Heartburn is characterized by a burning sensation in the chest, which may extend up the throat and cause a bitter or sour taste.
Despite its name, heartburn is not related to the heart but is caused by acid reflux.
This occurs when stomach acid flows back up from the stomach to the esophagus, the tube that carries food, liquid, and saliva to the stomach.
The lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a muscle between the esophagus and stomach, typically opens to allow food to pass and then closes to prevent acid from traveling back up.
However, if the LES doesn't close properly, stomach acid can enter the esophagus, leading to heartburn.
Causes of Heartburn During Pregnancy
Hormonal Changes: Pregnancy hormones affect how your body tolerates and digests foods, leading to a slower digestive system. This may cause bloating and heartburn.
Relaxation of Esophageal Sphincter: The pregnancy hormone progesterone can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing stomach acid to move up into the esophagus.
Enlargement of Uterus: As the baby grows, the uterus expands, potentially crowding the stomach and pushing stomach acids upward into the esophagus. This is more common during the third trimester when the baby and uterus are larger.
Symptoms and Occurrence of Heartburn
If you experience heartburn during pregnancy, you may feel:
More than half of pregnant women experience severe heartburn, particularly during the third trimester.
It is more common in those who have had heartburn before pregnancy.
Management and Relief of Pregnancy Heartburn
Try these natural remedies to alleviate pregnancy heartburn:
Yogurt or Milk: Consuming yogurt or drinking milk may provide relief.
Honey with Warm Milk: Mixing a tablespoon of honey into warm milk and drinking it can be soothing.
Before using over-the-counter antacids, consult your healthcare provider to ensure they are safe for pregnancy.
Some antacids contain high sodium levels, leading to water retention, and others have aluminum, which is unsafe during pregnancy.
Preventing Heartburn During Pregnancy
Take steps to reduce heartburn symptoms without harming your baby:
Dietary Changes:
Other Tips:
When to Seek Medical Attention
If heartburn persists, talk to your healthcare provider. They can prescribe safe medications for pregnancy-related heartburn.
Contact your provider if you experience the following:
Heartburn waking you up at night.
Difficulty swallowing.
Coughing up blood.
Black stool.
Unexplained weight loss.
Heartburn symptoms can be similar to those of a heart attack.
If you experience chest pains and have never had heartburn before, contact your provider or head to the nearest emergency room for evaluation.
Hey girls! Is anyone dealing with bad heartburn and indigestion? I can't eat anything beside yogurt, any food or even water gives me such a heartburn. Tums don't see to be working either...any tips?
It’s weird but I heard drinking milk with honey in it usually will help alleviate your heartburn 🙃
27 Mar 2024
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Tina
Honestly I would take a pepcid...or generic brand called omeprazole...I have a hiatal hernia which is basically half of my stomach is above my diaphragm which causes theeeee worst heartburn ever and the omeprazole is the only thing that works..
27 Mar 2024
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Lisa
23 Aug 2022
I woke up with such bad heartburn and indigestion last night that it felt like I was literally choking on my own blood.... I could barely breathe and kept having to swallow and wanted to puke... nights are getting harder and harder 😪
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