| Pregnancy is considered to be a time of joy for new | | | | stomach. This pressure in turn may force the stomach |
| mothers. This is the time when they are pampered | | | | acid to reflux through the LES into the esophagus. |
| and their every wish is fulfilled (well almost every wish). | | | | Thus causing pregnancy heartburn. |
| There are however a few things that can cause | | | | As there is no clear way to completely eliminate |
| discomfort and pain for an expectant mother. One of | | | | heartburn even during pregnancy, the most sensible |
| these is pregnancy heartburn. | | | | approach to take is to minimize the discomfort that |
| The question that arises is why do some women | | | | you may experience because of pregnancy heartburn. |
| experience heartburn while they are pregnant and | | | | With a few simple precautions you can hold the |
| other women don't? | | | | heartburn at bay. Avoiding certain foods that are |
| Heartburn occurs when the digested food juices reflux | | | | known to trigger heartburn can greatly reduce the |
| back into your esophagus and throat. There is a valve | | | | chances of heartburn. |
| that usually keeps the stomach acids in the stomach | | | | Avoid drinks containing coffee, tea, colas and alcohol |
| where the intestinal lining protects your body from the | | | | as these can relax the LES and allow acid to reflux |
| effects of the acid. This valve is called the lower | | | | back into the esophagus. Also don't eat large meals. |
| esophageal sphincter, or LES. When the LES relaxes, | | | | Instead eat several small meals throughout the day. |
| the stomach acids reflux into the esophagus. This | | | | Take your time eating, rushing through meals helps put |
| causes the lining of the esophagus, which is thin and | | | | unwanted pressure upon the LES. You also need to |
| unable to deal with the acid, to get irritated and | | | | drink plenty of water in small amounts throughout the |
| inflamed. | | | | day. |
| With a pregnant mother heartburn does not occur only | | | | When you go to sleep at night, keep your head |
| because of the digested food juices refluxing back into | | | | elevated higher than your body. This position will keep |
| the esophagus and throat. The increased amounts of | | | | your stomach contents in your stomach where they |
| hormones in the body can soften the muscles that | | | | belong and not in the esophagus where they will cause |
| normally keep the LES closed. Thus if the LES relaxes | | | | pregnancy heartburn. During the day you should sit |
| at an inappropriate moment, then food and gastric acid | | | | upright in a comfortable chair rather than slouching. |
| reflux back into the esophagus. | | | | Gain a sensible amount of weight and stay within the |
| There is also another reason that might contribute to | | | | weight guidelines your doctor suggests. Being pregnant |
| pregnancy heartburn. During pregnancy a woman's | | | | does not mean suffering unduly because of heartburn, |
| body goes through many changes to accommodate | | | | rather you can think of it as a change in your lifestyle. |
| the growing baby. As the baby continues to grow | | | | A change for a miracle of life, not for pregnancy |
| within the womb, there is pressure put upon the | | | | heartburn. |