Heartburn during pregnancy may be caused by:
- The hormones your body produces early in pregnancy to relax smooth muscles – including the muscles around your gastrointestinal tract. Relaxed muscles around your gastrointestinal tract mean there is a greater chance of food and gastric acids sneaking out of your stomach, up into your throat, burning the inner lining and causing discomfort.
- The pressure that your growing foetus places on your stomach. This pressure can cause the acidic contents of your stomach to move up into your throat, causing a painful burning sensation in the chest.
Heartburn may also be triggered by other causes unrelated to pregnancy.
Some tips to reduce heartburn:
- Have five or six small meals a day, rather than three large ones.
- Take small mouthfuls, chew your food well and eat slowly.
- Limit your intake of fatty, fried or spicy foods.
- Drink fluids between meals rather than with your meals.
- Avoid carbonated drinks and alcohol (which pregnant women are advised to avoid anyway).
- Wear clothes that are loose at the waist.
- Stay upright for at least an hour after eating, because laying down can trigger heartburn.
- Sleep with your head and shoulders propped up by several pillows.