Heartburn During Pregnancy

Posted on September 22, 2007
Filed Under Pregnancy Discomforts | Leave a Comment

Heartburn is a fiery, burning sensation in the chest. The name is a partial misnomer because the condition has nothing to do with the heart but results from a reflux, or regurgitation, of acid stomach juices into the lower esophagus. Heartburn may occur in anyone but is more common during pregnancy. This is due to the upward displacement and compression of the stomach by the enlarged uterus and the slowing of the muscular contractions of digestion as a result of the hormone progesterone.Heartburn is a type of indigestion. It frequently is associated with the burping of small amounts of bitter, sour fluid. The omission from the diet of rich, greasy food, such as mayonnaise, cream, and fried foods, or, in fact, any food that the woman learns by her own experience to associate with heartburn, helps, as do smaller and less hurried meals.

Heavy foods and large meals should especially be avoided before bedtime. Although fatty meals may cause heartburn, some women find relief if they eat a very small amount of fat (like a pat of butter) about a half hour before a meal.

Other helpful dietary measures might include –

In addition to dietary measures, maintain goad pasture and avoid lying dawn after meals. Stretching the arms over the head after eating gives the stomach more roam to do its jab of digestian. (There is a superstition that lifting the arms abave the head can harm the baby this is not true.) When you go to bed at night, use an extra pillow (ar several) to elevate your head.

If specific dietary and other self help measures don’t work, aver-the­counter antacids are available. You may obtain relief from heartburn by taking a level teaspoonful of milk of magnesia or a milk of magnesia tablet after each meal and again when heartburn occurs. (Some milk of magnesia is combined with mineral oil-do nat use that.) If milk of magnesia causes loose stools, you can substitute other antacids. A few of these are made from aluminum hydroxide and are not recommended for long-term use in pregnancy. These include Amphojel and Rolaids. Tums are made from calcium salts and are okay to use in pregnancy, as long as the dose is kept to less than 20 grams a day. Calcium may cause constipation. Other antacids combine magnesium and aluminum hydroxide and so have a lower dose of aluminum than the purely aluminum antacids. These include Else, Riopan, Mylanta, and Maalox. They work well and because of the combination of the two chemicals, they do not cause constipation or diarrhea. They should not be taken mare often than recommended in the instructions that come with them.

Heartburn During PregnancyIf heartburn continues over time in pregnancy, milk of magnesia or Turns are probably the best antacids to use long-term, although remedies that don’t rely on medications are preferable. We don’t recommend these medications in the first trimester. Fortunately, heartburn is more of a problem later in pregnancy.

Antacids are available in tablet or liquid form, some in both. The liquid form may work better and is more palatable if you keep it refrigerated and drink it ice cold.Make sure you don’t take antacids with your iron supplement as the antacid interferes with iron absorption. If heartburn is severe and persistent, you should consult your physician or midwife. It could indicate a health problem such as gallstones. What might seem to be heartburn could also be the pain that occurs in the upper part of the abdomen with toxemia of pregnancy. If your “heartburn” occurs with headache, any visual disturbances, or unusual swelling of your face, make sure you have it checked as soon as possible.


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