Heartburn why pregnant

It then moves upward to the neck and throat. Officially, heartburn is known as gastroesophageal reflux, when acidic stomach juices or food and fluids back up into the esophagus. This is a hollow muscular tube between your mouth and your stomach. Many women who have heartburn during pregnancy have never had problems before.

Hormones cause relaxation of the esophageal sphincter. This is a tight circular band of muscle at the top of the stomach. This allows partially digested food and stomach acids to backflow, or reflux, into the esophagus. Is this normal? If so, what can I do to feel better? Heartburn, despite its name, has nothing to do with the heart.

It's a burning feeling in the throat and chest when the stomach's contents move back up into the esophagus the tube that moves food from the throat to the stomach. Things you can do to help with indigestion and heartburn Changes to your diet and lifestyle may be enough to control your symptoms, particularly if they are mild. Eat healthily You're more likely to get indigestion if you're very full.

Change your eating and drinking habits You may be able to control your indigestion with changes to your eating habits. Keep upright Sit up straight when you eat. Stop smoking Smoking when pregnant can cause indigestion, and can seriously affect the health of you and your unborn baby. Smoking also increases the risk of: your baby being born prematurely before week 37 of your pregnancy your baby being born with a low birthweight sudden infant death syndrome SIDS , or "cot death" There's lots of help available to stop smoking.

Avoid alcohol Drinking alcohol can cause indigestion. Find out more about alcohol and pregnancy When to get medical help See your midwife or GP if you need help managing your symptoms or if changes to your diet and lifestyle do not work. You should also see your midwife or GP if you have any of the following: difficulty eating or keeping food down weight loss stomach pains Your midwife or GP may ask about your symptoms and examine you by pressing gently on different areas of your chest and stomach to see whether it's painful.

If you're taking prescription medicines Speak to your GP if you're taking medicine for another condition, such as antidepressants, and you think it may be making your indigestion worse. Medicines for indigestion and heartburn Medicines for indigestion and heartburn during pregnancy include: antacids — to neutralise the acid in your stomach some are available over the counter from a pharmacist alginates — to relieve indigestion caused by acid reflux by stopping the acid in your stomach coming back up your gullet You may only need to take antacids and alginates when you start getting symptoms.

When you're pregnant, you're more likely to have indigestion because of: hormonal changes the growing baby pressing on your stomach the muscles between your stomach and gullet relaxing, allowing stomach acid to come back up You may be more likely to get indigestion in pregnancy if: you had indigestion before you were pregnant you've been pregnant before you're in the later stages of pregnancy Video: Eating well on a budget In this video, a dietitian gives advice on how to eat healthily on a budget.

Media last reviewed: 13 January Media review due: 13 January Not surprisingly, acidic and spicy foods create more stomach acid than bland ones till we meet again, Taco Tuesday! Avoid citrus, tomatoes, onions, garlic, caffeine, chocolate, sodas, and other acidic foods. Also steer clear of fried or fatty foods, which slow digestion. Your mom was actually right about this — and well, a lot of other things, too. Gravity will help your food stay put. Giving digestion a head start before you lie down — which slows the emptying of your stomach — for the night will help control your heartburn.

Chemicals in cigarettes cause the valve that keeps stomach contents down to relax. This allows acids and undigested foods to splash upward and take their fiery aim. Sleeping propped up is another way to have gravity work for you.

Step away from the Spanx and any other garment that creates pressure around your midsection.