Symptoms

Almost everyone has occasional heartburn. But if these symptoms occur two or more days a week for at least three months, you may have acid reflux. Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter, the valve separating the esophagus and stomach, does not close properly, allowing acid to back up into the esophagus.

Heartburn is in most cases harmless, even if you are not comfortable with it. It is common during pregnancy and is not dangerous.

Many also get a feeling of sickness, have a hollow feeling in the stomach and diffuse pain in the stomach or the chest combined with the heartburn. The acid reflux may cause you to cough during nighttime.

If the heartburn comes back often and you wake up with acid refluxes you should see this as a warning signal. You should watch your habits, for example what and how often you eat and drink.

Pregnancy and heartburn

It is common with heartburn during pregnancy, do not worry. Some day it´s more, other days less. The reason for heartburn during pregnancy is that the pregnancy hormones make the uterus softer and easier to stretch out. The stomach, the upper part of the stomach, and the bowels are effected in the same way.

Acidity of the stomach can then come up in esophagus and cause heartburn. When uterus grows it will also push on the stomach. If you have serious problems, talk to your midwife.

What can You do – Prevention Avoid bigger meals and much drinking late on the evening. Avoid strong, spicy food and also fat food. Quit smoking and be cautious with alcohol. Try to avoid stress. Eat on specific times and add something between meals. Check your coffee- and tee-drinking. Try to avoid heavy lifting and forward bending.

Medical examinations

If your doctor suspects that your problems are caused by a disease your doctor will do an endoscopy which can be performed in a hospital or the doctor´s office. The doctor will spray your throat to numb it and slide down a thin, flexible plastic tube, the endoscope. A tiny camera in the endoscope allows the doctor to see the surface of the esophagus and to search for abnormalities. With the endoscope one can also take a specimen.

Treatment

Some treatment is easy to say but perhaps not so easy to stick to. – raise the head of your bed by six inches to allow gravity to help keep the stomach’s contents in the stomach – eat meals at least three to four hours before lying down and avoid bedtime snacks – eat smaller meals – limit your consumption of fat foods, chocolate, peppermint, coffee, tea, colas, and alcohol and also, avoid tomatoes and citrus fruits or juices, which contribute additional acid that can irritate the esophagus – quit smoking – wear loose belts and clothing – try to find your own way to raise your pH. Milk is good for some but not proved to work for everyone.

Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter antacids, which you can buy without a prescription. The doctor can also prescribe medications that stop acid production or help the muscles that empty your stomach.

Surgery is also an option when medicine and lifestyle changes do not work. It may also be a reasonable alternative to a lifetime of drugs and discomfort.

Heartburn is a common problem for many pregnant women.  It tends to mostly occur in early pregnancy, although some women suffer from it for most of their term.  Heartburn during pregnancy occurs when progesterone is released into a woman’s system when she becomes pregnant.  Progesterone makes the muscle between the stomach and the esophagus- also known as the cardiac sphincter muscle- relax.  When this muscle relaxes, it becomes easier for food and gastric acid to flow backwards and partway up the esophagus.  The esophagus lining is burned by the stomach acid, and that is the painful sensation of heartburn that you feel in the middle of your chest.

As the pregnancy progresses and the baby grows larger, the stomach is somewhat displaced. As the uterus grows, it presses on the cardiac sphincter muscle, allowing food and gastric acid back into the esophagus almost constantly. That is why some women seem to experience pregnancy heartburn for the duration of their term.

Fortunately, heartburn during pregnancy is easily treated.  Just keep in mind that you can’t necessarily use all of the remedies you might normally when you aren’t pregnant.  That being said, it’s fine to use a mild antacid like Tums or Mylanta to treat the heartburn.  Otherwise, it’s best to change a few critical habits that can contribute to pregnancy heartburn. Eat several smaller meals every day, rather than having three big ones.  Avoid spicy and greasy foods, and foods that create more gastric acid, like tomatoes and peppers.

Certain foods actually help the cardiac sphincter muscle relax, so try to avoid them as well.  These include alcohol, garlic, peppermint and chocolate.  Make sure you have completed your last meal at least two hours before bedtime, and don’t lie down right after eating, since this can cause gastric acid to go back up the esophagus. When it’s time to sleep, prop your head up on an extra pillow or two, so the stomach stays lower than the esophagus.

A good home remedy for combating heartburn during pregnancy is to simply eat some yogurt or drink a glass of milk.  Alternatively, you can mix a tablespoon of honey with a glass of warm milk for another simple, effective remedy.

Of course, it is best if you can stop pregnancy heartburn before it ever starts.  You want to make sure you are as healthy as possible before becoming pregnant, so choose a good prenatal vitamin and mineral formula.  Focus on eating healthy, unprocessed foods, and avoid sugar and grease as much as possible.  If you already know which foods are likely to cause heartburn during pregnancy, and then be extra sure to avoid them.  Drinking plenty of water and getting regular exercise are also important to your overall health.

Pregnancy heartburn can be very unpleasant, but fortunately, you have a number of alternatives in treating it.  If you must take an antacid, stick with something mild and natural, and focus on modifying those actions and habits that may contribute to it.

Copyright (c) 2008 Ruth Tan

Did you just search for “pregnancy and honey” in hope that there would be some easy ways to get out of pains such as heartburns, colds and morning sickness during pregnancy? You might want to read on…

Heartburn During Pregnancy:

Heartburn during pregnancy is one of the most common side effects of pregnancy. Hormones released during pregnancy allow the softening of the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach. When this happens, stomach acids back up into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation. This may also occur in the latter months of pregnancy as your baby pushes all of your organs upward. You may experience heartburn as a burning sensation in your throat or chest. Other women experience heartburn as a large lump like feeling in their throat or upper chest. Fortunately there are ways to minimize your heartburn woes during pregnancy and honey with milk recipe is one of them. Mixing some honey with your milk is very good for helping neutralize the excess of stomach acid. Drink a glass of milk every night before going to bed.

Colds During Pregnancy:

Colds are quite common during pregnancy. Pregnant women tend to be more susceptible as their immune systems are lowered and their mucous membranes tend to swell during pregnancy. This can make it more difficult to overcome coughs and colds, and cause difficulty in breathing. If you do catch a cold you can increase your consumption of vitamin C rich foods including fruits and fruit juices. Many women find sipping teas including lemon and honey tea can help alleviate a sore and uncomfortable throat.

Morning Sickness:

Morning sickness is a common experience with about 70 percent of all women experiencing nausea and /or vomiting during or especially their first trimester of pregnancy. In more serious cases, morning sickness can present more severe health complications such as weight loss, and malnutrition for the mother and developing baby. Traditional remedies for expectant mothers trying to treat the nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy include soda and crackers which are only marginally helpful. Ginger works against ailments of the reproductive and digestive systems because it promotes circulation and encourages a good blood supply to these organs. Modest amounts of ginger tea with honey are a great remedy for nausea and vomiting. In the early weeks of pregnancy, the further stimulation of blood flow into the abdomen is not recommended, so go easy on ginger at this time.

Caution:

While there are many natural remedies during pregnancy and honey remedies are known to be quite safe in helping to relieve some of the common side effects or complaints of pregnancy (honey is not allowed for new-born and young children under 1-yr old ,though), bear in mind that something is natural does not always mean it is safe, for instance there are many herbs that are best avoided during pregnancy. As with anything, during pregnancy always check in with your medical doctor when you are in doubt.

Heartburn does not just affect those who are high stressed or love their spicy foods. Pregnant women suffer from heartburn too. You will find as your pregnancy progresses that antacids tend to become your best friend. Heartburn has nothing to do with your heart.

It is when the acid from your stomach leaks up into the esophagus. Heartburn is very common during pregnancy. In fact one in four women experience heartburn during their pregnancy usually during the third trimester. The reason is that your baby has grown a tremendous amount and your uterus has moved up and is now putting pressure on your stomach. This crowds the digestive tract and allows acids to travel back up the esophagus. There is an old wives tale that if you have bad heartburn, your baby will have a lot of hair. Of course there is no proof in this but it is a fun thing to believe in.

There are ways you can help prevent heartburn during pregnancy. You can start by taking your time while you eat. Not only will you enjoy your food better but your stomach will not have to work as hard to digest your food. You also want to try eating early and eat at least two hours before you go to bed that night so your body has plenty of time to digest your food.

Keep your meals small. Stick with eating six small meals through out the day. Large meals tend to stuff up your stomach which is already extra squashed thanks to your uterus. A stuffed stomach makes it that more likely that some of the food along with stomach acid will make its way back up the esophagus.

Also, make sure you keep your fluids and solids separate. Too much fluid mixed with too much food can distend the stomach which can aggravate heartburn. You also want to eat sitting up. Don’t eat while lying down, and if you are having a bed time snack make sure you are propped up by pillows.

Your weight plays a part in how much heartburn you may experience. The heavier you are, the more pressure you are placing on your esophageal sphincter. This is another reason why you should not gain to much more than the recommended amount.

Find out what foods cause your heartburn. Once you figure out what foods cause heartburn, you can cut them out of your diet. Some foods you might want to steer clear of are highly seasoned spicy foods, soda, tomatoes sauce, chocolate, and some citrus. Greasy foods are also a big contributor to heartburn. Cutting out greasy, fried food is going to help with your heartburn prevention.

When all else fails, take something for your heartburn. Tums and Rolaids are perfectly safe to take during pregnancy. If you are not comfortable taking any over the counter medicines try some natural ways such as eating a handful of almonds. Almonds are a stomach settler and might help with your heartburn. Another natural remedy is a tablespoon of honey mixed with milk is a favorite for preventing heartburn.

Like with some pregnancy discomforts, heartburn is one that can be avoided as long as you take the steps and eat properly. Even without suffering from a lot of heartburn, your baby still could be born with a full head of hair.

Many women experience heartburn for the first time while they are pregnant. It’s not uncommon, but it is uncomfortable. What should you know about coping with heartburn during pregnancy?

First, the reason that women who have never had problems with heartburn may experience it during pregancy is easy. One of the hormones produced by the placenta slows down the contractions in the esophagus and relaxes the muscles between the stomach and esophagus – meaning that stomach acids either escape into the esophagus or get pushed there by the crowding baby.

Although they probably won’t cure the problem completely, there are a few things you can do to minimize your discomfort.

Avoid those foods and habits that usually cause heartburn (even if they haven’t triggered it in you before). Alcohol (as if you need another reason to avoid it while you’re pregnant), caffeine, chocolate, citrus fruit, tomatoes, mustard, other acidic foods, spicy or fried foods, etc. Instead of eating big meals (eating for 2!) eat multiple small meals throughout the day. That way, foods have more time to digest slowly and stay down. Don’t gulp down your liquids during meals. It’s important to get enough water, but too many liquids while your stomach tries to digest will hinder the digestion process. Avoid eating too close to bedtime – give yourself 2-3 hours before you give gravity extra leverage for letting acid into your esophagus. Wear loose and comfortable clothing. Trying to fit into those jeans just a little longer will probably make your heartburn worse. Try taking otc acid reducers, but talk to your doctor about it so you make sure to avoid brands that might contain aspirin or be high in sodium. Chewable, calcium carbonate antacids are probably your best first bet.

Your doctor may have other suggestions about what you can do to reduce your heartburn during pregnancy. You have enough discomfort to worry about – find ways to make this part easier.

Heartburn is described as a burning feeling that stretches from the bottom of the breast bone up to the lower throat. It is commonly caused by overeating or the consumption of a food that does not agree with the body.

Heartburn is often a common condition among many pregnant women, caused by the hormonal and physical body changes. Heartburn among pregnant women usually begins somewhere during the first trimester and typically worsens during the second and third trimesters.

Just like acid reflux, heartburn during pregnancy is caused by stomach acids sneaking out of the stomach past the valve that is supposed to keep it there.

The stomach fluids rise up the esophagus causing pain and discomfort. Unlike acid reflux, the valve is not simply faulty; it has been relaxed by hormones produced due to the pregnancy. The particular hormone is called progesterone and it also relaxes the muscles of the uterus. During digestion your esophagus and intestines make wavelike contractions.

The progesterone slows those contractions, which results in sluggish digestion. Then later during the pregnancy, as the baby gets bigger, the abdominal cavity gets crowded and pushes the stomach acids back up into the esophagus. This condition usually continues until the baby is born.

Although there is nothing that can be done to cure the condition, it is possible to ease the symptoms. The following tips are good things to add to your lifestyle even beyond pregnancy because they promote good health and help prevent other non pregnancy related digestive issues.

Don’t eat late at night or close to bedtime.

Avoid greasy or spicy foods, as well as anything with chocolate, peppermint, tomato sauce, caffeine, carbonation, and citrus.

Wear loose clothes.

Eat smaller meals.

Don’t lay flat after eating. Three hours should pass before going to bed.

Elevate the head and upper body at bedtime.

Stay away from tobacco and alcohol.

Most of the time pregnant women can ease their symptoms through simple diet and lifestyle changes.

If something more is needed, heartburn medication with aluminum, calcium, or magnesium are usually safe and effective. Magnesium based antacids should be avoided during the last trimester of pregnancy due to its potential to interfere with uterine contractions during labor.

Antacids with sodium bicarbonate should be completely avoided because as it results in the potential of too much fluid in both the mother and the fetus. To be safe, however, a doctor should always be consulted before taking heart burn medicine or any other medication during pregnancy.

Pregnancy is considered to be a time of joy for new mothers. This is the time when they are pampered and their every wish is fulfilled (well almost every wish). There are however a few things that can cause discomfort and pain for an expectant mother. One of these is pregnancy heartburn.

The question that arises is why do some women experience heartburn while they are pregnant and other women do not?

Heartburn occurs when the digested food juices reflux back into your esophagus and throat. There is a valve that usually keeps the stomach acids in the stomach where the intestinal lining protects your body from the effects of the acid. This valve is called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES. When the LES relaxes, the stomach acids reflux into the esophagus. This causes the lining of the esophagus, which is thin and unable to deal with the acid, to get irritated and inflamed.

With a pregnant mother heartburn does not occur only because of the digested food juices refluxing back into the esophagus and throat. The increased amounts of hormones in the body can soften the muscles that normally keep the LES closed. Thus if the LES relaxes at an inappropriate moment, then food and gastric acid reflux back into the esophagus.

There is also another reason that might contribute to pregnancy heartburn. During pregnancy a woman’s body goes through many changes to accommodate the growing baby. As the baby continues to grow within the womb, there is pressure put upon the stomach. This pressure in turn may force the stomach acid to reflux through the LES into the esophagus. Thus causing pregnancy heartburn.

As there is no clear way to completely eliminate heartburn even during pregnancy, the most sensible approach to take is to minimize the discomfort that you may experience because of pregnancy heartburn. With a few simple precautions you can hold the heartburn at bay. Avoiding certain foods that are known to trigger heartburn can greatly reduce the chances of heartburn.

Avoid drinks containing coffee, tea, colas and alcohol as these can relax the LES and allow acid to reflux back into the esophagus. Also don’t eat large meals. Instead eat several small meals throughout the day. Take your time eating, rushing through meals helps put unwanted pressure upon the LES. You also need to drink plenty of water in small amounts throughout the day.

When you go to sleep at night, keep your head elevated higher than your body. This position will keep your stomach contents in your stomach where they belong and not in the esophagus where they will cause pregnancy heartburn. During the day you should sit upright in a comfortable chair rather than slouching.

Gain a sensible amount of weight and stay within the weight guidelines your doctor suggests. Being pregnant does not mean suffering unduly because of heartburn, rather you can think of it as a change in your lifestyle. A change for a miracle of life, not for pregnancy heartburn.

Do you have heartburn while you are pregnant? Turns out it is not uncommon. Females Often experience heartburn while they are pregnant, and there are some things you can do to alleviate it.

Heartburn while pregnant becomes especially painful during the third trimester, when the baby is getting larger and larger, and pushing harder on your belly. If you are really experiencing constant or chronic heartburn you should talk to a doctor as soon as possible, but if it is a rare occurrence, here are some tips you can implement to alleviate your heartburn during pregnancy.

1. Rest on your back with your head elevated. Put a pillow on the top portion of your back and you’ll be sleeping and feeling better right away. Keeping your head raised is a great way to quickly relieve your heartburn or acid reflux during pregnancy.

2. Eat small meals more often. This will help your stomach digest the food easier and will help stop your heartburn. Make sure to chew thoroughly and drink plenty of liquids.

3. Do not eat foods that cause heartburn. Your heartburn while pregnant could be caused by the foods you eat. Many foods are known to cause heartburn, such as sodas and coffee. Smoking contributes to heartburn as well, but if you are pregnant you would be best advised to stop smoking.

4. Avoid large amounts of water. Although you should keep yourself hydrated, if you drink too much water it may be causing your heartburn during pregnancy.

5. Get rid of tight clothing, especially when you are pregnant. Tight clothing puts pressure on your stomach, which can contribute to your heartburn during pregnancy. Loose fitting clothing give your stomach breathing room, and is a great and simple change that could help your heartburn during pregnancy.

Implement these five tips immediately to help alleviate your heartburn during pregnancy, but you should still consult a medical professional. There are tons of other heartburn cures that can work instantly, especially if you are pregnant.

Many women tend to experience heartburn symptoms when they are still carrying their babies, and this happens for several reasons.

One of these is the increase of hormones in the women’s body while they are pregnant. The occurrence of this will result in softening the ligaments which function is to keep the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) firmly closed. When the LES rests at unsuitable periods, tendency is, this will let the gastric acid and food to reflux back to the esophagus and throat.

One more reason of experiencing heartburn during pregnancy is because the changes in the body and the development of the baby creates more pressure in the women’s stomach. Therefore, the stomach contents are forced right into the LES, and then to the esophagus.

However, there are several methods that a pregnant woman can observe to lessen the discomfort brought by heartburn. The following are good advices, although this may not remove the heartburn totally:

•    Avoid the food that triggers heartburn. Examples of this are chocolates, spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, mustard, tomatoes and tomato based products, fatty foods, fried foods, and highly seasoned dishes. Try to refer to medical specialists to know the complete list of foods to avoid Acid Reflux. Also, for foods that you may take which contains little danger of causing heartburn.

•    Get rid of drinks that have caffeine, like tea, coffee, and soda. Too much of these will cause the LES to relax and let the acid to return into the esophagus.

•    Stay away from alcohol beverages. This, like caffeine tends to relax the LES thus, creating the same effect-triggering heartburn.

•    Avoid eating large meals. It is suggested that taking numerous small meals throughout the day will be better.

•    Avoid rush in eating your meals. Chewing food thoroughly will really help in avoidance of heartburn, so better take your time in eating.

•    Rest for at least three hours after having your last meal before taking your sleep.

•    A pregnant woman is advised to take more glasses of water a day, at least 8 to 10 glasses, though this must be taken not just during meals. Through this, the stomach will expand, and then the LES will be given more pressure, obliging it to open inappropriately. Hence, it is really recommended to drink more water and other fluids in between meals.

•    When sleeping elevate the head of the bed for at least six to eight inches. Try to sleep with an elevated head and shoulders through a wedge pillow. Through this, the gravity will work as much that it will keep the acids in your stomach in their place-in the stomach, not in the esophagus. Try to consult physicians to gain additional knowledge on how to relieve nighttime heartburn.

•    Don’t wear tight fitting clothes. Tightness around the waist and stomach will trigger heartburn as it causes uneasiness.

•    When bending, do it at the knees, not at the waist. This will avoid in creating too much pressure in the stomach.

•    Don’t slouch; rather sit erect in a relaxing chair.

•    Maintain a sensible amount of weight, too much weight and fatness will give more stress in your stomach. As a result, this will force stomach contents throughout the LES and to the esophagus. Stay with your doctors guidelines.

•    Avoid smoking. Doctors stated that smoking could cause several effects to a pregnant woman, much that it can add to the possibility of experiencing heartburn.

Many women tend to experience heartburn symptoms when they are still carrying their babies, and this happens for several reasons.

One of these is the increase of hormones in the women’s body while they are pregnant. The occurrence of this will result in softening the ligaments which function is to keep the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) firmly closed. When the LES rests at unsuitable periods, tendency is, this will let the gastric acid and food to reflux back to the esophagus and throat.

One more reason of experiencing heartburn during pregnancy is because the changes in the body and the development of the baby creates more pressure in the women’s stomach. Therefore, the stomach contents are forced right into the LES, and then to the esophagus.

However, there are several methods that a pregnant woman can observe to lessen the discomfort brought by heartburn. The following are good advices, although this may not remove the heartburn totally:

• Avoid the food that triggers heartburn. Examples of this are chocolates, spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, mustard, tomatoes and tomato based products, fatty foods, fried foods, and highly seasoned dishes. Try to refer to medical specialists to know the complete list of foods to avoid Acid Reflux. Also, for foods that you may take which contains little danger of causing heartburn.

• Get rid of drinks that have caffeine, like tea, coffee, and soda. Too much of these will cause the LES to relax and let the acid to return into the esophagus.

• Stay away from alcohol beverages. This, like caffeine tends to relax the LES thus, creating the same effect—triggering heartburn.

• Avoid eating large meals. It is suggested that taking numerous small meals throughout the day will be better.

• Avoid rush in eating your meals. Chewing food thoroughly will really help in avoidance of heartburn, so better take your time in eating.

• Rest for at least three hours after having your last meal before taking your sleep.

• A pregnant woman is advised to take more glasses of water a day, at least 8 to 10 glasses, though this must be taken not just during meals. Through this, the stomach will expand, and then the LES will be given more pressure, obliging it to open inappropriately. Hence, it is really recommended to drink more water and other fluids in between meals.

• When sleeping elevate the head of the bed for at least six to eight inches. Try to sleep with an elevated head and shoulders through a wedge pillow. Through this, the gravity will work as much that it will keep the acids in your stomach in their place—in the stomach, not in the esophagus. Try to consult physicians to gain additional knowledge on how to relieve nighttime heartburn.

• Don’t wear tight fitting clothes. Tightness around the waist and stomach will trigger heartburn as it causes uneasiness.

• When bending, do it at the knees, not at the waist. This will avoid in creating too much pressure in the stomach.

• Don’t slouch; rather sit erect in a relaxing chair.

• Maintain a sensible amount of weight, too much weight and fatness will give more stress in your stomach. As a result, this will force stomach contents throughout the LES and to the esophagus. Stay with your doctors guidelines.

• Avoid smoking. Doctors stated that smoking could cause several effects to a pregnant woman, much that it can add to the possibility of experiencing heartburn.