Pregnancy and reflux: everything you need to know

During the months of pregnancy, the body has to cope with a wide variety of changes, so digestive problems can occur. In fact, it is common to talk aboutpregnancy and refluxwith expectant mothers, as they do not know how to relieve the discomfort they are experiencing. Here we will try to explain how to do it.

Pregnancy and reflux: what we can tell you about them

One of the main problems pregnant women have to deal with is reflux, although it is not the only one. They also face other complaints such as acidity or heartburn. But what is therelationship between pregnancy and reflux?Reflux occurs when the muscular valve that controls the passage of contents from the oesophagus to the stomach, the cardia, becomes altered or stops working properly. What happens in this case is thatthe acidic contents of the stomach pass into the oesophagus and cause irritation. This is known as pyrosis and, if it occurs relatively frequently, it is then referred to as reflux. But why does it affect pregnant women in particular? During pregnancy, the cardia does not work as it should for several reasons:

1. Hormonal changes. The increase in the hormone that relaxes the body's smooth muscles, progesterone, can alter the functioning of the digestive system. If the stomach takes longer to empty, the valve cannot retain the contents.
2. Pregnancy reflux in the third trimesteris very common. The reason is that the size of the uterus increases and therefore takes up more space in the abdominal cavity and puts pressure on the stomach. In fact, on many occasions this causes the stomach to rotate and become positioned almost horizontally, which makes the digestive process much more difficult. In addition, the opening of the cardia can become deformed and this prevents it from closing completely.

Symptoms of reflux during pregnancy

In cases ofpregnancy and reflux,the main symptoms are:

• Acidity.
• A burning sensation in the throat and chest.
• Nausea and vomiting,
• Cough.
• Sore throat.
• Hoarseness.
• A sensation that food is coming back up through the oesophagus and returning to the mouth.

It is common forpregnancy reflux to occur in the first trimesterand continue throughout the whole process. However, it is usually more frequent and intense in the final months. Likewise, it tends to disappear after childbirth.

Foods that can cause reflux

To avoid this situation during pregnancy, it is worth knowing whichtypes of food can encourage reflux. Some of the most important are:

• Coffee.
• Chocolate.
• Alcohol.
• Mustard.

• Vinegar.
• Fried,processedor heavily spiced foods.
• Aged cheeses.
• Citrus fruits.
• Very acidic foods such as tomatoes, for example.

The above list encourages the appearance of gastric reflux symptoms. Therefore, it is betterto stop consuming them or do so only occasionally.This is something that should be kept very much in mind, especially in the final trimester of pregnancy.

How to sleep with reflux during pregnancy

At night, women often experience a great deal of discomfort. For this reason, it is common to receive questions related tohow to sleep with reflux during pregnancy. One of the most effective pieces of advice in this regard is tosleep with your head raised higher. It is recommended to keep it around 10 to 15 centimetres higher than the rest of the body. This makes it harder for stomach acids to pass into the oesophagus. There are different ways to achieve this. It can be done by raising the head of the bed or sleeping with several pillows, depending on how the person feels most comfortable. In this way, the upper part of the torso will be more elevated than the rest of the body. On the other hand,sleeping on your back is not recommended. It is better to sleep on your side and, specifically, on the left-hand side with your knees bent. What does this position achieve? Firstly, it helps seal the lower oesophageal sphincter, so stomach acids will not move into the oesophagus. Secondly, it improves blood circulation between the kidneys, the heart, the uterus and the foetus. In addition, sleeping like this helps to avoid discomfort and lower back strain if a cushion or pillow is placed between the legs.

Reflux and pregnancy: what can you take?

Before thinking aboutwhat to take when pregnancy and reflux go hand in hand, let us look at how to prevent it. You only need to follow these simple tips:

• Avoid large mealsand eat smaller amounts. In other words, if before pregnancy you ate around five times a day, it would now be advisable to do so eight times.
• Do not lie down or recline on the sofa straight after eating. The right thing to do is towait a couple of hoursto enjoy a more restful break.
• Chew more times. Eating quickly encourages reflux, so it is advisable to start chewing more slowly in order to achieve less heavy digestion.
• Do not smoke or drink alcoholic beveragesand keep in mind the food consumption recommendations already mentioned.
• Avoid wearing very tight clothing.

Remedies for pregnancy reflux

For the immediate relief of heartburn and indigestion,Gavinatura alivio Indigestiónis recommended. These triple-action tabletsneutralise stomach acids, prevent irritation and protect the stomach. They create a kind of protective film that reduces contact between the lining of the gastro-oesophageal tract and gastric juices. They are suitable for children over 6 years old and adults, andfollowing the recommendations of a healthcare professional, they can be taken during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Other remedies that can be used in a situation like this are:

• Apple. A natural antacid that is very useful for combating all digestive problems.
• Orange. Perfect for tackling acidity and reflux. You can eat the whole fruit or drink it as juice, depending on preference.
• Ginger. Our advice fromFarmaciasdirectis to take it as an infusion and add orange or lemon.

In short, to deal withpregnancy and refluxour recommendation is to make lifestyle changes by following the advice above and paying attention to the types of food you eat. And if this does not improve things, the right step is to see a doctor or pharmacist.