Even if you've rarely experienced heartburn before, the chances are very high that you will have it quite often during pregnancy. A lot of the changes your body goes through at this time almost guarantee that you will experience heartburn.

The placenta makes a hormone called progesterone during pregnancy that is needed to relax the muscles inside the uterus. But, the valve that divides the stomach from the esophagus is also relaxed and this allows acids to flow back up.

Contractions in the esophagus and intestines aid in digestion. They become slower because of the progesterone and digestion becomes sluggish. Acids can also be pushed back up into the esophagus as the growing baby crowds the abdominal area.

There are several changes that can be made to your diet that will act as heartburn remedies. Don't eat foods with a lot of seasoning or foods that are spicy. Highly acidic foods such as tomatoes and ketchup should also be avoided.

Instead of eating large meals, spreading them out into smaller ones can also help with heartburn. Any use of alcohol should be stopped during pregnancy and alcohol as well as caffeine can contribute to heartburn.

Changing the foods that you eat and what you drink can act as natural heartburn remedies. But if you find that changes in diet aren't enough there's several over the counter choices for heartburn relief.

Your first choice should probably be chewable antacids. They are usually reliable and should provide fast heartburn relief. There are also liquid antacids that may be used, but be aware that any liquid may naturally cause your stomach to produce even more acids which is counter productive.

During pregnancy taking antacids that include aluminium isn't a good idea. Most women are prone to constipation while pregnant and if consumed in large amounts, aluminium leads to constipation and is toxic as well.

Any of the heartburn remedies that contain aspirin or sodium bicarbonate should not be taken if you're pregnant. Sodium bicarbonate will cause excessive swelling and for most pregnant women that is already a major symptom to deal with.

If none of the remedies that you try bring heartburn relief, ask your doctor about other options. Just remember that taking more than the regular doses can be a bad idea, even over the counter products for heartburn still contain drugs.

Tags: Acid Reflux, heartburn-during-pregnancy, heartburn-relief, Reflux Related Conditions

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