If you are thinking about heartburn and pregnancy most probably you have in mind a burning feeling in the throat or heart that is caused by stomach acid getting back into the esophagus.
Such a symptom is quite common during pregnancy especially during the last trimester. In many cases women experience this symptom for the first time during their pregnancy. But what causes heartburn during pregnancy?
Hormones
For sure you know that the hormones cause many different kinds of changes during pregnancy. In this case progesterone (that is produced by the placenta) is to blame.
This makes the muscles relax, including the valve between the stomach and the esophagus. This is why it is possible for the acid to get back in the esophagus and cause that uncomfortable feeling.
In the same time this hormone slows digestion down. As the pregnancy progresses the growing uterus presses against the stomach thus pushing up the acid that leads to heartburn.
How to make it better?
If you are affected by heartburn during pregnancy you should consider your eating habits.
As an example you could have several small meals during the day. This way the heartburn will get better and you will see that you will have more energy. In the same time you should also make sure that you eat slowly.
There are some foods that you should try to avoid, such as spicy, fried or rich foods. You could also observe what kinds of foods cause heartburn and avoid them during pregnancy.
In order to make it better, there are different kinds of medications that you could take during pregnancy but it is best to have a green light from your doctor before you start taking any kind of medication.
If you happen to be affected by heartburn while being pregnant you should try to find a solution to the problem.
