Ways to End Acid Reflux in Pregnancy

Ways to End Acid Reflux in Pregnancy

Pregnant women not only undergo the burden of having to deal with enlarged bellies but also to the many hormonal changes that their body undergoes, this in turn result to the sudden cravings that most pregnant women experience. Women’s body adapts to these changes in many ways; as the baby grow inside the stomach are pushed aside to make way and this causes digestive problems such as morning sickness and the abnormal activity of gastric acids.

Acid reflux occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy where the child is already fully developed. As the uterus swells to give space, it pushes through the diaphragm that disturbs the function of the lower esophageal sphincter most commonly known as LES. This serves as the trapdoor to keep the food from being carried up to the esophagus where the food travels from the mouth to the stomach.

There are also cases where a part of the stomach is pushed through the diaphragm causing hiatus hernia which too brings about acid reflux. Pregnant women could have both conditions, and such cases calls for medical intervention. Acid reflux in pregnancy can also be blamed to the hormones such as estrogen and progesterone that circulates to cause the uterus to relax and expand to accommodate the growing fetus. This relaxation of muscle produces the inability of the lower esophageal sphincter to behave in the usual manner which in turn encourages the food to go back up the esophagus and cause constipation to the individual.

Other women suffer acid reflux in more severe ways than others; sometimes the condition includes chest pain which may cause alarm to the pregnant woman. This chest pain is preceded by the contraction of smooth muscles near the heart, because of the proliferation of acid within the stomach and esophagus, which causes it to be mistaken as something like a heart attack.

Few of today’s medicine are safe for the growing fetus inside the body. Most drugs are known teratogens, which means that they are not only harmful to the fetus but also causes damage and abnormality while the baby grows inside the mother’s womb. Therefore, it is important to consider the natural ways of doing away with acid reflux. The first step would be a change in the diet, such may be hard to adapt with but compared to the pain and discomfort of heartburn, every pregnant woman should consider watching those food they eat.

Smoking and caffeine are the most notorious culprits in acid reflux; one should stay away from habits that include these substances.

Ginger also helps in easing away the heartburn aside from eliminating chocolates, dairy products and the like from the diet. A piece of ginger is said to have an effect against the pains of heartburn once it is chewed during certain attacks. Another helpful idea for the pregnant woman is to use pillows in inducing the backflow of the acid from the stomach. It is also important to note that a combination of these tips will provide greater ease and comfort from gastric acids. These options also help the mother from risking the baby to the damages of synthetic substances like medicines.

A Guide to Treating Acid Reflux with Apples

A Guide to Treating Acid Reflux with Apples

The biggest dilemma when faced with acid reflux is that the quality of life is somehow lessened and activities would seem more like an effort than leisure all because of the constant pain of having too much acid inside the stomach. It would be something like having a gnawing feeling that sometimes lead to abnormal muscle contraction and acid reflux.

There are various treatment methods presented to patients when it comes to hyperacidity and this is most usually employed with drugs to be taken in to ease the pain, but some of these once stopped causes increased amount of pain which is twice that of what the person has initially experienced. This is most commonly referred to as rebound acidosis. Furthermore, when the individual suffers from gastro esophageal reflux disease a treatment regimen which consists of three to four medicines is usually recommended because of the seriousness of the condition.

A natural remedy to this condition is apple, but one might think twice before considering this notion because apples contain vitamin c which is citric acid in other term. Rumor has it that apple, aside from being rich in iron, vitamin c and vinegar, is also loaded with pectin that coats the lining of the esophagus thus preventing it from being gnawed at by gastric juices. Pectin also provides absorbent properties that reduce further damage to stomach lining and demulcent character that soothes the skin.

Apple is made as ‘tummy tonic’ by shredding it to pieces and having it mixed with honey and sesame seeds; if taken before meals, it promotes the release of acids to aid in the digestion of food. There are many people who testify to the effectiveness of this remedy that more and more people are finding themselves their own homemade apple cider vinegar, which is a more popular mix. Referred to as a stomach elixir, apple cider vinegar is combined with the ‘mother’ of commercially made products that has been stored to let the enzymes settle at the bottom. This is then mixed with honey and water and consumed within eight hours most especially before meals.

The apple cider vinegar mixture offers only temporary relief to those who suffer the ravages of too much acid in the stomach, the advantage it presents compared to available medicines in the market is that, it is less expensive and proven to be safe; and it does not create rebound acidosis, a condition in which the pain experienced during heartburn is increased to twice that of its initial occurrence. Therefore, for individuals looking for a more permanent method of easing the pain, the most significant action they could take on is to have a lifestyle change because as permanent a condition acid reflux is so should the habits of the person suffering from it. Treatment of this kind of disorder calls for holistic changes in all the ways the person leads his daily endeavors; and strict adherence to diets that would not trigger abnormal release of acid leading to muscle contraction and eventually to regurgitation of the contents of stomach.

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