Have you had a lot of heartburn since you got pregnant? Heartburn is often experienced as a stinging, burning pain behind the sternum and is common during pregnancy. Here we give you tips on how to relieve heartburn!

During pregnancy, the stomach is affected by pregnancy hormones and it is therefore easier to get heartburn. During the latter part of pregnancy, there is also an increased upward pressure on the body from the growing uterus. In this way, physics also affects the increased risk of the stomach not being able to hold itself together – and so heartburn occurs.

The hilum, located at the top of the stomach, helps prevent stomach contents and gastric juice from entering the oesophagus. There is a protective environment for the acidic gastric juice that breaks down the food in the stomach, but it is not present in the oesophagus. If the opening of your stomach is not efficient enough, there is a risk that the acidic contents will push up into the oesophagus. It can often be painful, but it is not dangerous.

Can you relieve heartburn?
To relieve heartburn, you can try to eat in small portions so that your stomach can catch up. Another tip is not to eat too late in the evening. There are certain foods that cause heartburn more easily, so try to avoid:

• Acidic foods that contain vinegar
• Spicy food
• Juices
• Coffee

Some people find that they get more trouble from heartburn when stressed, although there is no scientific link.

There are over-the-counter medicines available at the pharmacy that can help, but consult your midwife first if you experience heartburn regarding what type of medicine may be appropriate.