Does eating a piece of toast make your esophagus feel like it’s on fire? When you drink a glass of water, does it come right back up again? Are you pregnant?
If so, you’re not alone. About 80 percent of pregnant women experience heartburn, ranging from mild to severe. The heartburn usually worsens during the second half of pregnancy, as your baby grows and presses against your stomach. The pressure forces food and acid into your esophagus, which causes the pain of heartburn. At the same time, your hormones are slowing digestion, which means there is more food in your stomach at any given time. Your hormones also relax the muscle between the stomach and esophagus, which usually keeps that chewed food where it’s supposed to be.
Many women have a difficult time finding remedies that work. But there are two pieces of good news: first, there are almost as many remedies as there are heartburn sufferers, so chances are there are some you haven’t tried. Second, the heartburn will probably go away as soon as your baby is born.
Different treatments work for different people, and it may be a combination of adjustments that finally gives you relief. To figure out what exactly causes your heartburn, try keeping a journal. Write down what symptoms you experienced at what times of day. Keep track of foods you eat and remedies you try. With any luck, you’ll be able to figure out what works and what doesn’t.
Medication is also an option, and many pregnant women find that over-the-counter medications like Tums, sometimes kept by the bed at night, work better than anything else. While that probably won’t harm you or your baby, you should talk to your doctor anyway just to make sure. If your heartburn is severe, you may also be able to try prescription strength medication.
If your heartburn isn’t severe enough to travel the medication route, or if medication isn’t working, try making simple lifestyle adjustments. Many of these changes are the same for pregnant women as they are for everyone else. Don’t overeat. Try to keep your stomach from getting too full. Avoid spicy, high fat or acidic foods. (For a more detailed list of what foods to avoid, read Reflux1's Diet Adjustment suggestions.) Don’t lie down within two or three hours of eating. Try elevating the head of your bed with a prop-up pillow. And try not to gain too much weight.
Other methods of dealing with reflux are more specific to pregnancy. Yoga may speed digestion. And sitting with good posture helps you avoid putting pressure on your stomach.
Many pregnant heartburn sufferers swear by fresh papaya or papaya extract, which comes in chewable pills and is sold at your local heath food store. Seltzer and other fizzy drinks might help you burp, relieving some of the pressure in your stomach. Foods that are basic (the opposite of acidic) can help, because it’s the acid that burns your esophagus. Those include millet, dried plum or a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water. Eating a few sunflower seeds or almonds every hour or so throughout the day may also provide relief. While dairy worsens heartburn for many people, some pregnant women recommend a little nonfat yogurt or cold milk before bed.
If you have tried any of these remedies, or if you have other suggestions, please share your experience in the Reflux1 forums. By sharing their experiences and information, pregnant women can help each other overcome this common, but uncomfortable condition.
