Coping with Heartburn During Pregnancy

As if the morning sickness, utter exhaustion, weight gain and swelling weren't bad enough, now you have heartburn. Many women experience the misery of heartburn during pregnancy, and grandmas all over the world offer condolences by assuring us that "heartburn means your baby will have a head full of hair!" While this old wives tale may offer you some comfort, the truth is that heartburn is a medical condition that can be aggravated by pregnancy.

Sometimes heartburn can be triggered by overindulging in rich foods, but in pregnancy your hormones probably have a lot more to do with it. During early pregnancy, your body produces massive amounts of progesterone and relaxin. These two hormones work together to relax smooth muscles all over your body, including the dreaded gastrointestinal tract. This unwelcome relaxation can cause to move more slowly through your system, causing indigestion and bloating. This may seem like a cruel trick of nature, but it is actually beneficial to your baby. When your body slows down the digestion of your food, you bloodstream will absorb more of the nutrients to pass along to your baby.

While you're probably thrilled that your baby is well fed, you're probably not so happy that you're struggling with painful heartburn. Unfortunately, during the last two trimesters heartburn usually gets worse. Your growing uterus pushes your stomach up closer to your throat, sending stomach acid churning and burning you up from the inside out. When heartburn strikes, there are a few ways to minimize your misery and cope with the indigestion.

First, don't wear clothes that are tight around your waist or belly. This may seem ridiculous because when you're eight months pregnant, everything is tight around your waist and belly. But when heartburn sets in, try to change into some loose sweat pants or a baggy t-shirt. Do whatever it takes to free up your stomach from the compression!

Second, eat small meals frequently. Avoid eating large portions or going too long without eating. Aim to eat six small meals each day, spaced at regular intervals. This will keep your digestive tract moving without making your stomach too full at any one time.

Third, sit up straight for a few hours after you eat. No matter how tempting it is, don't go straight to bed after eating. Eating a big meal and then laying flat in the bed is a recipe for heartburn disaster. If you must lay down and rest, try to at least prop up on pillows so that your head is raised higher than your heart.

Try to notice which foods trigger your heartburn. Most women find that spicy foods will trigger indigestion, but deep fried foods are often a common culprit. Try to avoid caffeine, chocolate, and carbonated beverages as these increase heartburn. Another common trigger is peppermint. No one usually suspects that a tiny mint could leave them with hours of heartburn, but this happens all the time!

When you finally crash for the night, try to sleep on your left side. This allows for optimal digestive function and may cut down on your heartburn. Keep your head propped up on some pillows to find relief from middle-of-the-night heartburn.

When all else fails, go see your doctor. There are several antacids and over-the-counter medications that are safe for use during pregnancy. Don't suffer in silence when relief could be as far away as your closest pharmacy. Call your doctor and ask what you can take that will allow you to get some rest and feel better soon.

*Source:

"What To Expect When You're Expecting" by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway; Workman Publishing Company