Pregnancy is a beautiful phase in every woman's life, however, it comes with various challenges. The most common challenge that pregnant women often face is indigestion. This is due to hormonal changes in your body and increasing pressure against your stomach as the baby grows. Indigestion can cause discomfort but it can be avoided by following some measures throughout your pregnancy.
Causes Of Indigestion
Your body produces a high amount of progesterone and relaxin hormone during pregnancy. These hormones tend to relax smooth muscle tissues all over the body, including those in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This causes the acids from the stomach to move upward with ease. The same hormones can also cause the valve separating your oesophagus from your stomach to loosen, which can allow food and/or stomach acid to reflux back up into your oesophagus and generate that irksome burning feeling.
Tips To Follow To Avoid Indigestion
Eat Small & Frequent Meals
Eat several small meals throughout the day rather than three large ones to ease the strain on your digestive system. It is important to provide your body with healthy foods but should also keep in mind not to overeat. In addition, you should also avoid eating anything before going to bed.
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Spicy Foods Are A Strict No
It is important to choose the right foods during pregnancy to keep yourself and the foetus nourished. You should quit eating spicy foods along with caffeine and soda drinks. This is because it can cause irritation and bloating and may even lead to gastritis.
Quit Smoking & Drinking
Pregnant women should avoid drinking and smoking as it can be harmful to them and the baby as well. It increases the chances of indigestion
Smoking can cause acid reflux as it can lead to indigestion and also puts your baby at risk of being born prematurely. On the other hand, alcohol can cause and also worsen heartburn in people. A miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy can result from excessive drinking, especially if one gets highly intoxicated.
Moreover, those planning to conceive should also give up on alcohol and smoking to avoid fertility issues.
Avoid Wearing Tight Clothes
You should avoid wearing clothes that are too tight and only wear comfortable and loose-fitted clothes. Tight clothing can exacerbate indigestion and discomfort by applying even more pressure to the area surrounding the abdomen.
Also Read: Do's And Don'ts While Working During Pregnancy
Sit Upright
You should avoid lying down after eating meals as it slows the digestive process in your body. Gastric juices rise again as one lies down, slouches, slumps, or bows. Therefore, you should sit in an upright position, as it will relieve some of the pressure in your stomach and help your digestive system work more effectively.
Mind The Way You Sleep
You should take care of your sleeping position, especially if you experience heartburn at night. You should try sleeping on your left side and elevate the head of your bed. You can even try sleeping on at least two pillows for better results.
Don’t Stress
You should avoid taking stress as it can only worsen your situation. It is always advisable to engage yourself in activities that reduce your stress and keep your mind active.
Takeaway
Making healthier food choices not only helps reduce heartburn, but also ensures that your unborn child is receiving the critical vitamins and minerals required to remain healthy while in the womb. You should always consult with your doctor before taking any medications for treatment. If the problem worsens and causes trouble in sleeping and eating, you should immediately visit a gynaecologist for necessary treatment.
