How to Relieve Indigestion During Pregnancy: Tips and Tricks

Indigestion or dyspepsia is a more common problem in pregnant women who have crossed the 27th week of pregnancy. About 80% of pregnant women experience it. Pregnancy hormones relax the muscles in the body and slow down the digestion process, leading to indigestion during pregnancy. Heartburn or indigestion is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Pain or discomfort in the stomach or chest
• Feeling of burning
• Feeling of heaviness or pressure in the stomach
• Loud burps
• Swelling
• Nausea or vomiting
• Feeling as if the food eaten will come out

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Heartburn is felt when the things present in the stomach which have become acidic come in contact with the sensitive organs of the upper digestive system such as the esophagus. The acid, which works to digest the accumulated food, starts to act and stimulate the cells of the upper digestive system. Indigestion is more prevalent during pregnancy because:

• The growing fetus exerts pressure on the stomach and thus the food in the stomach starts moving upwards. A healthy fetus of 27 weeks is big enough to exert such pressure on the stomach.
• Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy. 
• The sphincter at the top of the stomach, which prevents the digestive contents from moving upwards, becomes less active during pregnancy and the acidic contents of the stomach try to move up.
• Reasons why you are more likely to have indigestion before pregnancy.

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By making the following changes in your daily routine, you can get relief from indigestion during pregnancy:

• Sit upright after eating i.e. lie down to sleep about an hour after eating. This upright position does not put any undue pressure on the stomach. Sitting for a while with bent knees after eating helps in digestion.
• Instead of eating large meals once, eat small meals several times so that your stomach does not get full. Make sure that you are eating a healthy and balanced diet. There is an old saying that "a woman should eat for two during pregnancy" but this is not at all true, do not do this.
• Some foods can also cause indigestion. Keep a record of all such foods and make sure that you do not get heartburn due to them while eating. In general, one should stay away from spicy food, junk food and fatty foods. Some people even stay away from chocolate, citrus fruits, and fruit juices.
• Limit the intake of liquids or water during meals as it increases the chances of heartburn. It is better to drink water before or after meals. If it is so important to drink water with food, then take only small sips.
• Limit or completely stop drinking caffeine and alcohol. Consuming alcohol increases the chances of miscarriage and birth defects. Also reduce the intake of caffeine for a healthy pregnancy.
• Smoking should also be avoided during pregnancy, because apart from being harmful to the fetus, it inactivates or slows down the valve between the stomach and the food pipe (esophagus) in smokers, making the reflux of acidic substances easier. Smoking can cause complications like premature birth, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, etc. 
• If you suffer from indigestion at night, have dinner at least 3 hours before sleeping. This gives your stomach time to empty, meaning the food goes down faster, preventing indigestion.
• Wear loose and comfortable clothes, especially around the waist, so that the pressure that causes indigestion does not arise on the stomach.

(Read more - Pregnancy Nutrition: What to Eat)

Medical treatment:
Make sure that any medicine you are taking for indigestion during pregnancy is safe for use in pregnancy and follow the dosage instructions to avoid overdose. Keep in mind that antacids can interfere with the absorption of other medicines that you are taking during pregnancy.

• Antacids - work by neutralizing the pH of the acid present in the stomach so that it does not irritate the mucus of the food pipe.
• Alginates- These act as a barrier that prevents the acidic contents of the stomach from moving up. These are usually formulated in combination with antacids so that both can work together to prevent reflux.

If neither of the above 2 measures work effectively, the doctor will recommend taking medicines that reduce the effect of acid:

• Ranitidine- These tablets are usually recommended to be taken twice a day.
• Omeprazole- This medicine is usually recommended to be taken once a day. It can help stop the symptoms after about 5 days.

Even after all this, if nausea and vomiting are not stopping, you are losing weight instead of gaining weight, you are having extreme pain in your stomach, then definitely contact the doctor.

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Indigestion is a common problem during pregnancy, often experienced as heartburn or acidity. The main cause of this condition is hormonal changes in the body and the pressure on the stomach due to the growing uterus. Both these factors can slow down the digestion process and increase the acid levels in the stomach, which can lead to indigestion and heartburn. During this time, it may be beneficial to eat food in small portions, avoid oily and spicy foods, and avoid lying down immediately after eating. Apart from this, safe medicines like antacids can also be used after consulting a doctor. Understanding the problem of indigestion in pregnancy and adopting appropriate measures is important for the health and comfort of the mothers.