Over half of all pregnant women will experience heartburn at least once during their pregnancy. There are quite a few theories, a few facts and at least one old wive’s tale pertaining to the matter of why women get heartburn while pregnant.
There are many suggestions to avoid heartburn or to ease discomfort when heartburn does occur. With all of the other discomforts that may come with the pregnant condition, the value of prevention and treatment cannot be weighed.
Heartburn is the uncomfortable sensation that occurs when stomach acid for what ever reason is forced up the esophagus. The symptoms and discomfort of heartburn range from mild to severe. There are many over the counter remedies that are available in different forms the most common of which being the tablet, pill or liquid forms. One added benefit to antacid tablets is that one particular brand also provides the user with a nice supplement of calcium, always a bonus during pregnancy or any other time for most women.
Any time you are considering taking any medication while pregnant whether over the counter or not a physicians advice needs to be considered. Doctors make recommendations on a case per case basis and will know the best course of action that should be taken when dealing with heartburn as well as other issues that arise during pregnancy. Each individual is different with different needs and good physicians always operate with this in mind.
Chewing gum is an easy method to help offset some of the discomfort associated with heartburn and certainly will not harm an unborn child. While chewing gum saliva is generated helping soothe heartburn naturally.
Avoiding spicy foods and caffeinated drinks may help deter heartburn even farther. The good thing is two common culprits for heartburn, caffeine and alcohol should be avoided while pregnant anyway. Alcohol not only encourages heartburn but can be lethal or extremely disabling to the unborn. Always avoid alcohol when pregnant.
If a person is afflicted with heartburn it may be helpful to drink a nice cold glass of milk. The milk can neutralize the aggravating stomach acids as well as soothe and coat the stomach and esophagus. Health benefits to drinking milk while pregnant are many as well as milk being an excellent source of vitamin D and Calcium. Lying down in a flat horizontal position on the back may alleviate symptoms as well.
When in the pregnant condition a woman’s body produces elevated levels of certain hormones that seem to effect the body’s ability to ward off heartburn. With limited amount of space for baby, organs , lungs and
stomach it seems probable that heartburn will occur often in most pregnancies.
There are many an old wife who will say it means the baby will be born with a full head of hair. This theory has been supported often, however the evidence is circumstantial and not based upon any scientific findings. They will also say that once a woman gets heartburn she will always be plagued by it long after her pregnancy is over.