Heartburn during pregnancy: how to deal with it?

The second trimester has arrived. The baby grows, and physical changes occur in the body of the expectant mother. Heartburn during pregnancy in the second trimester occurs quite often. More than half of women report to their doctor that they have an unpleasant feeling. Let us immediately note that such a manifestation is safe for both mother and child.. In addition, the symptom can be easily eliminated with proper nutrition or medication.

Main reasons

A burning sensation in the throat or behind the breastbone is one of the many consequences of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. It is provoked by the hormone progesterone, which is produced by the placenta. In addition to relaxation of the uterine muscles, partial dysfunction of the esophageal valve is observed. Weakened muscles allow stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus. The consequence of this process is heartburn at the 19th week of pregnancy and in subsequent weeks.

Let's look at the possible causes of this problem:

Enlargement of the female organ - the uterus. The enlarged organ puts pressure on the stomach, displacing it, which also causes an increase in pressure in the peritoneum.
The fruit is large in size. The child grows and puts pressure on the stomach. This contributes to displacement and deformation of the organ.
Poor nutrition. Fatty foods, spices, carbonated drinks, strong coffee or even tea can cause heartburn even outside of pregnancy. The cause of the burning sensation can also be banal overeating.

Treatment with medications and at home

It is possible to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy quite quickly. This symptom appears quite often in women, so do not panic. When the causes are stress, you just need to relax and calm down, the result will not be long in coming - the discomfort will go away.

Note! Heartburn is not a disease, it is only a symptom, and it is not at all dangerous. But due to the fact that it causes a lot of inconvenience to the pregnant woman, it is worth getting rid of the cause.

Treatment methods:

Tablets - your doctor may prescribe treatment. It is usually accompanied by taking medications.
Handy remedies - some foods have the ability to relieve the symptoms of heartburn, thereby alleviating the condition of a pregnant woman.
Calmness – Stress very often causes discomfort, which can contribute to new irritation. Therefore, to prevent the burning sensation from constantly bothering you, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle and try to avoid stress.

Treatment of heartburn in late pregnant women primarily depends on the cause of its occurrence. This is why you should not take medications without consulting a gynecologist.

In order to avoid the question: “How to get rid of heartburn?”, it is better to follow simple recommendations and thereby prevent its occurrence.

To do this, you must follow the following rules:

You can't eat too much before bed.
It is necessary to exclude spicy, fatty and heavy foods from the diet.
Eat less fried, smoked and over-salted foods.
Chew your food well.
If a pregnant woman does not experience edema, it is necessary to drink enough fluids.
You can't lie down after eating.
During pregnancy, you should lead an active lifestyle. Pregnancy is not a disease, so you need to move.
Choose the right clothes. Uncomfortable things can trigger stress, which can lead to heartburn.

Interesting! Could heartburn be a sign of early pregnancy?

Products that cause burning

Attention! When you cannot get rid of heartburn on your own for a long time, you should consult a specialist.

What are the signs of heartburn?

Most young girls who have never experienced heartburn before pregnancy may confuse it with other ailments. Heartburn in the second trimester of pregnancy does indeed bring some discomfort, so your doctor should know about this ailment.

Main symptoms:

burning and feeling of heat in the throat, abdomen and behind the sternum;
belching;
feeling of bitterness in the mouth;
nausea.

Similar manifestations of heartburn at 21 weeks of pregnancy often occur while lifting weights, bending over, or if the expectant mother eats in a lying position.

Folk remedies for heartburn

Of course, any pregnant woman understands that the fewer medications taken during pregnancy, the better for the fetus. Therefore, expectant mothers refuse medications against heartburn in favor of folk or grandmother’s methods. Usually the first thing used for heartburn is baking soda, but this method is highly not recommended during pregnancy. The thing is that soda, when it begins to interact with gastric juice, forms carbon dioxide, which in itself has an effect that stimulates the secretion of gastric juice. As a result of stomach irritation, the formation of additional portions of acid is stimulated, which is why heartburn returns even stronger and more severe. In addition, soda solution can easily be absorbed into the blood, which can lead to alkalization of the blood and disruption of the acid-base balance of the blood, which leads to serious metabolic disorders. This provokes increased swelling, which often occurs in the second half of pregnancy. In addition, a violation of the acid-base balance provokes toxicosis.

If heartburn occurs frequently and disrupts your usual life, but you don’t want to use medications at all, you can try to resort to traditional medicine methods. However, first discuss methods of getting rid of heartburn using folk remedies with your doctor so that he approves of your choice. These can be tinctures of heather, centaury, calamus rhizomes and many others.

It is important to remember that heartburn itself does not affect the development of the fetus and its general condition in any way. However, enduring an unpleasant burning sensation behind the sternum is not at all useful, and sometimes you simply won’t be able to endure it, since the manifestations are very significant. Of course, if you can do without medications, great. Use simple remedies aimed at reducing acid concentration. Fresh seeds or almonds, a glass of milk, fresh cucumber or carrots, mineral water, mint tea or mint gum usually help.

Every woman usually finds one or two effective ways to get rid of heartburn.

Medicines to relieve heartburn

Many medications quickly eliminate heartburn and do not harm the development of the child. In the second trimester, taking some medications is already allowed. Such drugs include:

Almagel. This is an antacid drug that helps control the acidity of gastric juice for a long time after administration. The action of this medicine is not accompanied by the release of carbon dioxide, which helps prevent the re-release of hydrochloric acid.

Ranitidine. Prescribed in cases where antacids are powerless.

Maalox. This medicine is good for pregnant women because it quickly absorbs hydrochloric acid, which is in excess. Heartburn during pregnancy at 21 weeks is quickly eliminated thanks to this remedy.

Rennie. Antacid and gastroprotective medicine. Calcium and magnesium carbonate begin to interact with stomach acid, after which it is neutralized to form water.

Gaviscon. A medicine that is easily absorbed by the digestive system. It is recommended to take before bedtime. As a result of the reaction of the drug and hydrochloric acid, a substance with a gel-like consistency is formed, which eliminates burning sensation in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Lansoprazole. This is an absolutely safe drug that perfectly fights the development of heartburn.

It is important to understand that only a gynecologist should prescribe medicine in the second trimester of pregnancy. Self-medication can be dangerous for the development and health of the baby.

Features of heartburn

What can you take for heartburn during pregnancy in the first, second or third trimester? We will talk about this below.

As is known, this condition in expectant mothers most often occurs due to overeating (in 80% of cases). Starting from the 12th week, the fetus actively grows, which contributes to the enlargement of the uterus. It is she who gradually presses the stomach against the abdominal cavity, which immediately affects the rate of breakdown and digestion of food.

Many women have no idea how to eat properly during pregnancy. Most of them continue to eat in the same quantities as before conception, and sometimes much more. Thus, their stomach is overloaded, as a result of which it does not have time to digest food in a timely manner, which leads to heartburn and indigestion.

Eliminating heartburn using traditional methods

A burning sensation in the throat and behind the breastbone is most common in the second trimester, but similar symptoms can appear earlier. Heartburn in the first trimester of pregnancy can only be treated with traditional recipes that are safe for mother and baby. But it is worth understanding that such treatment must be supervised by a doctor.

Proven folk remedies for heartburn:

Chamomile tea. It is brewed simply: take 1 tsp per cup of boiling water. dry raw materials. Let it sit for 10 minutes and drink. Under no circumstances should the dose be exceeded. An overdose can cause uterine tone and miscarriage. Drink 70 ml 2 times a day.

Juice from raw potatoes. You need to peel a medium potato and grind it to a paste. Squeeze out the juice using gauze.
Heather infusion. Pour 10 g of heather into a glass of boiling water and boil for 3-4 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes. Drink 1 tbsp. before eating.
Dairy products. This is a very useful product not only for the mother, but also for the child. Drinking a glass of milk warmed to room temperature will instantly eliminate the burning sensation. Milk, kefir, fermented baked milk or yoghurt have a slightly alkaline environment, so they help neutralize acid.

Herb tea. Mix chamomile, clover and St. John's wort in equal proportions. Take 1 tbsp. mixture and pour boiling water over it. Let it brew for 10 minutes. Take 100 ml three times a day.
Walnuts. You need to be extremely careful with this method, as nuts can cause constipation. To eliminate heartburn, pregnant women need to eat 2-3 nuts as soon as a burning sensation is felt.
Egg shells. Peel boiled chicken eggs. Grind the shells into powder and take 2 tsp. 3 times a day.
Herbal collection. Mix dried marsh cucumber with St. John's wort and yarrow (in equal quantities). Take 1 tbsp. (without a slide) and pour boiling water over it. Let stand for 2.5-3 hours. Drink 80 ml when the first symptoms appear.
Centaury infusion. Pour 10 g of raw material with a cup of hot water and boil for 3 minutes. Let stand for 3 hours. Take the resulting infusion 1 tbsp. (can be held in the throat a little) three times a day.
Ginger tea. In a cup, mix 200 ml of boiling water and 10 g of chopped ginger. Let it brew for 15 minutes and drink in slow sips.

If any of the traditional medicine remedies does not bring the desired result, do not despair. We need to try another method. However, if such treatment worsens your health (fever, abdominal pain appears), you should immediately consult a gynecologist.

What helps with heartburn during pregnancy?

The feeling of heartburn in the throat and esophagus during pregnancy is extremely unpleasant. This causes not only physical, but also psychological discomfort. Let's look at what pregnant women can do and how to get rid of the symptom as quickly as possible.

How to deal with heartburn during pregnancy using home methods?

Regular milk quickly and effectively extinguishes acid. It is enough to take 3-4 sips, and after 10 minutes the burning sensation goes away.
Carrot juice gives good results. If you can’t make fresh juice, you can eat one small carrot.
A few slices of grapefruit quickly neutralize the acid in the esophagus.
A handful of sunflower seeds or a couple of walnuts helps with moderate heartburn.
A remedy that has been proven over the years is soda pop. Half a teaspoon is diluted in 0.5 cup of warm boiled water. soda and quench it with 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar or regular vinegar. The solution is drunk in one gulp. It extinguishes hydrochloric acid within 10-15 minutes.

Before using these recommendations for heartburn during pregnancy, you should consult your doctor.

ethnoscience

Folk remedies for heartburn are based on natural herbal ingredients, therefore they are quite safe and at the same time effective.

Peppermint. Eliminates heartburn, improves digestion, relieves intestinal spasms. It is recommended to add it to tea (1:1 with tea leaves) and drink a few sips after meals. Tea is also good to drink between meals.
Yarrow. Two tsp. pour 300 ml of boiling water, leave for 2-3 hours, then strain. Take a sip before and after meals.
St. John's wort. The herb is brewed exactly as described above (2 tsp per 300 ml of water). Take a couple of sips 15 minutes after eating.
Calamus root. A herbal decoction prepared in this way can quickly relieve heartburn: 1 tbsp. l. pour a glass of boiling water. After an hour, filter and drink a little after eating.
Heather. Pour 2 tsp. dry herb with a glass of boiling water, leave for 1-2 hours, strain and divide into 3-4 doses. Drink 15 minutes after eating.

The listed herbs for heartburn during pregnancy can be consumed only if you are not allergic to them. Before preparing the decoction, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the contraindications of each plant.

Safe medications for heartburn

What pregnant women should and should not take from medications for heartburn can only be decided by a doctor. We provide general information about medications allowed for pregnant women.

Medicines that neutralize heartburn are divided into two groups: alginates and antacids.

Alginates are made from natural plant substances. The main component of such drugs is brown algae, which effectively neutralizes gastric hydrochloric acid. The medicine forms a protective film, preventing the effects of acid on the mucous membrane of the esophagus and stomach.

Effective preparations of the alginate group:

Calcium alginate.
Gaviscon.
Magnesium-algalan.
Laminal.

A huge advantage of these medications is that they are absolutely safe and free of side effects. Treatment of heartburn in pregnant women with alginates can be carried out at any stage.

The second group is antacids, made on the basis of magnesium, aluminum and calcium. They, in turn, are divided into two types: absorbable and non-absorbable.

Absorbable antacids are highly not recommended for pregnant women. The drugs retain fluid in the body, causing edema, which already affects many pregnant women.

Non-absorbable antacids include:

Phosphalugel.
Gasterin.
Magnesium hydroxide.
Topalkan

Combination drugs have proven themselves to be quite good:

Almagel Neo.
Rennie.
Gastal.

A good remedy for heartburn during pregnancy is Maalox. The liquid form of the drug has the fastest effect.

Expectant mothers should not rely on advice on the Internet about what they can and cannot drink if they have heartburn. A doctor should prescribe such medications.

Healthy lifestyle

The lifestyle that the expectant mother leads has a huge impact on her health. If a woman has bad habits (alcohol, smoking), then from the moment of conception she should give them up as soon as possible. They only aggravate the risk of heartburn and negatively affect the health of the mother and her unborn baby.

Do not forget about the benefits of walking in the air, light physical exercise, and daily ventilation of the premises.
A pregnant woman should give up uncomfortable, constricting clothes, high-heeled shoes, and heavy bags.
Psycho-emotional health is no less important. A woman expecting a child should avoid stress and any negative experiences.

Prohibited folk remedies

It is important for every pregnant woman to pay attention to this section, because by mistake or inexperience, heartburn is treated with drugs that can have a detrimental effect on the body of the mother or baby.

Let's look at it in more detail:

Baking soda. This remedy eliminates heartburn, but it is prohibited for pregnant women. Soda contains sodium, which can retain fluid in the body. Regular use of baking soda leads to swelling, which is harmful for the expectant mother.
Herbal infusion with dandelion. If the collection contains dandelion flowers, this remedy is contraindicated for pregnant women who have problems with blood pressure or blood sugar levels.
Alcohol tinctures. Alcohol tinctures are based on alcohol and can therefore be harmful to the child.
Mint tea. Mint can relax the muscle ring at the border of the stomach and esophagus. This will lead to heartburn.

What to do during treatment?

Dealing with heartburn is difficult. Treatment always begins with nutritional adjustments. Diet is an indispensable assistant in solving problems of the digestive tract.

Nutrition and diet

The majority of gastrointestinal problems (constipation, diarrhea, heartburn) depend on improper food intake. Expectant mothers need to avoid spicy, fried, fatty foods. Avoid coffee, sweets, sour fruits and vegetables. It is better to immediately switch to fractional meals. Eat more often, but in small portions. When eating food, do not rush, chewing everything thoroughly. The last meal should be 2 hours before bedtime.

Medications

Adjusting your food intake did not bring the long-awaited relief, consult a specialist. He will prescribe medication. The use of medications for heartburn during pregnancy is carried out only under the supervision of a doctor.

There are not many approved medications. Rennie tablets are one of these drugs. They can easily cope with high acidity, but the calcium they contain can lead to early strengthening of the baby’s bones.

To treat heartburn, doctors have approved such well-known remedies as Smecta, Maalox, Almagel. But they have a number of warnings, and in a special situation, you should be careful.

Homeopathy

What help does an expectant mother need if heartburn does not stop? Homeopathy can cope with frequent attacks. This is an unusual treatment method that targets the problem with substances that cause similar reactions. Special tablets do not neutralize acidity; they are able to fight by normalizing the biochemical processes that led to the disorder. The main advantage of the method is that it is natural; there is no toxic effect of the drug on mother and baby.

For constant sour belching, Rowan pseudoacacia is prescribed, and if after eating not only sour belching appears, but also pain in the stomach, you should take Bismutum subnitricum. Homeopathic remedies are prescribed taking into account the individuality of the patient, and a separate program for their administration is drawn up.

Aromatherapy, acupressure

These are two new, non-traditional methods of treating heartburn. The benefits of aromatherapy lie in its ability not only to alleviate physical conditions, but also to improve the psychological climate. Essential oil can calm the nervous system, relieve symptoms and prevent new manifestations. Aromatherapy is easy to use. Essential oil and aroma lamp are required. Drop essential oil (orange, lemon, neroli) into the upper part of the lamp and light a candle in the lower part. You can conduct a session at any time, the number of times is unlimited.

The acupressure technique is based on the influence of points located in certain parts of the body. To eliminate heartburn, they work with the P6 point, located below the palm. Finding it is simple: from the middle of the bend of the wrist (on the inside), measure a distance equal to the width of three fingers. The required point is located in the center. It’s easy to check whether you found it correctly, you just need to click. There is pain when pressed.

You can do a massage at home, in transport, even while walking. When an unpleasant sensation appears, inhale deeply and press point P6. Press and massage for a couple of seconds. The number of repetitions is 20 times, be sure to leave an interval of a couple of seconds between them. We repeat acupressure on both wrists.

Prevention measures

Even if unpleasant sensations have not yet appeared, you should adhere to some rules to prevent the disease. These recommendations are quite simple:

Avoid spicy and fried foods. A high fat diet is not recommended. You need to remove from your diet: alcohol, caffeinated drinks, chocolate, citrus fruits and mint.
Drinking water before and after meals is another recommendation to prevent and eliminate the first signs of heartburn.
Meals should be divided into fractions and portions should be small. Six doses a day are the ideal solution.

Avoid wearing tight clothing, as this can also cause heartburn. Expectant mothers should wear clothes that are loose and not tight around the stomach. In addition, it is recommended to use breathable materials.
Eat slowly. Eating food too quickly leads to swallowing air and ultimately causing gas in the abdomen. Women should enjoy their food and chew it thoroughly.
Don't forget about mobility and light exercise. Walking, household chores, yoga - all this will contribute to good stomach function. You can also sit and read a book, the main thing is not to lie down all the time.

Don't eat at night. Eating before bed is not recommended for anyone. It leads to weight and fat gain. Pregnant women should eat their last meal at least 3 hours before bedtime.
Don't sleep without a pillow. When lying down, your head should be higher than your chest. This is another way to prevent heartburn.
Use chewing gum (sugar-free) as it reduces excess acid and eliminates bad taste in the mouth.

To refuse from bad habits. Smoking contributes to heartburn, so this is another good reason for expectant mothers to quit smoking.
Do not eat while lying down and do not lie down after eating.
Monitor weight gain.
Avoid medications containing sodium as it promotes gas and heartburn.

Heartburn during pregnancy in the second trimester is inevitable. However, following the recommendations will help relieve discomfort and will contribute to the complete elimination of the disease.

Causes of heartburn in the second trimester

The causes and treatment of heartburn during pregnancy in the second trimester are interrelated. The main provoking factor in the development of pathology is considered to be hormonal changes in the body. From the 14th week, increased production of progesterone occurs. This hormone is designed to protect the uterus from premature contractions and allows the organ to unhinderedly expand as the fetus grows.

As a result, heartburn appears at 18 weeks of pregnancy. The uterus relaxes under the influence of progesterone, and with it the neighboring internal organs. This occurs to reduce discomfort when they are compressed. Each organ is separated from its neighbor by the sphincter - this is a valve that does not allow food to pass into the next compartment until it has undergone a process of processing and breakdown. Under the influence of progesterone, the sphincters also relax, which is why the bolus of food returns undigested from the stomach to the esophagus. A pregnant woman suffers from mucosal irritation and pain.

Why else does heartburn occur in the 2nd trimester at 14-27 weeks of pregnancy:

abuse of over-salted, heavily seasoned foods, which are based on a large amount of animal fats;
eating too much food at night and in the evening hours;
physical activity immediately after eating.

Smoking can aggravate the condition. It is strictly not recommended to use nicotine during pregnancy, but against the background of existing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, heartburn worries the woman even more.

Important! From the first weeks of pregnancy, a woman should monitor her diet in order to minimize the risk of developing heartburn in the second or third trimester. The problem is often provoked by a combination of factors, so expectant mothers with existing gastrointestinal inflammation should be especially attentive to their health.