Do you also get heartburn during pregnancy? (Heartburn) Let's talk about this!

Hello! You must be expecting a new guest these days, right? This journey is very beautiful, but it can also bring some minor inconveniences. A common problem that many mothers experience during pregnancy is heartburn. Some people also call this 'gastric distress'. So if you also have this kind of discomfort and want to know a little more about it, today we will talk about this condition called ``Heartburn''. Don't worry, there are things you can do about it.

What exactly is this chest pain?

First of all, the word ``Heartburn`` has nothing to do with our heart, right? Even though it has the word ``heart`` in the name, it is not a heart disease. So what is it?

Simply put, heartburn is a burning sensation in the middle of our throat and chest. Sometimes, there may also be a sour taste in our mouth. This happens because the food we eat and the digestive juices in our stomach (which contain strong acids) come back up, that is, up the esophagus . You know, the esophagus is like a tube. It is through it that the things we eat travel from the throat to the stomach.

So, doctors call this reflux of stomach contents (GER) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) . It may be normal for this to happen occasionally. However, if it happens frequently and causes you so much discomfort that it prevents you from doing your daily activities, it is called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) .

Why is breast tenderness so common during pregnancy?

A question that many people think and ask is, "Why is this burning sensation in the chest increasing right when I'm about to have a baby?" There are actually several main reasons for this. Let's see what they are?

1. Hormonal changes:

During pregnancy, your body goes through major hormonal changes . In particular, a hormone called `(Progesterone)` is secreted in excess. This hormone causes the smooth muscles in our body to relax a little. Also, there is a valve-like muscle ring (called the `Lower Esophageal Sphincter`) at the top of the stomach, where it connects to the esophagus. This works like a door; when food goes into the stomach, this door should close, stopping the contents of the stomach from coming back up. But due to the influence of those hormones, this muscle ring also relaxes. Then it doesn't close properly, and the acidic food and liquids in the stomach try to come back up the esophagus. That's when you feel heartburn.

2. Pressure on the stomach due to the growing uterus:

As your baby grows, your uterus (`Uterus`) also expands . This expanding uterus puts pressure on the stomach and other organs in your abdomen. Think of it like trying to push things up when there's not enough room. When the stomach is pushed up like this, the things inside your stomach have a greater chance of moving up and down your esophagus. This is especially common during the last three months of pregnancy (the third trimester).

So, for these reasons, many pregnant mothers have to face the discomfort of heartburn. But since this is something that happens to many mothers, it's best not to panic, right? There are things we can do to control this.

So how do you get rid of this chest pain? Or reduce it?

Okay, now let's see what you can do to control this annoying chest inflammation, or at least reduce the discomfort it causes. These are very simple things, but with a little care, you will feel a big difference.

1. Be careful about food and drink.

It's very important to take care of your diet, not just a little, at this time. There are certain foods that can make this chest inflammation worse.

• Stay away from these foods and drinks:
• Sour fruits and vegetables: Things like oranges, tangerines, lemons, pineapples, and tomatoes. These are naturally high in acidity.
• Spicy food: Chillies, pepper, spicy curries, achar. Our people love to eat spicy food, but these days it is better for the body if you reduce it a little.
• Oily, fried foods: Especially deep-fried foods (e.g. cutlets, rolls, patties), and foods high in grease (e.g. some types of fried rice, fried kutti, parathas). These are difficult to digest and stay in the stomach for a long time, increasing inflammation.
• Caffeine-containing drinks and foods: Cut down on your tea intake, and forget about coffee for a while these days. Chocolate and cocoa drinks also contain caffeine.
• Carbonated drinks: Fizzy drinks like soda and artificial sweeteners. These create gas in the stomach, which causes stomach acid to rise along with the gas.
• For some people, things like garlic, onions, pepper, and mint can also increase inflammation.

Remember, not all of these things affect everyone the same. If you notice that you get more inflammation after eating a certain food, try cutting out that food for a while. It's like a little experiment.

2. Should we change the way we eat?

Just like what you eat, how you eat can also affect this chest inflammation.

• Eat smaller meals throughout the day: Instead of eating a large meal at once, eat 5 or 6 smaller meals throughout the day. This will not put too much pressure on your stomach and will make it easier to digest.
• Chew your food well and eat slowly: Chew your food well and eat slowly, rather than swallowing it quickly. This will help the food digest better and make it easier on your stomach.
• How to drink water: Reduce the amount of water you drink during meals. Instead, drink water between meals, about an hour before or after a meal. Drinking a lot of water with meals dilutes stomach acids, which can interfere with the digestive process, and increases the chance of your stomach becoming full and rising.

3. Think about these things before going to bed

The way you sleep at night and what you do before bed also affect this chest inflammation.

• Eat dinner at least 3 hours before going to bed: Don't go to bed after eating dinner and immediately after you're full. If you do, there's a high chance that the food in your stomach will come back up. If possible, it's best to eat dinner at least 3 hours before going to bed. Also, eat a light meal at night.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol completely: This is not only harmful during pregnancy, but also at all times. Smoking and alcohol increase the production of stomach acid and relax that muscle ring (sphincter) we talked about. So it is very important to stay away from these completely for both you and the baby.
• Don't lie down for a while after eating: Take a short walk or sit up straight after lunch or dinner. Don't lie down for at least an hour.

4. Be careful about your sleeping position.

• Sleep with your head elevated: If you can sleep with your head and shoulders slightly higher than your stomach, it will help reduce the amount of stomach acid that comes up due to gravity. You can do this by using an extra pillow, or by raising the head of the bed a few inches (by placing something like a block of wood under the legs of the bed).

5. Don't forget to seek medical advice.

If you still have a lot of trouble with chest pain after doing all this, definitely see your doctor and tell him about it . There are safe medications that can be used during pregnancy to reduce chest pain. However, never take any medicine from a pharmacy or someone else without consulting a doctor . Some medicines are not suitable during pregnancy. Therefore, only use the medicine that your doctor recommends, and use it exactly as he or she tells you.

Doctors can usually prescribe medications like ``(antacids)'' for this. These neutralize stomach acid. Also, sometimes they can prescribe medications that reduce acid production.

The most important things to remember (Take-Home Message)

Okay, so, can we remind you of some of the important things we've talked about?

• Chest pain during pregnancy is common for many mothers . It's not a serious illness, so don't worry.
• It is very important to be careful about what you eat . Reduce spicy, oily, and sour foods. Eat small amounts rather than large meals.
• Don't lie down for 2-3 hours after eating. When you go to bed at night, sleep with your head slightly elevated.
• If these things don't help, definitely see a doctor . Don't take any medicine without consulting a doctor.
• This discomfort usually subsides after the baby is born .

So, if you take care of these little things, you will be able to spend this pregnancy more comfortably and happily. I wish you and your baby a healthy and happy life!

` Pregnancy, Chest Inflammation, Heartburn, Pregnant Mother, Stomach, GERD, Diet Control, Pregnancy Complications, Acid Reflux, Esophagus