Author: MJT
The Link Between Pregnancy And Heartburn Symptoms
Although pregnancy is indeed the miracle of creating a new
life, this miracle does not come without its inconveniences. Pregnant women have to deal with the weight
gain, the swollen ankles, with purchasing maternity clothes, and a multitude of
other annoyances, big and small.
One common problem that some women seem surprised to learn
about, once it happens to them, is the link between pregnancy and heartburn
symptoms. In fact, many women experience
heartburn for the first time when pregnant.
There are a few reasons for this.
The Hormones
One of the reasons that pregnancy and heartburn symptoms
seem to go hand in hand is because of the different hormones that are in the
body during pregnancy, particularly progesterone. This hormone increases in the system when
pregnant, and leads to the relaxation of smooth muscle tissue in the body,
which aids in the labor process.
However a consequence of this is that the smooth muscle in
places other than the uterus is affected, which includes the sphincter at the
end of the esophagus. When this happens,
acid can get pushed through and into the esophagus, which causes heartburn, a
definite link between pregnancy and heartburn symptoms.
The other, less direct link between pregnancy and heartburn
symptoms is that the production of progesterone also slows the actions of
peristalsis, which are the rhythmic contractions of smooth muscle that move
food down the esophagus and through the intestines. Because this is slowed, food tends to stay in
the stomach longer, which is a condition that encourages heartburn.
The Baby
Of course, hormones aren’t the only problem. As the baby grows during the course of
pregnancy, the abdominal cavity grows more crowded, with the stomach getting
pushed up slightly. This is a common link between pregnancy and heartburn symptoms
during the second half of pregnancy, since with the stomach forced to be
compressed slightly, it’s easier for acid to push out of the stomach and into
the esophagus, causing heartburn.
Treatment
While the discomfort of heartburn is certainly not anything
a woman wants, the fact is, particularly because of the physical reasons it
happens, it will probably come and go throughout the end of the pregnancy. The best bet to minimize this discomfort is
to avoid caffeine, alcohol, smoking, and any foods that seem to further
irritate the stomach.
Antacids can be used, but it is best to check with your
physician before use, as some contain aluminum or aspirin, which you want to
avoid when pregnant. Unfortunately, it’s
hard to avoid heartburn while pregnant, but given the end result, a new life,
it’s certainly worth the added discomfort.
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