What Helps Relieve Acid Reflux During Pregnancy

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Pregnancy can be full of sweet moments: the excitement of seeing a tiny heartbeat on an ultrasound, that first little flutter in your belly, and yes, even that third-trimester fluff. What is not sweet, however, is the stomach acid and indigestion that pregnancy can bring.

What Helps Relieve Acid Reflux During Pregnancy

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder that occurs when the muscular ring between the esophagus and stomach opens or relaxes, causing stomach acid to leak into the esophagus. The most common symptoms of GERD are heartburn – a burning sensation in the chest behind the sternum – tightness, fluids or food rising into the chest. Although almost everyone experiences heartburn from time to time, GERD is defined as symptoms that occur two or more times per week or when there is damage to the esophagus due to reflux. Treatments often include diet and lifestyle changes and medications that reduce acidity.

Herbal Remedies For Heartburn

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, GERD is very common. Although rates may be higher in older, obese, and pregnant women, in the United States

Heartburn during pregnancy is so common it’s almost a ritual, says Sherrill Rose, MD, OB-GYN at Providence St. John’s Health Center. About a quarter of pregnant women develop GERD in the first trimester of pregnancy, and the incidence increases as pregnancy progresses, says gastroenterologist Austin Garza, MD, of Associates in Gastroenterology in Colorado Springs.

GERD is a symptom of pregnancy because changing hormone levels can affect the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. Progesterone, the hormone produced in large amounts by the placenta, is a smooth muscle relaxant, says Heather Johnson, MD, OB-GYN at Reiter, Hill & Johnson, Advantia Health in the Washington, DC area. Relaxation of the muscles in the digestive system causes relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle. This means that stomach acid easily passes into the esophagus. This, combined with the increase in the size of the uterus during the second and third trimesters, pushes up the abdomen and increases the discomfort. “Therefore, symptoms worsen as the pregnancy progresses,” says Dr. Note Johnson.

“GERD can wear many hats” and feels different in each person, says Dr. Garza. Some may feel an intense burning sensation in the chest and throat, while others feel a sharp pain just below the sternum and slightly to the left. Some may taste sour or sometimes swell or crack. Symptoms often get worse after eating, which can make eating difficult, says Dr. Notes of rose.

Can You Take Tums While Pregnant?

Since the symptoms can vary from person to person, it is important to know what they are. In rare cases, GERD can cause severe irritation of the esophagus, resulting in pain, difficulty swallowing, or bleeding. “Dark or black stools can be a sign of bleeding and should be discussed with your doctor/obstetrician immediately,” says Dr. Garza. It also cautions that GERD usually does not cause shortness of breath, pain when breathing, or chest pain with exertion. All of these symptoms can be a sign of a more worrisome pregnancy complication, especially the development of blood clots, and may indicate the need to see a doctor.

Dr. Johnson assures that simple reflux itself is not harmful to unborn babies. GERD becomes a problem during pregnancy only when there is a serious impact on nutritional intake. If your symptoms prevent you from consuming the recommended amount of calories, it is important that you contact your doctor immediately.

Diet and lifestyle changes are the primary treatment for GERD during pregnancy. Try the following steps to manage acid reflux during pregnancy:

The good news is that there are many things you can eat during pregnancy that won’t cause heartburn. A really important question, says Dr. Johnson, what should you not eat if you have GERD? There is a relatively short list of foods to avoid, including alcohol, chocolate, citrus juice, tomato products, pepper, coffee and fatty foods.

Gerd Or Chronic Acid Reflux

Waters can be mixed when it comes to GERD symptoms during pregnancy. Dr. Johnson notes that some women find drinking water after meals helpful. It is believed to reduce the amount of acidity in the stomach. But Dr. Rose suggests this because drinking large amounts while eating can fill the stomach and increase the risk of acid reflux and heartburn.

Since the volume of the stomach decreases due to the growth of the uterus, too much water can cause GERD symptoms. Any excess water can depress the lower esophageal sphincter and cause unpleasant symptoms. In other words, drink moderate amounts of water after or during meals to avoid causing symptoms.

In addition to the dietary and lifestyle measures listed above, safe antacids are the next step in the treatment of GERD during pregnancy. First-line medications that are safe to use during pregnancy include:

These medications help soothe the esophagus and reduce the burning sensation, Dr. Ross explains. They also help neutralize stomach acid. These medications should be taken 30 minutes before each meal and at bedtime for optimal results, or they can be taken as needed.

Dental Tips During Pregnancy

If you find yourself taking high and frequent doses of the above medications to treat GERD symptoms, you may need an acid-reducing medication, and the following treatments are also safe during pregnancy:

These are considered second-line drugs. Antacids work faster and are cheaper. Many women with mild symptoms do not need to try Pepcid or Tagamet.

Dr. According to Garza, it’s best to avoid antacids that contain baking soda or aspirin (such as baking soda and Alka Seltzer products) during pregnancy. For cases of severe reflux that require treatment beyond the safe medications listed above, it’s best to talk to your doctor. He or she may prescribe proton pump inhibitors if the above medications do not work. These popular medications, such as Prilosec (omeprazole) and Nexium (esomeprazole), are also considered safe during pregnancy.

Although the symptoms of acid reflux during pregnancy can be quite annoying and disabling, there is no reason to suffer from them. With the above remedies and medications, GERD symptoms can often be managed. If you have trouble managing them on your own, talk to your doctor. There are many happy moments during pregnancy. Don’t let GERD ruin your experience. When you become a man, you don’t have time for that acid regurgitation. But your usual treatment methods may not be safe for your unborn baby. (Remember Pepto Bismol? It’s on the no-fly list for moms-to-be, according to FDA recommendations.)

Remedies For Acid Reflux During Pregnancy

Instead, here are some of the best and safest ways to avoid heartburn during pregnancy:

Even if not all of the suggestions above work to relieve symptoms, you have nine months to try them all and see what works.

To relieve heartburn, over-the-counter antacids (such as Tums, Mylanta, Rolaids, and Maalox) are considered safe medications to use during pregnancy.

As always, check with your provider about any medications you are taking, even if they are considered safe. (This is especially true for high-risk pregnancies.)

Heartburn And Pregnancy: Fertility, Gestation, And Postpartum

They say prevention is the best medicine, so knowing the most common heartburn triggers can help you keep the acid in check.

Of course, pregnancy itself is a major trigger for heartburn. When the growing uterus presses on the stomach, it forces stomach acid into the throat.

Those lovely hormones aren’t helping either. They tend to loosen the valve between the stomach and esophagus, making it easier for acid to back up.

While you can’t do anything to stop it completely, there are a few things you can do to prevent heartburn during pregnancy:

Foods That Help Heartburn

One day, researchers may discover a miracle drug that provides long-term relief from heartburn during pregnancy. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet.

So if you’re wondering how long you’ll deal with heartburn while you’re pregnant, it will be throughout your pregnancy. (Maybe this is a good time to remind yourself that you’ll have a beautiful baby when you’re done.)

If severe heartburn during pregnancy is interfering with your daily life, it’s time to see a doctor.

To get the care you need, search for a provider or find an Intermountain Healthcare location near you. Most pregnant women experience heartburn and heartburn during pregnancy. It mostly happens in the second or third trimester of pregnancy and can be quite miserable. Heartburn doesn’t usually mean heartburn; Rather, it describes a state of discomfort felt behind the sternum that affects the upper extremities of the neck and throat. Heartburn is medically called gastroesophageal reflux and describes a condition.

What Foods Make Gerd Worse?

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