Heartburn

Heartburn, while painful to you, will not hurt your baby. You must, however, take care to eat the right foods to cut down on the occurances of heartburn. During pregnancy, your digestive tract will move more slowly. You may be more prone to bloating. Heartburn is when food from your stomach backs up into your throat. It is the acid from your stomach which causes the burning, and you feel like it's coming from your heart. Don't worry, it's not!

Heartburn can worsen as the pregnancy advances because of the enlarging uterus. There are simple ways to avoid or alleviate this problem:

1. Don't rush through your meals, eat slowly.
2. Avoid hot, spicy foods, or any foods that you notice that give you problems.
3. Keep your head and upper body elevated while sleeping.
4. Avoid eating while lying down

Excess weight gain may worsen your heartburn. Before taking any medications, such as antacids, talk with your doctor. Not all medications, no matter how benign they may appear to be, are safe in pregnancy.

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