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Avoiding Heartburn During Pregnancy
Heartburn is a commonly experienced condition for many women during pregnancy. Among the explanations for this is the raised hormonal levels that are caused by being pregnant. This results in softening of the ligaments which usually keep the lower esophageal sphincter tightly shut. Accordingly, stomach acids are essentially unchecked in making their way up to the throat and esophagus. Another contributor to severe heartburn during pregnancy is the additional pressure that the developing baby places on the stomach region. Frequently this can push the contents of the stomach up to the esophagus.
There are plenty of options when it comes to relieving the discomfort of heartburn during pregnancy. Following are some tips that should give some relief.
* Keep your head elevated at least six to eight inches when sleeping. A special acid reflux wedge pillow might be useful to help you maintain this position. This will assist gravity to keep the acids in your stomach from traveling up the esophagus.
* Steer clear of alcoholic beverages. It is dangerous to your baby and is also a contributor to heartburn.
* Avoid foods that produce heartburn. This means chocolate, spicy foods, citrus, tomato based foods, in addition to fatty and fried foods.
* Don’t bend from the waist; use your knees instead. This puts less pressure on your stomach.
* Pay attention to your posture while seated. Sit upright in a comfy chair.
* Wear loose fitting clothing. Constriction around the waist and stomach will produce heartburn.
* Do not lie down to sleep until it’s been three hours since your last meal. You are less likely to experience nighttime heartburn.
* Drink a minimum of 8 to 10 glasses of water each day. But don’t drink too much while you’re eating. This will cause the stomach to swell too much and drive out the stomach acids.
* Don’t eat too fast.
* Eat smaller meals. Eating mini meals spaced throughout the day will relieve the pressure on the stomach.
* Keep weight gain to healthy levels. All that surplus fat puts added pressure on the stomach.
* Stop smoking. This isn’t just bad for the baby, it is a frequent cause of heartburn.
* Don’t drink beverages that are high in caffeine such as tea, coffee and cola.