Pregnancy And Heartburn: Causes And Relief Techniques

You may have heard of the old wives' tale that heartburn during pregnancy equates to a baby born with a lot of hair. There may be some truth to this according to research by John Hopkins University, however, the exact correlation is unknown. Just over half of all pregnant women will suffer from heartburn during their pregnancies. Progesterone, a hormone that relaxes muscles in pregnancy, also relaxes the stomach valve, which results in more acids being released. This, in addition to the growing uterus, could be causing acid to go upward into the esophagus. The following are a few habits you can adopt to relieve heartburn symptoms.

Wear Loose Clothing

You may want to show off that cute baby bump with a tight-fitting dress or top, but avoid too-tight clothing when you have issues with heartburn. Putting too much pressure on your abdomen, which is already cramped, can cause acids to leak into the esophagus. This is especially true during the third trimester, when the baby is growing at an impressive rate. Consider loose fitting clothing to take some of the pressure off your abdomen. Opting for loose fitting clothing can also help with temperature control, especially if you are pregnant during the warmer months.

Eat Mindfully

Practice mindful eating to relax your body and to avoid eating too quickly. When you eat too fast, you are more likely to experience heartburn and indigestion. When you take the time to slow down and chew your food, you are also less likely to overeat. Try and count to 30 as you chew your food, then swallow. This gives your body the time to digest food at a healthy pace and sends a message to your brain to let you know you are satiated and full.