More than half of pregnant women get serious heartburn, particularly during their second and third trimesters. Heartburn,
also called acid indigestion, is an irritation or burning sensation of the esophagus (the tube that carries food and liquid to your
stomach when you swallow). It’s caused by stomach contents that reflux (come back up). If you have
heartburn while you’re pregnant, you may: Heartburn in pregnancy may happen because of changing hormone levels, which can affect the muscles of the digestive
tract. Pregnancy hormones can cause your lower esophageal sphincter (the muscular valve between the stomach and esophagus) to relax, allowing stomach acids to flow back up into your esophagus. Also, as your baby grows, your enlarged uterus can crowd
the abdomen, pushing stomach acids upward. Although it's rare, gallstones can also cause heartburn during pregnancy. Some tips that may help you cut down on heartburn during your pregnancy include: If your heartburn won’t go away, see
your doctor. They may prescribe or recommend OTC medications that are safe to take during pregnancy. Heartburn usually disappears following childbirth. Medications may include: Over-the-counter antacids such as
calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide. These are generally safe to use during pregnancy. You may find that liquid heartburn relievers are more effective in
treating heartburn, because they coat the esophagus. H2 blockers. These medications block chemical signals that produce stomach acid. They include cimetidine
(Tagamet) and famotidine (Pepcid,
Zantac 360), and they’re available in over the counter and prescription strengths. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Like H2 blockers, these drugs help cut down on stomach acid. PPIs, which include
lansoprazole (Prevacid) and
omeprazole (Prilosec), are available over the counter and by prescription. If you take iron
supplements, talk to your doctor before you take a PPI or H2 blocker. These medications can make the supplements less effective. Talk to your doctor before taking any antacids. Some contain ingredients that may harm you or your
baby. Be sure to not to take these medications: Ranitidine. In 2020, the FDA stopped sales of an H2 blocker called ranitidine (the ingredient in older Zantac products) because it was contaminated with a
cancer-causing agent. If you take OTC ranitidine, stop your use. If you have a prescription for ranitidine, talk to your doctor about other options before you stop your medication. Feeling the burn? No one knows heartburn quite like a pregnant woman. What's more, you may well experience pregnancy heartburn discomfort during all three trimesters. Rest assured that you're not alone. Nearly half of expectant moms have heartburn during pregnancy.[1] Here's more about pregnancy heartburn and what you can do about it. When does heartburn generally start during pregnancy?For many women, heartburn starts in the first trimester, beginning around month two, and is a pregnancy symptom that lasts throughout the nine months. What causes heartburn during pregnancy?Early in pregnancy, your body produces large amounts of the hormones progesterone and relaxin, which tend to relax smooth muscle tissues throughout your body, including those in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. As a result, food sometimes moves more slowly through your system, resulting in indigestion issues of all kinds, from that bloated, gassy feeling to heartburn. This may be uncomfortable for you, but it's actually beneficial for your baby. This digestive slowdown allows for better absorption of nutrients into your bloodstream and subsequently through the placenta and to your baby. Heartburn occurs when the ring of muscle that separates the esophagus from the stomach relaxes (like all the muscles in the GI tract), allowing food and harsh digestive juices to back up from the stomach to the esophagus.[2] These stomach acids irritate the sensitive esophageal lining, causing a burning sensation right around where the heart is located; thus the term heartburn, though the problem has nothing to do with your heart. How do you treat heartburn during pregnancy?There are several ways to control and treat heartburn during pregnancy. And with so many options — and so much time — you'll probably try them all: Continue Reading Below Read This Next
What medications can I take for heartburn during pregnancy?Keep a supply of Tums, Maalox or Mylanta at popping distance: In addition to helping curb the burn, they'll also give you a healthy dose of calcium while they ease your discomfort.[3] For all of these choices, be sure to check with your practitioner for the right dosage. Avoid other heartburn medications during pregnancy unless they're prescribed by your doctor. However, if your heartburn is persistent, your doctor may suggest that you try an over-the-counter heartburn medicine that controls acid production, like proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) or H2 blockers. They're generally considered safe during pregnancy for women whose symptoms are severe and don't respond to antacids and other lifestyle changes, but you'll want to get the okay first from your practitioner. Can I prevent heartburn during pregnancy?The chances of having a completely heartburn-free pregnancy are slim to none. The good news is that pregnancy-induced indigestion is also nothing to worry about. In the meantime, there are plenty of preventive measures and soothing strategies you can try for pregnancy heartburn, including:
When can I expect the heartburn to end during pregnancy?Unfortunately, heartburn is a symptom you're likely to experience throughout your entire pregnancy if you have it at all. In fact, even if you escaped indigestion early on in your pregnancy, there's a good chance you'll have a surge starting around the second or third trimesters, when your uterus takes over your abdominal cavity and forces your stomach upwards. Fortunately, the burn should clear up as soon as you give birth. Pregnancy and GERDIf you had gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) before pregnancy, heartburn is nothing new — but treating it during pregnancy might be. Now that you're expecting, talk to your practitioner about whether the prescription meds you're taking are still okay now that you're pregnant. Many of the tips for fighting heartburn can also help with your reflux. And if heartburn is new to you since pregnancy and occurs more than twice a week, or if you haven't found relief after taking over-the-counter medications for more than two weeks, be sure to talk to your doctor. You may have developed GERD, which requires specific lifestyle changes and medication. Does heartburn during pregnancy mean my baby will be born with hair?Suffering from severe heartburn? You may want to stock up on baby shampoo. Research has backed up the superstition that, on average, the more heartburn you have during pregnancy, the more likely your baby will be born with a full head of hair. Implausible as it sounds, it seems that the hormones responsible for heartburn are the same ones that cause fetal hair to sprout. From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. Was this article helpful? What does heartburn during third trimester mean?Heartburn and indigestion are more common during the third trimester because the growing uterus puts pressure on the intestines and the stomach. The pressure on the stomach may also push contents back up into the esophagus.
What relieves heartburn during pregnancy?How Can I Treat Heartburn During Pregnancy?. Eat some yogurt or drink a glass of milk.. Mix a bit of honey into a glass of warm milk or ginger tea.. Sleep with your head elevated to help control flare-ups during the night.. Try an over-the-counter antacid…but ONLY after consulting with your provider.. What triggers heartburn during pregnancy?Indigestion, also called heartburn or acid reflux, is common in pregnancy. It can be caused by hormonal changes and the growing baby pressing against your stomach. You can help ease indigestion and heartburn by making changes to your diet and lifestyle, and there are medicines that are safe to take in pregnancy.
Does heartburn indicate Labour?Many women often wonder if heartburn is a sign of labour and the answer is; it can be. When your baby pushes your stomach upward it can cause the stomach acids to move up the windpipe causing the feeling of heartburn.
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