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Acid Reflux in Pregnancy

There is good news and bad news about reflux in pregnancy. The good news is that is usually resolves itself in the weeks and months following birth because hormone levels return to normal. The bad news is that at least 25% of women experience daily heartburn as soon as they become pregnant and by the third trimester approximately 75% of pregnant women experience severe heartburn.

The medical community offers many theories but no agreement on the causes for pregnancy related heartburn.

Three theories keep coming to the front:

• Shifting levels of hormones, particularly progesterone, can cause changes in the body and the way the digestive system operates.
  
  
• A growing and developing fetus takes up space. As the fetus develops the female body has to change to accommodate it. Some organs like the intestines become slightly displaced and put greater pressure on the stomach.
  
  
• Habits and lifestyle choices change and some of these changes are bad for reflux. Wearing clothing that is too tight at the waist, eating large meals especially before lying down, and unusual food choices all add to reflux.

The news is not all bad. There are some things that pregnant women can do to help relieve the symptoms of reflux. Eating smaller meals, not lying down right after eating, and not wearing clothing that is tight around the waist all help. Perhaps the most important change is to change ones sleeping position and simply use gravity to keep acid down. Sleeping on a wedge that supports the entire torso helps . Also, many physicians recommend sleeping on the left side. This position reduces pressure on certain arteries and also reduces pressure on the liver which is on the right side of the upper abdomen.