How to : Prevent & Treat Heartburn during Pregnancy

I remember times when I suffered so bad with heartburn, to the point where I would be crying! It's a common symptom of pregnancy, heartburn, and it's something that many people want to know how to prevent. So with that in mind, lets first have a look at what can be responsible for causing it by reading this brilliant article : Causes of Heartburn, which gives us a list of some of the other things (asides from pregnancy) that cause that dreaded heartburn!

Heartburn in pregnancy

As you can see from the above linked article, it is completely normal to suffer with heartburn in pregnancy, and this is because of a couple of things..

Hormonal changes during pregnancy, and/or..

The baby physically putting pressure on the woman's digestive tract.

The symptoms of heartburn and indigestion are the same for anyone else who suffers. Although harmless to you and your baby, heartburn can often be painful and leave you feeling uncomfortable. 

So what can do you do to help this?.. Well, luckily there are some simple steps you can take if you are pregnant and are suffering which include.. 

• eating a healthy diet
• sitting and/or sleeping in a more upright position 
• Eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day
• Take your time eating - chew every mouthful slowly
• Avoid spicy, acidic and fatty food
• Sit up straight when you eat - not on the sofa if you can help it
• Loosen clothes or belts that are too tight
• Don't eat late, or on the run
• If you are prone to night time symptoms prop yourself up slightly with a couple of pillows

Treatments for Heartburn during pregnancy

So now you're familiar with a few things that you can do to try and prevent heartburn from happening but what about any sort of treatments that you should be aware of in case you're still finding that you're getting it? 

During pregnancy you will naturally be wary about taking medicines, however you need not put up with the symptoms of heartburn or indigestion. Many products in the Gaviscon range are highly effective and suitable to use during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding. These include Gaviscon Original, Gaviscon Double Action and Gaviscon Advance in both liquid and tablet format.

So if you're currently suffering with symptoms of heartburn during pregnancy, don't fret! Try some of the very simple steps within this post and if you're still suffering, you can also talk to your health practitioner as there are some products in the Gaviscon range that are suitable for pregnant women.

*Medicines can affect the unborn baby. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine in pregnancy.

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