Strategies for Avoiding Heartburn When Pregnant
Pregnancy and heartburn all too frequently seem to be inseparable. One of the explanations for this is the higher hormone levels in a pregnant woman’s body. This leads to softening of the ligaments which normally keep the lower esophageal sphincter tightly shut. Therefore, stomach acids are largely unhindered in traveling up to the throat and esophagus. Another reason why pregnant women suffer from heartburn is due to greater pressure in the abdominal area caused by the growth of the baby. Frequently that can trigger the stomach acids to ascend to the esophagus.
There are quite a few ways by which a pregnant woman can lessen the discomfort caused by heartburn. Here are some tips that will provide some relief.
* Keep your head elevated at least six to eight inches when sleeping. A special acid reflux wedge pillow may be helpful to help you maintain this position. This gives gravity some assistance in preventing your stomach acids from ascending the esophagus.
* Avoid alcoholic beverages, which you should at any rate for the health of your baby.
* Stay far from foods that are known to produce heartburn. Included in this list are spicy foods, tomato products, chocolate, fried and fatty foods, and citrus.
* Bend at the knees, not at the waist. This keeps pressure off the stomach.
* Don’t slouch when sitting. Sit straight up in a comfy chair.
* Avoid wearing tight clothes. Tightness around the waist and stomach will lead to heartburn.
* Do not go to sleep for at least three hours following eating. You’re less likely to suffer from nighttime heartburn.
* Drink plenty of water, at least 8 to 10 glasses every day. However don’t drink too much while you’re eating. This causes overexpansion of the abdomen, thereby pushing out the gastric acids in your tummy.
* Do not eat too fast.
* Consume smaller portions. Eating mini meals at regular intervals through the day will ease the pressure on the abdomen.
* Don’t gain an excessive amount of weight. All that surplus fat puts additional pressure on the stomach.
* Stop smoking. This isn’t only bad for the baby, it is a frequent cause of heartburn.
* Do not drink beverages that are high in caffeine like tea, coffee and cola.
Millions of people suffer from the pain and discomfort of heartburn. Thankfully, there are lots of ways to soothe the symptoms and get to the root of the problem. Learn more at Heartburn Relief.
categories: pregnancy heartburn,heartburn,acid reflux,health
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