Pregnancy and Heartburn-What to Expect!

When you are pregnant there are a lot of changes going on in your body. You have to deal with hormonal changes, the growth of your baby, and making sure you eat enough for two. Another side effect of pregnancy is getting heartburn that usually comes when you least expect it.. If you have never experienced heartburn before pregnancy there is a good chance you will get heartburn during your pregnancy.
Hormonal Changes
Increased hormones during pregnancy can lead to the softening of the ligaments of the lower esophageal sphincter or LES. This is the valve that opens when you eat to allow food to enter your stomach. Softening of the ligaments means that it can also open at other times allowing acid to come up from the stomach and into the esophagus or food tube. This will cause heartburn in pregnancy. In some cases the ligaments do not harden to their original form, continuing heartburn after pregnancy.
Growth Of Your Baby
As your baby grows, it expands into the area where your stomach is. Pressure on the stomach increases the likelihood of heartburn in pregnancy. The baby will push upwards and the stomach acids have no where to go but up the esophagus causing burning and pain. The farther along you go, the more likely that you will have heartburn in pregnancy. An old folk lore says the more heartburn you have, the more hair your baby will have on its head. Scientific studies have not shown that to be a reason for heartburn in pregnancy, only the progressive crowding of the baby increases heartburn as you progress in pregnancy.
Eating Larger Meals
Eating for two can lead to heartburn in pregnancy. Most women tend to eat more filling the stomach very full. Increased thirst will also have some women drinking enough to distend the stomach. With the softening of the LES and the baby pushing upwards on the stomach, heartburn is a real challenge. One also tends to crave foods that are fatty, fried or spicy, also increasing the chances of heartburn. These foods increase the amount of acid your stomach produces and there for the increased chance of the stomach acid to reflux up the esophagus.
Three main factors determine the amount of heartburn a person receives; softening of the LES, crowding of the stomach, and size and types of foods a woman eats. All folklore aside, heartburn in pregnancy is a problem for most women. Understanding it can be a comfort even if it cannot be helped.
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