Pregnancy causes a remarkably long list of changes in a woman’s body.
Everyone knows about the growing belly, swollen ankles, and morning sickness, but some Austin-area moms-to-be are caught off-guard when they experience heartburn too. While those who have experienced heartburn in the past are more likely to battle it during pregnancy, for many it’s their first encounter with the uncomfortable symptoms, including:
- Burning feeling in the chest
- Frequent cough
- Sour taste in the mouth
- Belching
- Sore throat
People usually get heartburn after they eat and/or when they lie down. The symptoms begin when the food and acid in their stomach travels into the esophagus. The feeling may disappear as quickly as it started, or it can last for hours on end. That’s tough on a pregnant woman just trying to get a decent night’s sleep while growing a baby! But why do so many pregnant women suffer from it when they never did before?
Hormones change throughout the pregnancy to support mom and baby. The body produces more progesterone, which is a good thing because that allows muscles to relax and the uterus to stretch more easily. However, the increased progesterone also relaxes the esophageal sphincter, which is a key structure whose job is to keep stomach contents (including stomach acid) where they belong and out of the esophagus and throat.
As the baby grows, so does the belly. This growth and resulting movement of internal organs causes pressure on the stomach and may lead to heartburn when the stomach contents sneak through the weak sphincter. Heartburn frequency tends to increase as pregnancy progresses.
The diet-related factors that can cause heartburn regardless of pregnancy status include fried food, spicy food, chocolate, onion, garlic, tomato, citrus, vinegar, mint, and caffeine. These can play a role in heartburn during pregnancy and should be considered when trying to ease heartburn.
Other changes that may provide relief are:
- Eat smaller meals more often, and eat them slowly.
- Don’t give in to the temptation to lie down right after eating. Give your body time to digest your food.
- Sit up straight when you eat.
- Sleep with your head elevated.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing that doesn’t put unnecessary pressure on your stomach.
- Stick to pregnancy weight gain recommendations.
- Prioritize getting enough sleep.
If these natural solutions don’t do the trick and heartburn still causes extreme discomfort, a doctor can recommend an over-the-counter or prescription medication that may be the answer. Some common heartburn remedies are not considered safe for pregnant women, so it’s very important to consult a doctor before trying anything.
Pregnancy heartburn is rarely a sign of a serious issue. However, it’s always worth discussing any new or unusual symptoms with a medical professional just in case it could be part of a larger problem. Thankfully, most heartburn disappears once the baby comes and hormone levels even out. For the unlucky few whose heartburn shows up frequently even after pregnancy, a diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may help them understand that they’re actually battling a chronic, severe form of acid reflux. If medication and lifestyle changes don’t solve the problem, Dr. Uecker offers surgical treatment options for heartburn and acid reflux that can provide long-lasting relief.
*Source: US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health
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John M Uecker, M.D. has been in practice in Austin since 2003. His practice focuses on the surgical treatment of hernias, gallstones, GERD, hiatal hernias and thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal tumors. He started and leads the robotic surgery program at Dell Seton Medical Center. Dr. Uecker is the Division Chief of minimally invasive surgery and an Associate Professor at the University of Texas Dell Medical School where he enjoys teaching medical students and residents.
