Mums Big Nightmare - Pregnancy Heartburn

It is unfortunate that some mothers experience this pain and discomfort during what might be one of the most important periods of their lives, pregnancy. Heartburn is usually caused when the stomach acid pushes up the esophagus resulting in an uncomfortable burning feeling in the chest and throat. Pregnancy heartburn on the other hand is the consequence of the pressure of a growing baby.

What happens is that the growing baby in a mothers womb causes a pressure on the stomach that results in the reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. Sometimes women that have never experienced heartburn before might for the first time experience heartburn during pregnancy.

But it is also not always the pressure of the growing baby that causes pregnancy heartburn. It can also be due to increased hormones in the pregnant woman’s body that softens the close of the lower esophagus sphincter, which usually prevents stomach acid from moving into the esophagus.

Fortunate for some, it is not all pregnant women that experience pregnancy heartburn. However, for those that do have to go through this nightmare there are various remedies available.

Dealing With Pregnancy Heartburn

As mentioned above there are remedies for this inconvenient problem. Some opt for a more natural approach while others prefer going down the medication route. Many women that choose to ‘cure’ this problem (bearing in mind that there is no one perfect cure) naturally are advised not too eat or drink certain foods. These include products that contain coffee, tea, alcohol as well as cola.

Also fruits that are very acidic such as oranges and lemons is a no-no. Vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes and raw onions as well as diary products and sweets should also be cut out of the diet. It might seem that there is nothing then left to eat but choosing ones diet correctly may have more benefits than just curing pregnancy heartburn. This may in turn be much healthier for the baby and mum as well.

Women suffering from pregnancy heartburn should also avoid eating large meals at a time and rather opt for smaller meals throughout the day. There are over the counter medication that can be bought at pharmacies for the relief of pregnancy heartburn for those women that want instant relief while still being able to enjoy the foods they love or even crave.

This medication is usually completely safe for the baby and has no damage causing side effects. Pregnancy heartburn can be quite annoying but if the proper precautions are taken ones pregnancy should be bliss.