What some women find helpful for heartburn
Heartburn is a feeling of 'burning' or discomfort in the chest and throat, felt usually after eating. Heartburn is also known as 'indigestion' or 'reflux' and can be experienced by up to 66% of pregnant women. Heartburn can happen at any time but is more common in the last 3 to 4 months of the pregnancy.
Heartburn is thought to occur for many reasons. The pregnancy hormone progesterone can relax the sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach. This muscle opens to allow food to pass into the stomach from the gullet or
oesophagus. The muscle also usually prevents acid from the stomach regurgitating back into the gullet.
When the muscle is relaxed during pregnancy, it can allow the stomach contents to reflux back up into the oesophagus, causing discomfort or a burning sensation. The gullet doesn't have an acid-protective lining. This can be made worse by the pressure of the growing baby, especially id lying down or bending over.
Another reason for heartburn is the relaxation of another muscle sphincter at the bottom of the stomach. This can allow irritating bile from the bowel to reflux back into the stomach, making the heartburn worse.
Other contributing factors can include nervous tension and stress, smoking, alcohol and caffeine. These may play a role in women experiencing heartburn earlier in the pregnancy or after the birth (although they are generally best to avoid anyway). It is best to avoid any antacid medications during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy if possible, while your baby's organs are forming. Check with your caregiver.