Heartburn during Pregnancy all too often seem to be inseparable. One of the causes of this is the increased hormone levels in a pregnant woman's body. This causes softening of the ligaments which normally keep the lower esophageal sphincter securely shut. Accordingly, stomach acids are essentially unimpeded in progressing up to the throat and esophagus. A further reason why pregnant women experience heartburn is because of added pressure in the stomach area caused by the development of the baby. Frequently this can push the contents of the stomach up to the esophagus.
There are various techniques by which a pregnant woman can minimize the misery caused by heartburn. Here are some strategies that should give some relief.
* Keep your head elevated at least six to eight inches while sleeping. You might find a specially designed acid reflux wedge pillow to be helpful in these situations. This gives gravity some help in keeping your stomach acids from climbing the esophagus.
* Avoid alcohol, which you ought to in any case for the health of your baby.
* Stay far from foods that are known to result in heartburn. This means chocolate, highly spiced foods, citrus, tomato based foods, as well as fatty and fried foods.
* Bend at the knees, not at the waist. This keeps pressure off the stomach.
* Don't slouch when seated. Sit in the upright position in a comfortable chair.
* Avoid tight clothes. Restricting the abdominal region will frequently result in heartburn.
* Do not go to sleep for at least three hours after a meal. You're less likely to experience nighttime heartburn.
* Drink lots of water, at least 8 to 10 glasses on a daily basis. But be careful that you don't drink while eating if you can possibly help it. This will lead the abdomen to expand too much and drive out the stomach acids.
* Eat your food in a leisurely manner.
* Eat smaller portions of food. Eating small meals at regular intervals through the day will lessen the pressure on the stomach.
* Don't gain an exorbitant 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 such as tea, coffee and cola.
Heartburn may not be a life threatening condition, but it can certainly cause you a lot of distress. If you want to learn more about the causes of heartburn and what you can do to stop it in its tracks, visit the Heartburn Relief site.