Heartburn is an unpleasant feeling of burning or warmth in the chest. The symptom occurs after eating or on an empty stomach and is associated with food reflux, which is the return of food treated with gastric juice back into the esophagus. Because the mucous membrane of the esophagus is not adapted to the action of gastric juice, it is irritated, which is subjectively felt as heartburn.
Pregnant women are especially upset when heartburn occurs. But this happens often, because when enlarged, the uterus presses on neighboring organs. As a result, the stomach shrinks and cannot hold all the food. As a result, food returns to the esophagus. But there are ways to deal with it:
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Change your diet.
In addition to certain pills, diet can help get rid of this unpleasant condition. The main point is to eat little, but often (five or seven times a day). The choice of food is also important. You should eat milk, cream, cheese, steamed omelet, boiled meat, fish. These food antacids quickly relieve the burning sensation. Do not eat: fried and fatty foods, spicy sauces, condiments, sour juices. You will also have to give up vegetables that contain crude fiber (white cabbage, radish, garlic, onions).
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Wear comfortable clothing.
Sometimes heartburn is the result of tight clothing. These are clothes that tighten the abdomen, tight belts or improperly worn bandage. Replace them with quality, appropriate things. The wardrobe of a pregnant woman has features, ignoring them you will hurt yourself and your baby. Also choose comfortable shoes. At home – flip-flops, for a walk – moccasins without laces and zippers. Do everything so that you are comfortable and do not interfere with breathing and movement.
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Get enough sleep.
Good sleep restores strength and cures heartburn. Therefore, the quality of rest during pregnancy should also be improved. Be sure to take a walk in the fresh air after dinner. Food will have time to digest before it’s time to go to bed. Avoid drinking teas and beverages containing caffeine in the evening.
You need to sleep with the headboard raised. In this position, the stomach contents do not enter the esophagus and do not irritate the mucous membrane.
Heartburn worsens at night when changing body position. This, unfortunately, happens often. To help yourself, you should sit in bed or walk around the room, drink cool water.
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Improve your psychological state.
Psychologists have a very interesting version of the psychosomatic causes of heartburn during pregnancy. They think it’s a kind of message from baby to mother. This happens more often when parents are expecting, for example, a girl, and a boy is growing in the mother’s womb, or when a woman is very afraid of something.
The lack of information about childbirth and the postpartum period naturally increases anxiety, which becomes a protective reaction of the body. You should talk to people who will help get rid of fears. As soon as you calm down, the heartburn will disappear.
And of course the best option is to be examined and treated (for example, with drugs such as Lanzol Relief or Losec) before pregnancy!