During pregnancy, a womans body goes through lots of changes, very quickly. Most of the time, the changes are exciting. Unfortunately, some of the changes cause feelings of discomfort such as acid reflux.
During pregnancy, a womans hormones are constantly fluctuating. A common side effect of the hormone changes is additional acid being produced in the stomach. Additional stomach acid combined with additional food consumption often results in acid reflux.
Acid reflux is uncomfortable, no matter who you are. There is a huge selection of over the counter acid treating and eliminating products available, but they are all intended for temporary or intermittent use.
As the fetus grows, it puts an ever increasing pressure on the stomach area. This can cause stomach acid to move up into the esophagus. As the pressure increases, the acid reflux symptoms also increase for most pregnant women. Making smart food choices and mild antacids usually take care of the symptoms.
Having acid reflux while pregnant is very common and part of the process for most pregnant women. Scientific studies have shown that antacids do not harm the fetus, though they can be high in sodium.
One of the best ways to combat acid reflux while pregnant is to avoid foods that contain a lot of acid. Citrus fruit and juices are very acidic and can trigger acid reflux symptoms. Eating more frequent and smaller meals allows the body to get its needed nutrition while not straining the digestion process. Almost all pregnant women consume more food than they would normally so smart food choices will benefit mom and baby both.
Eating smaller meals also allows the body to digest the food properly while still extracting the necessary nutritional value. Most pregnant women do consume more food during pregnancy than they normally would, but smart food choices will help mom and baby both.
Many pregnant women experience acid reflux when they lie down to go to sleep. Elevating the head and shoulders a couple of inches helps keep the acid out of the esophagus. Acid reflux is very common among pregnant women.
Talk to your doctor about ways to prevent and treat it when it occurs. Eating foods low in acid will help, as will drinking water and making smart food choices.