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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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