What causes heartburn during pregnancy?

The gastrointestinal system of pregnant women is very fragile, so many pregnant women will suffer from gastrointestinal diseases. For example, constipation, reflux, vomiting and heartburn. However, because patients with stomach problems often experience heartburn, pregnant women often panic when they experience heartburn. Are they suffering from stomach diseases? The following is an introduction for pregnant women, what causes heartburn during pregnancy.

Various gastrointestinal symptoms during pregnancy, including vomiting, nausea, constipation, reflux, etc., are very common. Therefore, more than 50% of expectant mothers will experience heartburn during pregnancy. Heartburn usually occurs in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, and most pregnant women return to normal after giving birth.

Multiple factors contribute to heartburn in pregnant women. Generally speaking, decreased pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter and enlarged uterus can lead to increased pressure in the stomach, causing reflux of acidic gastric contents and thus causing symptoms of heartburn.

Clinical symptoms

The clinical symptoms of "heartburn" in pregnant women are typically a warm or burning sensation in the upper stomach or under the sternum. These symptoms will worsen as the pregnant woman bends over, sits or lies down. As for the incidence of heartburn, it will also increase with the number of weeks of pregnancy. Endoscopic examination is extremely necessary for pregnant women if they suspect they have complications such as ulcers, esophageal stenosis or bleeding.

Prevention and treatment of heartburn during late pregnancy

If a pregnant woman experiences heartburn in late pregnancy, doctors usually consider two diseases:

1. Reflux esophagitis is caused by the reflux of gastric contents such as gastric acid, which leads to inflammation of the esophagus and even ulcers. Chest discomfort and heartburn are the first signs of this disease.

2. Gastric ulcer Gastric ulcer can occur in any part of the stomach, usually located in the lesser curvature of the stomach, which is between the body and the lower part of the stomach. Under normal circumstances, there is a layer of mucus on the gastric mucosa, which protects it from erosion by gastric acid and digestive juices. If the protein is damaged and comes into contact with the epidermal cells of this protective membrane, a stomach ulcer will form. Symptoms include stomach pain and heartburn, which usually improve after eating but may recur about 2-3 hours later.