It’s impossible to talk about pregnancy symptoms without mentioning morning sickness. While nausea and vomiting (and how to deal with them) get a lot of attention during pregnancy, they’re not the only stomach issues you can expect to experience during pregnancy. Gestational dyspepsia—the fancy term for indigestion during pregnancy—is another common complaint. It’s when you feel pain or discomfort in your stomach after eating. Many pregnant women also suffer from heartburn—a burning sensation in your chest or throat that occurs when stomach acid travels up your esophagus. So how do you get rid of indigestion during pregnancy?
Content Causes of indigestion during pregnancySymptoms of indigestion and heartburn during pregnancyWhat makes heartburn and indigestion worse during pregnancy?How to get rid of indigestion during pregnancyHow to get rid of indigestion during pregnancy: prevention
WomanEL will share the best tips for its treatment and prevention. You will also learn about the causes of this problem.
Causes of indigestion during pregnancy
Unfortunately, pregnancy is a perfect storm for digestive issues like indigestion and heartburn. This is largely due to the many changes that occur in your body. These include:
- Hormonal changes. To be more precise, we mean an increase in progesterone levels. Progesterone levels increase during pregnancy. And it also slows down the intestines and, consequently, the digestive process. The problem is that when food is delayed in the intestines for too long, it can cause indigestion and heartburn.
- Growing uterus. Your uterus is expanding to accommodate your growing baby. But there’s not much room inside, and your organs can become cramped. This often causes your uterus to push your stomach (and all its acidic juices) up. That’s why heartburn and indigestion usually occur in the third trimester.
Symptoms of indigestion and heartburn during pregnancy
Heartburn and indigestion are often lumped together because the symptoms can overlap, but they are technically two different problems. Heartburn is a burning pain in the chest or throat caused by acid and bile flowing back into the esophagus. Indigestion (dyspepsia) is pain or discomfort in the stomach, usually after eating.
Whether you have one of these symptoms or both (if that's you, I'm so sorry!), here's how to tell them apart so you can understand how to more successfully manage your symptoms.
Symptoms of heartburn include the following:
- Burning sensation behind the breastbone, in the middle of the chest, or in the throat;
- Vomiting;
- Excessive belching;
- Sour taste;
Symptoms of indigestion are as follows:
- Burning in the stomach or abdomen;
- Abdominal pain;
- Abdominal bloating;
- Belching and gas;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Sour taste;
- Rumbling in the stomach.
What makes heartburn and indigestion worse during pregnancy?
While every pregnant woman is unique, certain foods (and drinks) commonly trigger heartburn and indigestion. These include:
- High-fat foods;
- Spicy food;
- Onion and garlic;
- Chocolate;
- Mint;
- Citrus fruit juices;
- Caffeinated beverages, including coffee, tea, and cola;
- Carbonated drinks;
- Alcohol (which is not recommended during pregnancy).
Heartburn and indigestion can be aggravated by the following factors:
- Eating a large amount of food;
- Exercising soon after eating;
- Go to bed after eating;
- Feeling anxious;
Since we are all different, our triggers are different. It's best to track which foods or habits trigger your symptoms. That way, you can avoid whatever is causing you problems.
How to get rid of indigestion during pregnancy
Heartburn and indigestion can often be treated by making a few changes to your daily eating and sleeping habits. Try these simple lifestyle changes to manage and minimize symptoms:
- Avoid trigger foods. Foods to avoid with acid reflux include spicy, fatty, and greasy foods, as well as citrus fruits, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, caffeinated beverages, or carbonated drinks. All of these are potential triggers that cause a burning sensation.
- Drink a glass of milk. Milk can help strengthen the lining of your stomach and reduce acidity. FYI, milk can be lactose-free. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a tablespoon of honey can also be helpful.
- Chew gum after meals. When you chew gum, you produce more saliva, which helps neutralize stomach acid. Choose sugar-free gum because pregnancy makes you more prone to cavities and other dental problems.
- Elevate your head with a few pillows when you sleep. If you have stomach upset at night, elevate your head to make it harder for your stomach contents to reflux back up into your throat.
- Sleep on your left side. This is arguably one of the best sleeping positions for heartburn. Studies show that sleeping on your left side helps stomach acid move out of your esophagus more quickly, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Sleeping on your left side also helps blood flow (and nutrients) to your heart, lungs, and placenta, which is good for your baby.
If your symptoms don't go away when you change your diet and/or sleep habits, ask your doctor or midwife about over-the-counter medications.
How to get rid of indigestion during pregnancy: prevention
The best way to deal with heartburn and indigestion during pregnancy is to prevent them from occurring. While this isn't always possible, here are a few things you can do to reduce the risk (or intensity) of symptoms:
- Eat several small meals throughout the day (instead of three large ones);
- Eat slowly;
- Drink between meals, not with meals (this can make your stomach feel overly full);
- Avoid fried, spicy, or fatty foods;
- Avoid citrus fruits and juices;
- Limit caffeine;
- Don't smoke and avoid alcohol;
- Sit up straight when you eat;
- Try not to eat late at night;
- Avoid lying down immediately after eating.
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