Pregnancy and Acid Reflux

During pregnancy, a womans body goes through lots of changes, very quickly. Most of the time, the changes are exciting. Unfortunately, some of the changes cause feelings of discomfort such as acid reflux.

Pregnancy triggers a lot of hormonal changes very quickly. Hormones will change the womans body chemistry, which requires the rest of the body to adapt to the changes. Hormones can also cause additional stomach acid to produce, causing acid reflux.

Acid reflux is uncomfortable for anyone who experiences it. There are plenty of over the counter products to treat and even prevent acid reflux, but they are just temporary solutions. Acid reflux can occur each time a person eats. Coupling that with the rapidly changing hormone levels caused by pregnancy, acid reflux is a common occurrence.

As the fetus grows, it puts an ever increasing pressure on the stomach area. This can cause stomach acid to move up into the esophagus. As the pressure increases, the acid reflux symptoms also increase for most pregnant women. Making smart food choices and mild antacids usually take care of the symptoms.

Unfortunately, acid reflux during pregnancy is completely normal and just part of the process for a majority of pregnant women. Antacids taken as prescribed have shown not to cause harm to the fetus, but they can be high in sodium.

Diet is the best way to minimize acid reflux symptoms. Avoid products that are high in acid. Most citrus and citrus juices are extremely high in acid and can trigger acid reflux. If you are pregnant, keep track of what you consume to learn what triggers acid reflux.

The human body is not built to take in large amounts of food at one time. The body works best when it receives a regular supplement of nutrients, which come in the form of food. Eating more frequent and smaller meals allows the body to digest the food properly. This also provides a great opportunity for pregnant women to inject healthy foods into their diet.

If there is an elixir for pregnancy and acid reflux, it would be water. Water keeps the body hydrated, clean and can significantly reduce or eliminate acid reflux symptoms. If you do choose to eat acidic foods or drink acidic juices (orange juice, cranberry juice, etc.), cut the quantities in half and drink equal amounts of water.

Lying horizontally often triggers acid reflux. Even just a few inches of elevation will make all the difference. Unfortunately, pregnancy and acid reflux go hand in hand. Talk to your doctor about how to treat the acid reflux, and ways to prevent it. You may not be able to eliminate it altogether, but managing it properly will make the pregnancy much more comfortable!