heartburn

Especially at night, pregnant women sometimes suffer from heartburn.

CAUSE

During pregnancy the stomach's sphincter muscle relaxes under the influence of pregnancy hormones. This causes the esophagus to be less tightly closed than usual. The further along you are in pregnancy, the more your baby grows and the greater the pressure in the abdominal cavity. This allows the stomach acid to flow more easily into your esophagus, causing regurgitation and a painful irritation behind your breastbone.

TIPS

• Eat smaller meals several times a day. A little food in your stomach ensures that the stomach acid is retained by the stomach contents. Therefore, eating small portions at a time will sometimes help. Women suffer from heartburn especially at night, because the stomach is relatively empty then.
• Don't eat too little, but certainly not too much either.
• Avoid fatty and spicy foods.
• Beware of coffee and carbonated drinks.
• Bread can help absorb stomach acid. Dairy products such as milk, custard or yogurt usually quench it acutely.
• Make sure you sit up straight. This will put less pressure on your stomach and create space in your abdominal cavity.
• Make sure you don't lie too flat. Sleep with your head higher than your feet, so you're not lying completely flat. Raise your headboard or put one or two extra pillows under your mattress, so you're lying at a slight angle.
• Gastric acid inhibitors can be used occasionally or for a short period (6 weeks) in the usual dosage during all stages of pregnancy. Long-term use or use in higher doses is not recommended.
• If these remedies do not help sufficiently for you, contact your GP or consult your midwife.