good adsorbent. Helps eliminate intoxication from foods eaten. Heartburn goes away within a few hours;
• Rennie. The main active ingredients are magnesium and calcium carbonate. But it should not be taken in the last three months of pregnancy, as it can harm the baby.

The choice of medications is now huge, but not all are beneficial for the health of the expectant mother and her baby.

Some medications, which even indicate that they are designed for pregnant women, have side effects. For example, antacids can remove beneficial substances from the body.

They cannot be combined with taking vitamins and other medications. Constipation may also be a side effect.

This disorder can occur during early pregnancy without taking medications, and even more so when taking pills. Magnesium, which is included in most heartburn medications, has a negative effect on the baby.

It is better to stop taking medications and use traditional methods to combat heartburn.

Folk recipes

If the heartburn attack is minor, you can drink a glass of water. Eating raw pumpkin seeds also helps.

Heartburn may go away with milk, but you should drink it in small sips throughout the day.

For more intense attacks, it will help if you add a couple of drops of fennel essential oil to the milk. The only limitation of this treatment is individual intolerance to milk.

Pregnant women can take herbal decoctions for heartburn. But it is recommended to consult a doctor first. A specialist can recommend which herbal collection will be best.

1. Pregnant women are recommended to take oatmeal for breakfast. It helps to coat the walls of the stomach well and eliminates unpleasant symptoms.
2. Buckwheat should be in stock. It needs to be soaked in water for 30 minutes, then eaten. Can be replaced with peas.
3. If a woman is at home, then you can make mint tea. You can also take it with you in a thermos. In extreme cases, it is good to replace tea with mint candies.
4. Carrot or potato juice helps relieve heartburn. It must be taken 20-30 minutes before eating.
5. Half a teaspoon of calamus root, crushed into powder, should be poured into a glass of water.
6. It is good to eat papaya and pineapple. They help in food processing.
7. Ginger root.

How to quickly eliminate an attack

During pregnancy in the early stages, carrots grated on a fine grater or eating walnuts help eliminate heartburn. Nuts need to be well dried and only eaten when they are ripe.

You can add a small amount of sugar to carrots. Eating a small piece of ginger also helps.

It must be chewed thoroughly, but not swallowed. It is sold in any supermarket. This way the heartburn will go away in a few minutes.

The most effective way to eliminate heartburn is to take a decoction of flax seeds. They must first be crushed using a blender.

You need to take half a teaspoon of powder and pour a glass of hot water. Leave in a dark, warm place for several hours. Take 2 teaspoons when symptoms appear.

Preventative measures to avoid attacks

1. Not overeating has a negative impact on a woman’s body during pregnancy. During pregnancy it is necessary to eat often, then in small quantities.
2. Limit, or better yet eliminate, flour products and chocolate.
3. Try to take a short walk in the fresh air after eating. But performing intense physical activity during pregnancy is strictly prohibited.
4. Foods that take a long time to digest should be avoided as much as possible. These are mainly protein foods. For example, mushrooms, meat, chocolate, fish, eggs. Focus on carbohydrates that are quickly digested.
5. It is necessary to drink plenty of water per day during pregnancy. It is taken before a meal, after which it is advisable not to drink any drinks for two hours.
6. During pregnancy, you need to sleep on high pillows. In the last months of pregnancy, you will have to fall asleep half sitting.
7. For dinner, it is recommended to eat a light salad that will not overload the gastrointestinal tract.
8. Clothes should be loose.

Don't worry if you experience heartburn during pregnancy - this is a normal physical process. But measures must be taken to eliminate it.

It is better to take traditional methods so as not to harm either yourself or the child. Medicines help faster, but have side effects that can affect the baby’s health.

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