Tips to relieve heartburn in pregnant women

The health of pregnant women directly affects the health of the fetus. If there is a problem with the pregnant woman's body, the most direct feeling is the fear that it will harm the development of the fetus. Many pregnant women will experience heartburn symptoms after becoming pregnant. In addition to making people feel uncomfortable, they are also concerned about the negative impact on their children. The solution is the most concerning thing. So, what are some tips for relieving heartburn in pregnant women? Let’s take a look below.

1. Eat a healthy diet

Do not eat too much to avoid increasing the pressure in the stomach and lifting the diaphragm. Eat small meals frequently, slow down your eating pace, and chew your food thoroughly.

Especially for dinner, you should avoid eating too much or too late. It is best to eat within 2 to 3 hours before going to bed so that you have enough time to digest the food.

Avoid foods and drinks that cause gastrointestinal discomfort, which usually include: carbonated drinks, alcohol (you should not drink alcohol during pregnancy anyway), caffeine, chocolate, acidic foods (including citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, mustard and vinegar, etc.), cooked meats, mint foods, and spicy, strong, fried or high-fat foods.

Chew a piece of gum after eating. Chewing gum stimulates saliva secretion, which helps neutralize stomach acid.

2. Sleeping posture

When sleeping at night, use a few more pillows or wedge-shaped cushions to raise your upper body. Raise the foot of the bed by 15 to 20 centimeters above your head and raise your upper body by 10 to 15 degrees, which can effectively reduce esophageal reflux. However, it is not advisable to raise the entire upper body by raising the pillow, because raising the pillow cannot lift the entire upper body. Instead, it may cause a bend between the esophagus and the stomach, affecting the flow of food into the stomach, aggravating esophageal reflux, and exacerbating heartburn.

3. Loose clothing

To reduce esophageal reflux, pregnant women should wear loose clothes and avoid tight clothes that squeeze the waist and abdomen.

Bowel movements should be smooth and respiratory tract infections should be actively prevented and treated to avoid increasing intra-abdominal pressure.

4. Don’t smoke

Never smoke. Not only does smoking lead to many serious health problems, but it also increases stomach acid secretion. To achieve the desired effect, women who smoke should quit smoking before becoming pregnant. But if you're still smoking after becoming pregnant and find it difficult to quit, talk to your doctor to see if she can help you find a suitable way to quit smoking.

5. Taking medication

Over-the-counter antacids containing magnesium or calcium may also help relieve stomach discomfort, but be sure to talk to your doctor before taking them, as some brands of antacids contain aluminum, aspirin, or large amounts of sodium. Under the guidance of a doctor, you can take alkaline drugs, such as aluminum hydroxide gel, Ledewei, or drugs that protect the gastric mucosa, such as sucralfate, Dile Granules, etc., which can help relieve heartburn.