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