Avoiding Heartburn During Pregnancy

Pregnancy and heartburn all too often seem to go hand in hand. One of the reasons for this is the elevated hormone levels in a pregnant woman’s body. This causes softening of the ligaments that are responsible for regulating the passageway that leads from the stomach to the esophagus. Therefore, stomach acids are largely unhindered in travelling up to the throat and esophagus.

Another contributor to heartburn during pregnancy is the added pressure that the developing baby places on the stomach area. Frequently this can force the contents of the stomach up to the esophagus.

There are various methods by which a pregnant woman can reduce the discomfort caused by heartburn. Here are some tips that should provide some heartburn relief.

* Avoid foods that trigger heartburn. Included in this list are spicy foods, tomato products, chocolate, fried and fatty foods, and citrus.

* Don't drink beverages that are high in caffeine like tea, coffee and cola.

* Avoid alcohol, which you should anyway for the health of your baby.

* Eat smaller meals. Having several mini meals throughout the day will keep the pressure off your stomach.

* Eat slowly.

* Don't go to sleep for at least three hours following a meal. This will help you avoid nighttime heartburn.

* Drink lots of water, at least 8 to 10 glasses each day. However, don't drink too much while you're eating. This leads to excess stomach expansion which helps to push out the gastric acids in your stomach.

* Keep your head elevated at least six to eight inches when sleeping. You might find a wedge shaped pillow to be helpful. This will assist gravity to keep the acids in your stomach from making their way up the esophagus.

* Don’t wear tight fitting clothes. Restricting the abdominal area will often lead to heartburn.

* Bend at the knees, not at the waist. This keeps pressure off the stomach.

* Watch your posture. Sit upright in a comfy chair.

* Keep weight gain to healthy levels. Too much extra weight puts more stress on your stomach.

* Stop smoking. This is not just bad for the baby, it's a frequent cause of heartburn.