Heartburn and Indigestion in Pregnancy

Most women that have gone through pregnancy will tell you that, at some point, you will deal with heartburn and indigestion. It’s nearly impossible to have a full pregnancy without one or the other! It’s just one of the many unpleasant facts of pregnancy. In one of the most popular pregnancy books, “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff and Sandee E. Hathaway, B.S.N, they list several effective ways of avoiding these quite miserable symptoms most of the time, and of minimizing the discomfort when it does occur.

• Avoid gaining too much weight. Excess weight puts extra pressure on the stomach.
• Don’t wear clothing that is tight around your abdomen and waist.
• Eat many small meals rather than three big ones.
• Eat slowly, taking small mouthfuls and chewing throughly .
• Eliminate from your diet any food that causes GI discomfort. The most common offenders are hot and highly seasoned foods; fried or fatty foods; processed meats (hot dogs, bologna, sausage, bacon); chocolate, coffee, alcohol, carbonated beverages; spearmint and peppermint (even gum).
• Don’t smoke.
• Avoid bending over at the waist; bend instead with your knees.
• Sleep with your head elevated about 6 inches.
• Relax.
• If all else fails to relieve your symptoms, ask your doctor to recommend a low-sodium antacid or other over-the-counter medication that is safe for use in pregnancy. Avoid preparations containing sodium or sodium bicarbonate.

Heartburn and indigestion can be totally uncomfortable and if you can’t manage it, you’ll feel like your pregnancy is lasting forever! Don’t hesitate for a moment if these at home remedies don’t work. Talk to your doctor about it right away. They may have more options for you. With my last pregnancy I waited until I was 6 months along to say anything. By the time I did, it was so bad that he diagnosed me with acid reflux and put me on some medication that was safe for the baby. My relief was instant. I sure could have used that several months before then!