Pregnancy Symptoms
Heart Burn

Indigestion and Heartburn

As many pregnant women know these particular types of pregnancy symptoms can be extremely painful.

Heart burn and Indigestion can cause a severe burning sensation behind the breastbone along with the regurgitation of stomach acid coming up into the mouth.

This symptom may be causing you extreme discomfort but your baby will be blissfully unaware and will not be affected by it at all.

This pregnancy symptom is in fact extremely beneficial to your baby, as your food moves slowly through your digestive system allowing for better absorption of nutrients into your bloodstream.

The nutrients then travel towards and through the placenta and straight into your baby. So hey, you may be feeling unwell but your baby will be loving you for it.

Your Heartburn and Indigestion can start at any time, but may get worse in the second or third trimesters. This is due to your uterus growing and pressing on your stomach.

As a result you may find that trying to sleep and getting comfortable at night is very hard to achieve, especially as your pregnancy progresses.

For additional support try using specially designed pregnancy pillows and prop yourself up in bed. This will give you gravity and a change to keep those ugly stomach acids down and not in your mouth.

Try using several pillows or sleep upright, this may sound daft but it does help.

Food Aware

Try not to over eat and eat sensibly. Avoid foods that are highly seasoned, full of fat or foods that have been fried.

If you can, try and notice any foods that trigger the pregnancy symptoms and avoid them like the plague.

I know it's hard, especially when you fancy something that you know will aggravate you. But look at it this way, how long have you got left, even if you have got a full nine months left to go it's not long.

Your sacrifices will pay off and with a little self help you may even end up indigestion and heartburn FREE.

Avoid Large Meals

Avoid the temptation of having large meals, eat small meals instead throughout the day and chew your food slowly and thoroughly. This will give your digestion system a helping hand.

Great Drinks To Try

Have a warm glass of milk before you go to bed and a cold glass of milk when you get up. This helps put a lining on the stomach and settles the stomach down.

It may not work for everyone but if you have not already tried it give it a go.

Fresh Grapefruit can also work wonders, especially later on in pregnancy.

Avoid Tight Clothing

Try to avoid wearing anything tight around the waist or abdomen.

If you feel your heart burn or indigestion starting try taking your bra off, this should help to ease the pain.

The Definite No No

Smoking of course is a definite NO NO, along with alcohol and caffeine. If you really want to aggravate your pregnancy symptoms these will most certainly do the trick.

Avoid totally, it will make your pregnancy a lot easier in the long run.

Medication

Take a trip to the doctors or pharmacist and see what over the counter medication there is that is safe to take whilst you are pregnant.

For additional advice on heartburn and indigestion please take a look at the NHS Choices Web Site, full of useful pregnancy information and great advice.

Your doctor or midwife should always be your first point of contact, they are experienced practioners who will be able to help, advise and prescribe the correct course of treatment for your condition. It is also FREE.