Eating well is necessary for expecting mothers to have a healthy and well-nourished baby. However, it is ironic that during pregnancy you may experience certain annoying problems like heartburn and indigestion that don’t let you relish your food.
Indigestion and pregnancy go hand-in-hand. At this time, the body’s digestive system undergoes changes that can lead to discomfort. The primary reason for this is the increased production of progesterone, a hormone which slows down the digestive process in the early stages of pregnancy. In the later stages, y The growing size of the uterus adds to the discomfort as it presses on the internal organs.
Indigestion and heartburn are two symptoms that affect most pregnant women. This article shares tips on ways to beat the indigestion blues.
Indigestion (or dyspepsia), a bloated and gassy feeling that happens when the stomach is slow in digesting food, is a common occurrence in pregnancy. It manifests in the form of pain or discomfort felt in the stomach or below the ribs. As mentioned above, increased production of progesterone is responsible for indigestion early pregnancy, and the growing womb pressing on your stomach causes discomfort in later pregnancy.
Indigestion in early pregnancy is quite common. Symptoms like feeling discomfort in stomach usually worsen in the second and third trimesters. Both indigestion and heartburn are commonly experienced during all stages of pregnancy by nearly 80% of expecting mothers. The consolation is that you’re certainly not alone if you’re feeling uncomfortable.
The medical reasons for indigestion are –
Dyspepsia usually reduces after childbirth when your hormones change back to their pre-pregnancy state and the pressure of the baby on your stomach is removed.
Indigestion may start as soon as you conceive. Some women may experience a strong burning sensation of heartburn after meals, beginning just a few weeks into their pregnancy. For others, it shows up later on when the womb is expanding and there isn’t much room for food.
The symptoms of heartburn that usually occur soon after eating include:
Indigestion can begin in the first trimester but usually becomes more of a problem in the third trimester. However, if you are wondering is indigestion a symptom of pregnancy, then the answer is no, it is not. Unlike morning sickness, indigestion is not an indication of pregnancy.
Indigestion includes a group of symptoms that stem from a problem in your upper gut. Your gastrointestinal tract begins at the mouth and ends at the anus. The upper gut includes the oesophagus or food pipe, stomach, and the first half of the small intestine. Various conditions in the upper gut can result in dyspepsia.
Hormones like progesterone are the leading cause of heartburn in pregnancy. They relax your muscles to allow your baby to pass through your pelvis during delivery. Unfortunately, this has the effect of relaxing all your muscles and also works on those which normally prevent acid from travelling up the oesophagus to your mouth. The stomach acid that rises causes heartburn.
In the initial weeks of pregnancy, you are more likely to have indigestion due to the following reasons:
Your risk of suffering from indigestion in pregnancy goes up if you:
Note: Some vitamin supplements can also cause painful bloating and gas which may get worse in the later stages of pregnancy when the growing uterus begins to push on your rectum.
Both heartburn and indigestion refer to symptoms that often occur after you eat. While indigestion is not related to stomach acid, you can experience heartburn as a symptom of indigestion. It is possible to experience indigestion at any point during your pregnancy, although your symptoms worsen during the advanced stages of pregnancy, from 27 weeks onwards. By then, your baby and womb (uterus) are bigger in size and put additional pressure on the digestive tract.
Symptoms vary from person to person with the same condition. Most mothers complain of an irritating heartburn, pain, or a sense of discomfort in the stomach or chest. This usually happens soon after meals. However, there can occasionally be a delay between eating a meal and developing indigestion.
The most common symptoms of indigestion include:
There are several treatment options for indigestion. These include both traditional home remedies as well as medication available to reduce the frequency and severity of indigestion.
If the question what can I take for indigestion while pregnant comes to your mind, then apart from natural remedies, there are medications that help to reduce indigestion. These include:
If you’re wondering what to do to relieve indigestion, there are many age-old tips that help relieve and prevent symptoms of heartburn. While some of these are not scientifically proven, many moms-to-be find them helpful. Talk to your doctor before taking any herbal remedies or supplements to ascertain that they are safe for you.
Consult your doctor if the symptoms of indigestion and heartburn do not seem to subside even after your best efforts.
Treatments for heartburn and indigestion can be used during pregnancy after consulting the doctor. Follow the recommended dosage to experience faster relief. Make sure to understand any possible side-effects before taking any medication.
Early pregnancy is an exciting time, but you should be prepared for spoilsports such as indigestion, morning sickness, etc., that may need extra care and attention.
Prevention is always better than cure. Hence, as a responsible mother-to-be you need to take care of factors that will prevent indigestion during pregnancy. Precautions which help prevent indigestion include making the right choices in our daily life.
Following even one simple precaution of indigestion during pregnancy will improve your daily life.
Although indigestion is a distressing symptom of pregnancy, you can rest assured that it won’t harm your baby.
You may not need medicines to control your symptoms of indigestion. Here are some suggestions that might help you to beat the battle of indigestion by yourself.
However, indigestion and heartburn can be alarming, especially if you have never had these kinds of symptoms in the pre-pregnancy stage.
Severe symptoms may require further investigation by a medical professional. See your doctor if:
Conclusion
Staying healthy during pregnancy is important and depends a lot on the dietary decisions you make. It’s important that you collect the right information so that you are best positioned to make informed choices for yourself and your baby. Do try to stay positive and stress-free. Rethink your lifestyle and eating habits and actively manage your pregnancy to make it a more pleasant and enjoyable experience.