Heartburn during late pregnancy is an unbearable feeling of constant burning, soreness, pain and bitterness that occurs in the chest and throat. Severe heartburn can appear at 7-8 months of pregnancy. Why does heartburn occur? The main reason for its occurrence is a change in the hormonal background of the body, which is rebuilding to a new way of life.
Primary signs of malaise and discomfort appear after eating. At first, the pain may seem insignificant and will not cause even slight reasons for concern. But over time, the attacks resume and intensify, which makes life before childbirth simply unbearable.
Heartburn during pregnancy: myth or reality?
Heartburn, which occurs at different stages of pregnancy, is one of the symptoms that accompanies a woman until the birth of her child. This phenomenon occurs quite often and occurs in more than 85% of women. The activity of heartburn may be irregular, since the reasons for its occurrence directly depend on the lifestyle that the young mother prefers to lead. Severe attacks of heartburn can cause insomnia and even lead to a nervous breakdown. Thus, in the later stages of pregnancy, a woman in labor needs to be especially careful so as not to endanger her health and morale.
Symptoms of heartburn in early and late pregnancy:
- Bloating;
- Constant burping;
- Burning in the chest, stomach, throat;
- Cough during a burning attack;
- Mild nausea;
- Copious secretion of saliva;
- Sweating.
What medications should I take?
At 14-27 weeks of pregnancy, not all anti-heartburn medications are allowed to be used. There is a certain list of medications that are prescribed during pregnancy:
- "Maalox" - to regulate the amount of acid in digestive juice by absorbing its excess. The drug belongs to the group of antacids and is endowed with an enveloping and adsorbing effect. You need to drink it 1.5 hours before the start of a meal and to relieve heartburn attacks that have begun.
- “Almagel” is a long-acting antacid similar to the first, which reduces secretory activity in the production of gastric acid. Used 40 minutes before meals.
- "Rennie" - to neutralize hydrochloric acid by binding it with calcium and magnesium carbonates. The drug has an antacid and gastroprotective effect.
- "Lansoprazole" - for the relief of heartburn, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The drug belongs to proton inhibitors. Prescribed in extreme cases.
- Ranitidine is an H2 receptor blocker. Prescribed when antacids do not work.
- "Gaviscon" is an antacid and gastroprotector for softening and enveloping the walls of the esophagus and eliminating heartburn by forming a protective gel. Drink before meals and before bed.
Causes of heartburn in late pregnancy
Heartburn in early and late pregnancy has a similar nature, but each type of this symptom has its own characteristics of diagnosis and treatment. So, when faced with the problem of heartburn in pregnant women in the later stages, it is necessary to accurately detect the cause of its occurrence and eliminate it as soon as possible.
Common causes of heartburn during pregnancy can be:
1. Changes in hormonal levels. After conception, the fetus begins to actively develop and grow in the woman’s womb. This leads to the fact that the body begins to actively produce the hormone progesterone. This substance has specific functions responsible for relaxing the smooth muscles of the uterus. This allows her to grow freely throughout pregnancy and avoid hypertonicity and painful spasms. This useful feature also has its downsides. Thus, the smooth muscles of the body reduce all tension in other muscles. Thanks to this, the sphincter located between the stomach and esophagus also relaxes. If the sphincter is weakened too much, acidic stomach contents back up into the esophagus, causing severe heartburn.
2. High intra-abdominal pressure. This can provoke a sharp weakening of the sphincter functions, which also causes attacks of heartburn not only in the early stages, but also in the last month of pregnancy.
3. Active growth of the uterus. An enlarged uterus can provoke pressure on a number of organs: the stomach, intestines, diaphragm, which also leads to heartburn in recent weeks and to distress.
4. The influence of hormones. Hormones can unnaturally increase stomach acid levels. This leads to unpleasant sensations of slight tingling and burning inside. Before childbirth, the pain intensifies if the necessary measures are not taken.
5. Incorrect and unbalanced diet. A pregnant woman should eat properly and measuredly from the very first days of pregnancy. Despite the fact that many are accustomed to thinking that pregnant women can eat anything. This practice leads to constant heaviness in the stomach, disorders and, of course, heartburn.
6. Wrong bed. The sleeping area should not be perfectly level. So, for those who notice the beginning of heartburn, it is recommended to place several pillows or a blanket under your head so that the front of your body is at least 15 cm higher than your torso.
7. Stress. Depression and stress can cause a number of problems with the body, including heartburn. They fight nervous heartburn differently than usual gastric heartburn.
Heartburn is not dangerous or destructive for a person, but it does cause a lot of unpleasant sensations and emotions. Thus, a pregnant woman is deprived not only of her own peace of mind, but in some cases even of sleep. What to do during pregnancy with heartburn if it does not want to go away on its own and its attacks occur more and more often?
How to get rid of heartburn in late pregnancy correctly?
Heartburn at any stage of pregnancy should not frighten or induce panic, since it is quite easily eliminated and treated if you approach the problem with responsibility and intelligence. So, each stage of pregnancy has its own symptoms and ways to eliminate heartburn attacks. If the attack was isolated, then the pregnant woman needs to reconsider her diet and eliminate those foods that could cause a burning attack. In the case when attacks are repeated and increase their aggression, it is necessary to act differently.
What should you do to prevent heartburn?
*Refuse to eat before bed; *Do not overeat during the day; *Eat exclusively healthy foods; *Avoid fried and smoked, salty and spicy foods; *Increase consumption of fermented milk products; *When eating food, chew it thoroughly; *Increase consumption of vegetables and non-acidic fruits; *Drink plenty of water, herbal tea, compote throughout the day.
By the middle of pregnancy and in the 9th month, heartburn can occur due to overeating and an overly large uterus. So, increasing in size, the uterus begins to put pressure on the walls of the stomach. If the stomach is excessively full, the pressure increases several times, which leads to acute pain, burning, and tingling.
During pregnancy, girls are accustomed to not denying themselves food. They may not notice the initial symptoms of emerging problems due to the large amount of food that overloads and exhausts the stomach. So, after belching and nausea, heartburn begins, which can only be gotten rid of if you reduce the amount of food consumed and get rid of your previous diet.
After changing the diet and eating fractional meals, the state of health improves. Until birth, the unpleasant symptom does not bother you and does not interfere with enjoying life.
At 40 weeks, as at 41 weeks, attacks of heartburn are often provoked by the fetus itself. This phenomenon is called breech presentation of the fetus and is characterized by the fact that the baby is in an uncomfortable position. His buttocks are located below, and his head puts pressure on the diaphragm, which provokes an unpleasant burning sensation and general malaise. A similar phenomenon occurs when the fetus is large enough or two or three children are found in the womb at the same time.
Nutrition and diet
The most effective and harmless way to prevent and relieve heartburn in mid-pregnancy is diet and proper nutrition. The diet should be filled with the following products:
- milk and dairy products;
- fresh fruits and vegetables of non-acidic varieties;
- weak broths based on vegetables, meat and low-fat fish;
- yesterday's bread made from wheat flour;
- potato juice;
- almonds, hazelnuts;
- oatmeal with yogurt;
- fermented milk products.
To facilitate the digestion process, it is recommended to take activated charcoal and drink weak herbal infusions from a mixture of equal quantities of marjoram, yarrow, basil, and ginger. To prepare tea you need 1 tbsp. l. pour 250 ml of boiling water over the mixture and leave for 10 minutes.
Do not overload the gastrointestinal tract with overeating and mucosal irritating foods and drinks, such as coffee, alcohol, soda, sour juices, yeast products, sweets and fatty foods. Principles of the correct diet therapy regimen:
- Fractional meals - up to 7 times in 24 hours.
- Small portions - up to 300 g.
- The break between meals is no more than 2 hours.
- Choosing the optimal hourly schedule and maintaining it daily.
- The last meal before bedtime is no later than 3 hours. You are allowed to drink a glass of low-fat kefir or yogurt at night.
- Don't eat on the go.
- Chew food thoroughly.
- Eat boiled or steamed food.
- Do not wash down food with water.
Additional rules to help avoid late pregnancy
- After eating, you should not go to bed or rest. Stagnation of food provokes not only heartburn, but also nausea. If sleep still overwhelms you, then heartburn can be avoided if you turn on your left side and take the fetal position;
- You need to get up from the table a little hungry, you shouldn’t eat more than normal. Also, any food must be chewed diligently and not swallowed in pieces;
- Clothes should be spacious and made from natural fabrics. Tight clothing pinches the stomach and puts pressure on the internal organs, which can provoke an attack of heartburn;
- Sports activities. Light exercises for pregnant women will serve as an excellent preventive measure against heartburn;
- Slouch. Posture should always be straight. Slouching and back problems adversely affect the condition of internal organs;
- Weight control. Excess weight also negatively affects the internal pressure of the stomach and all its organs;
- Power control. Many foods irritate the gastric mucosa, so you should avoid them. Such products are: fatty meat, hard-boiled eggs, berries, spices, baked goods.
Effective tips for heartburn
1. Chewing gum helps with heartburn. It perfectly promotes salivation. Saliva, in turn, lowers the acidity level, which helps suppress the symptoms of an attack. It is worth remembering that chewing gum can only be used in emergency situations when the necessary painkillers are not available. Also, the gum can only be used after eating. Chewing gum on an empty stomach can cause even more heartburn and pain.
2. Papaya fruit is a very effective anti-heartburn remedy. The enzymes it contains have a calming effect on the stomach. Papaya is also a storehouse of vitamins and beneficial minerals. The fruit can be consumed in large quantities and used as a snack between main meals.
Heartburn in the later stages cannot be completely eliminated. If heartburn began to manifest itself in the middle or at the very beginning of pregnancy, then it is necessary to carry out periodic prevention, which will reduce pain and make the last stage of pregnancy calmer.
Qigong technique
You can improve the condition of a pregnant woman and relieve her of heartburn using the oriental techniques of Qigong and Tai Chi. This should be done under the guidance of a practicing, experienced specialist. These techniques are special therapeutic exercises that relieve tension from the muscles of the lower back and spine of a pregnant woman, which helps her straighten her muscles and relax. This condition helps improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, therefore, allows you to get rid of heartburn and other unpleasant symptoms.
At the same time, you can use the Buteyko method breathing technique, which allows you to enrich muscle tissue with oxygen, raise the diaphragm and reduce intra-abdominal pressure, and therefore relieve heartburn.
Visiting the doctor during late-term heartburn
The pain caused by heartburn can be unbearable. In such cases, girls need to see a doctor who will help identify the main cause of its occurrence and prescribe the necessary treatment and preventive measures. You should not resort to drug treatment on your own, as this can negatively affect not only the well-being of the mother and unborn child, but also aggravate the pain.
Medicines used for heartburn during pregnancy:
*Almagel; *Rennie; *Maalox; *Gaviscon.
All medications should be taken only after examination and prescription by a doctor. Even if the drugs were effective at the beginning of pregnancy, by the end of the pregnancy they may be more harmful than effective.
Home remedies for pain
The use of medications to combat heartburn is not always effective. Also, medications can cause side effects and negatively affect the developing fetus of the child. So, folk home recipes can become an alternative treatment method. However, before using them, preliminary consultation and recommendations of the attending physician are necessary.
1. Essential oils Cause an analgesic effect. They have a positive effect on the body and the immune system as a whole. Lemon and orange oils are good for heartburn relief.
2. Milk Effective when combined with a few drops of fennel. Milk is consumed in small quantities throughout the day.
3. Grated carrots When an attack of heartburn occurs, you need to take some grated carrots and chew until all the juice has completely disappeared from it. This needs to be repeated several times. Dry carrots without juice should be thrown away.
4. Water Mineral water without gas has a beneficial effect on digestion and can relieve heartburn pain.
5. Seeds This method gives good results. Use exclusively raw sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
6. Ginger tea You can drink several cups throughout the day as a preventative measure. Chamomile tea without sugar also helps.
7. Eggshells Eggshells from several boiled eggs should be crushed and taken 3 times, 1 teaspoon each, when heartburn is especially severe.
