How to Prevent Heartburn During Pregnancy
Heartburn during pregnancy is a problem for many pregnant women. Heartburn is very common in pregnancy since the muscle that keeps stomach contents out of the esophagus becomes relaxed due to pregnancy hormones. Ideally, you want to prevent heartburn from starting.
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Instructions
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Change your diet. The best thing you can do to prevent heartburn is to figure out what foods are causing it and then stop eating them. Common heartburn triggers include greasy foods, spicy foods and carbonated beverages. Caffeine and alcohol are common heartburn triggers as well, though you should be avoiding these during pregnancy already.
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Quit smoking. You should quit smoking during pregnancy for countless reasons, but smoking can also cause heartburn.
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Wait 3 hours after eating before laying down. To keep your stomach acid from even entering your esophagus, use gravity as an aid by sitting upright after eating. During pregnancy, some women find that propping themselves up on pillows even while sleeping may help prevent heartburn.
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Eat smaller meals. Eating smaller meals will help your stomach from becoming so full that stomach acid creeps up the esophagus.
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Try drinking a glass of milk after meals. Many over-the-counter medicines for heartburn contain calcium that sooths heartburn. You may find drinking a glass of milk after meals stops heartburn from even starting.
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Wear proper fitting clothes as your body changes during pregnancy. Wearing clothes that are too tight, especially across your middle, may cause heartburn.
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Gain the proper amount of weight as discussed by your doctor. Heartburn is more prevalent in obese people. While most pregnant women can healthily gain about 30 pounds during pregnancy, this weight should be added gradually, over the course of several months.
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Tips & Warnings
If your heartburn is severe, check in with your care giver. They may have some tips to prevent heartburn during pregnancy.
