KEEPING PREGNANT WOMEN AWAY FROM ACID REFLUX DILEMMA

Many women usually experience heartburn symptoms during pregnancy, and this happens because of several reasons.

One of these is because of the great increase of hormones in women’s bodies during the pregnancy period. The occurrence of this always results in softening of the ligaments whose function is to keep the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) firmly closed. If the LES rests at unsuitable periods, it's likely to let the gastric acid and food reflux back to the esophagus and throat.

One more reason why women experience heartburn during pregnancy is because the changes in the body and the development of the baby create more pressure on the stomach of the woman. Then, the stomach contents are forced into the LES, and then into the esophagus.

However, there are several methods that a pregnant woman can observe to reduce the discomfort brought to her by heartburn. The following is good advice, although this may not remove the heartburn completely.

• Avoid food that triggers heartburn. Examples,  spicy foods,  citrus fruits, mustard, chocolates,  fatty foods,  foods that are fried, and excessive seasoned dishes. I am of the opinion you meet a medical specialist to know the complete list of foods to avoid for Acid Reflux and for other foods that you may take which contain little danger of causing heartburn.

• Avoid drinks that contain caffeine, like tea, coffee, soda, etc. Too much consumption of these will cause the LES to relax and let the acid return to the esophagus.

• Stay far away from alcoholic beverages like caffeine, which tends to relax the LES, hence, creating the same effect—triggering heartburn.

• Avoid eating large meals or a large portion of food. It is better to take numerous small meals throughout the day than to eat heavy ones.

• Avoid rushing in eating your meals or eating fast. Thorough chewing of food really helps in avoidance of heartburn, so better take your time in eating your meals.

• Rest for a minimum of three hours after having your last meal before going to bed.

• A pregnant woman is advised to take a high amount of glasses of water daily, at least 8 to 10 glasses, though this must be taken most times not just during meals. This will stretch the stomach, and the LES will be highly pressured, forcing it to open inappropriately. Hence, it is seriously recommended to drink more water often and other fluids in between meals daily.

• When sleeping raise the head of the bed to at least six to eight inches high. Try sleeping with an elevated head and shoulders using a wedge pillow. By this, the gravity will work as much that it will keep the acids in your stomach settled in their place, in the stomach not in the esophagus. Consult a physician to gain additional knowledge on ways to reduce bedtime heartburn.

• Don’t wear tight or fitting clothes. Tightness around the waist and stomach will cause heartburn as it also causes uneasiness in the body.

• When bending, do it at the knees level and not at the waist, to avoid creating too much pressure on the stomach muscle.

• Always sit erect in a relaxation chair, don’t slouch.

• Maintain a reasonable body size and weight, too much weight, and fatness will make your stomach uncomfortable for your relaxation. This will lead to the forcing of stomach contents throughout the LES to the esophagus. Always stay with your doctor's given guidelines.

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