What helps with acid reflux while pregnant
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Many women experience indigestion and heartburn while they are pregnant, which can be painful or uncomfortable. There are ways to help avoid or treat indigestion and heartburn, especially if it is mild. Sometimes the feeling of heartburn can be confused with a more serious condition called pre-eclampsia. Indigestion, also called 'dyspepsia', is a feeling of pain or discomfort in the stomach (upper abdomen, or, tummy). This mostly occurs after eating or drinking but can happen some time after. If you have indigestion in the early stage of your pregnancy, this may be caused by changes in your hormone levels. In the second or third trimester, indigestion becomes more common and may be caused by your baby pushing up against your stomach. As many as 8 in 10 women may have indigestion during their pregnancy. Symptoms of indigestion may include:
Heartburn is a burning pain in the throat or chest, behind the breastbone, caused by stomach acid coming up the oesophagus (the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach) and irritating the lining. In pregnant women, indigestion and heartburn can be caused by:
It's a good idea to take note of the particular foods, drinks or activities that give you indigestion while you are pregnant. Avoiding indigestion and heartburnIf your symptoms are mild, it's possible that changes to your diet or lifestyle may help prevent indigestion and heartburn. You could try:
If your indigestion is not helped by diet and lifestyle changes, or your symptoms are more severe, your doctor or midwife may suggest that you take a medicine for indigestion that is safe to use during pregnancy. Medicines can neutralise the acid in your stomach, reduce the amount of acid produced by your stomach and stop the acid rising into your oesophagus. Heartburn symptoms and pre-eclampsiaIf your heartburn symptoms don't go away with medicine, it's important to see your doctor as it may be a sign of something more serious, such as pre-eclampsia. A pregnant woman with pre-eclampsia usually has high blood pressure and problems with her kidneys. Pre-eclampsia could also seriously affect a woman's liver, blood and brain. Any pregnant woman can experience pre-eclampsia – almost 1 in 20 Australian women will develop it. Because pre-eclampsia is dangerous for both you and your baby, you should let your doctor know if your heartburn medicine is not working. This is especially important if you're also feeling very unwell or you have:
Find out more about how pre-eclampsia is treated here. Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 to speak to a maternal child health nurse. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Last reviewed: May 2020
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You are welcome to continue browsing this site with this browser. Some features, tools or interaction may not work correctly. More than half of pregnant women get serious heartburn, particularly during their second and third trimesters. Heartburn,
also called acid indigestion, is an irritation or burning sensation of the esophagus (the tube that carries food and liquid to your
stomach when you swallow). It’s caused by stomach contents that reflux (come back up). If you have
heartburn while you’re pregnant, you may: Heartburn in pregnancy may happen because of changing hormone levels, which can affect the muscles of the digestive
tract. Pregnancy hormones can cause your lower esophageal sphincter (the muscular valve between the stomach and esophagus) to relax, allowing stomach acids to flow back up into your esophagus. Also, as your baby grows, your enlarged uterus can crowd
the abdomen, pushing stomach acids upward. Although it's rare, gallstones can also cause heartburn during pregnancy. Some tips that may help you cut down on heartburn during your pregnancy include: If your heartburn won’t go away, see
your doctor. They may prescribe or recommend OTC medications that are safe to take during pregnancy. Heartburn usually disappears following childbirth. Medications may include: Over-the-counter antacids such as
calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide. These are generally safe to use during pregnancy. You may find that liquid heartburn relievers are more effective in
treating heartburn, because they coat the esophagus. H2 blockers. These medications block chemical signals that produce stomach acid. They include cimetidine
(Tagamet) and famotidine (Pepcid,
Zantac 360), and they’re available in over the counter and prescription strengths. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Like H2 blockers, these drugs help cut down on stomach acid. PPIs, which include
lansoprazole (Prevacid) and
omeprazole (Prilosec), are available over the counter and by prescription. If you take iron
supplements, talk to your doctor before you take a PPI or H2 blocker. These medications can make the supplements less effective. Talk to your doctor before taking any antacids. Some contain ingredients that may harm you or your
baby. Be sure to not to take these medications: Ranitidine. In 2020, the FDA stopped sales of an H2 blocker called ranitidine (the ingredient in older Zantac products) because it was contaminated with a
cancer-causing agent. If you take OTC ranitidine, stop your use. If you have a prescription for ranitidine, talk to your doctor about other options before you stop your medication. What relieves acid reflux in pregnancy?For heartburn relief, over-the-counter antacids (such as Tums, Mylanta, Rolaids, and Maalox) are all considered safe medications to use during pregnancy. As always, consult with your provider about any medications you're taking – even if they're considered safe.
Does drinking water help acid reflux during pregnancy?Water can be a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to affecting GERD symptoms in pregnancy. Dr. Johnson notes that some women find that drinking water after a meal helps. It is thought that it may reduce the level of acidity in the stomach.
Why do I have so much acid reflux while pregnant?Heartburn is common during pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones can make the valve at the entrance to the stomach relax so that it doesn't close as it should. This lets acidic stomach contents move up into the esophagus, a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER), or acid reflux.
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