Heartburn During Pregnancy

A pregnant womans body will see a lot of changes occur during the pregnancy. The difficulties faced with such issues as acid reflux can prevent the pregnancy from being enjoyed during this exiting time. There is an old wives tale that pregnant women with acid reflux means the child will be born with a full head of hair. However, the truth if it is that acid reflux is the result of changes in the body due to additional hormones.

The production of stomach acid can be produced due to changes in hormones. One problem that can produce more acid is the fact that a lot of woman eat more during pregnancy. More acid can move into the esophagus due to the combination of eating more food and the hormone increase. Daily acid reflux is a thing nearly 1/4 of pregnant woman have to deal with. These circumstances certainly stop you having a good nights sleep which also impacts on focusing on daily activities.

As the baby grows more pressure is felt on the stomach area. More heartburn pain is the result of extra pressure due to the acid moving into the esophagus. That is why the majority of pregnant women find that they suffer from acid reflux during the last few months of it. Effective measures are limited due to anything consumed could affect the baby. It's usually not a good idea to take prescription medication for acid reflux.

It is possible to take antacids to treat mild cases of acid reflux during pregnancy. According to extensive research results antacids will not harm the baby. Pregnant women do need to be careful though as they contain large amounts of sodium. Swelling of the ankles and legs can be caused from retaining fluid.

Every woman wants her baby to be as healthy as possible and that is understandable. Natural remedies should be the way to try and alleviate acid reflux during pregnancy. Acid reflux can be brought on by consuming certain fruits but eating fresh fruit is still important. Those that contain large amounts of acid should be avoided. Grapefruit, oranges, and lemons come under this category.

Eating six smaller meals a day is better than three large ones. Large meals are harder to digest so its easier to cope with smaller ones. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated during the day. Liquids definitely help the body to be able to digest foods easier. You could end up suffering throughout the night if you eat just before bed time so try to avoid it.

Elevate your head and shoulders when you sleep as well. When you rest during the day or at night in bed this will help stop the acid from entering the esophagus. Wedge pillows are specially made for acid reflux sufferers or you can stack more pillows for elevation. Elevating the head of the bed is another little tip you can do using bricks or a board. Adding several inches will definitely make a significant difference.

Try to lay on your left side too as this will help to get the acid reduced in your stomach. Avoid increased stomach acid by not lying on your back or right side. It may not always be comfortable during a pregnancy to lie on your left side but do your very best to get into that routine. It will certainly help you to avoid suffering from acid reflux.

Following such guidelines will help you offset acid reflux during pregnancy. This is a great time for a mom so keep those negative aspects of it away. Best things you can do now is rest because when the little one comes onto the scene there is less chance. If you continue to suffer from acid reflux on a regular basis during your pregnancy make sure you share this information with your doctor. Severe heartburn can cause damage to the esophagus lining which in turn needs more treatment which can be alleviated by your doctor.