Heartburn and Constipation During Pregnancy

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Heartburn:
Yes, you're able to eat again, but sometimes you won't want to. That pain you feel in your esophagus, that burning sensation in your stomach, those acidy burps, maybe a sour taste in your mouth after you eat? They're all heartburn. Heartburn? Isn't that for old men who eat too much diner food?

What causes heartburn?
It doesn't have anything to do with the heart. It's your esophagus and your stomach that are giving you trouble.

Heartburn is a feeling of burning or discomfort that can be felt anywhere from the throat to the top of the stomach, along the breastbone. Quite simply, stomach acid is not staying where it should; it's refluxing (backing up) into your esophagus.

Because your internal organs have shifted, your digestive processes are different than they were pre-pregnancy. Many internal organs have shifted by now. Your uterus is much larger and you're carrying a two to three pound bundle of love. All of these physical changes may affect your ability to comfortably digest food - and not for the better.

The muscles in your digestive tract (particularly the muscles at the top of the stomach where it hooks up with the esophagus) aren't working as well as they used to.

Sometimes it's not only acid that makes its way upward . Sometimes small bits of food may not stay put in your stomach. And the food that does stay put may do so longer due to a slower digestive system. What's this mean? Heartburn.

What makes your heartburn burn?

• Large Meals
• Coffee/caffeinated drinks
• Spicy Foods
• Greasy Foods
• High-fat foods
• Garlic
• Onions
• Chocolate
• Heavy/Rich Foods
• Certain Medications

When does heartburn lessen?
Heartburn shouldn't be a constant problem, bothering you every hour of the day. It may, however, be a daily problem - an every day pain that stays around for an hour or two after meals. The good news is, heartburn comes and goes depending on what, how much, and when you eat. The better news is that it's not constant. It may be a fact of life for you from now until baby arrives. Acid reflux is unpleasant, but it's manageable.

Constipation
If you're a lucky woman, you've never really understood those commercials for laxatives and stool softeners. If you had to go, you went. Case closed. A balanced diet, adequate water, moderate exercise and good genes kept you regular. During pregnancy, healthy food choices, plenty of water, and a history of regularity may not be not enough for some women. That history of regularity may be ancient history, at least for the time being.

The medical definition of constipation is having fewer than three bowel movements per week. The stools which do pass may be hard, dry, small in size, and difficult to pass.

The second trimester sometimes brings constipation, which may last through the end of pregnancy. Constipation can cause discomfort in ways you wouldn't expect. Obvious symptoms are abdominal discomfort and a feeling of "fullness" in the bowels or the stomach. If you feel like you need to move your bowels even after you've finished, you may be constipated. Even excessive diarrhea can be a sign that you're constipated; if a small amount of stool is blocking your intestines, sometimes the body will compensate for that by eliminating waste via diarrhea. Your bottom may be uncomfortable as well. If you're constipated for long periods of time, you may also suffer from nausea, aversion to food and overall irritability. (Gee, I wonder why.)

If you're experiencing severe constipation, call your doctor. It's very important that you don't use too much force to push your bowel movements along. You may pop blood vessels and cause hemorrhoids. Constipation is hard enough to deal with without those difficulties added to the mix. No matter how strong your urge to push, push, push, remind yourself to save all the hard pushing for the delivery room.

And along with that sluggish bowel comes...