Lower back pain, swelling, constipation, frequent urge to pee, sleeplessness — these are some of the nastiest things that you may experience while you’re in the family way. And then there is also heartburn.
In this article, you will learn some of the things that may be done to reduce heartburn risk during pregnancy.
Heartburn strikes when the contents of the stomach — partially digested food particles and stomach acids, or usually both at the same time — escape and irritate the esophagus.
It can be very uncomfortable to suffer from heartburn. It seems like your chest is on fire. Also, heartburn is something that is commonly mistaken for a heart attack — it’s that intense at times!
There are so many different things that a pregnant woman has to face on a daily basis, many of which are so unpleasant. And one of the most horrible of those is a bout of heartburn.
Luckily, unlike most other disagreeable effects of being in the family way to your everyday life, heartburn is something that can be easily prevented from striking.
If you are pregnant and it seems like heartburn is nagging you very often, continue reading. The following are some of the steps that you may take to keep heartburn attacks to as minimum as possible.
Ditch Trigger Foods
Pregnant or not, there are foods that you should avoid in order to steer clear of heartburn. When you are carrying a baby in your womb, it’s of utmost importance for you to refrain from consuming any of those.
Fried foods, fatty foods, spicy foods, citrus fruits, chocolates, tomatoes and tomato-based sauces — these are well-known heartburn triggers, so stay away from them at all costs.
It’s also a good idea for you to say “no” to coffee and carbonated drinks, too. Alcohol is also a trigger, but it’s should be avoided completely since it’s not safe for a pregnant woman like you!
Eat Less But More Often
Having a big meal is a complete no-no during your pregnancy because it will surely increase your likelihood of ending up with a terrible case of heartburn!
Instead of eating large meals, it’s a good idea for you to eat less. But to make up for it, feel free to eat more often. Following this tip can help save you from experiencing heartburn after eating.
By the way, experts also recommend for you to consume liquid-y foods from time to time as they won’t torment your stomach. Some good examples are soups, smoothies, shakes and yogurt.
Have Plenty of Fluids
Throughout the day, make sure that you consume about 8 glasses or 2 liters of water if you want to save yourself from heartburn while you are waiting for your baby to come out.
Doing this tip helps dilute the stomach acids, keeping them from wreaking havoc on your esophagus should they have the opportunity to escape the stomach.
Besides, having plenty of fluids is also good for preventing constipation, which is something that commonly bugs women like you who are pregnant.
Avoid Lying Down After Eating
About 1 to 2 hours after eating something, refrain from hopping into bed. Otherwise, you may end up being bugged by heartburn. Pregnant or not, lying down after eating is a definite no-no.
When you lie down and your stomach is filled with food, it can be easy for its contents to escape and climb up the esophagus, causing irritation to that long and hollow part of your GI tract.
Instead of lying down right away, consider taking a walk for a few minutes after eating. Definitely, you should refrain from having late night dinners to save yourself from nighttime heartburn.
