Acidity during Last Trimester of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a beautiful journey for a would-be mother. Each trimester brings lots of emotional and physical change in pregnant women. You may be happily waiting for your baby to arrive in your arms. But welcoming baby, you need to bear with lots of unwanted things. One of them is acidity during pregnancy. In this articleWhat is Acidity?Causes of Acidity during Last Trimester of PregnancyGrowing Abdomen during PregnancyHormonal ChangesRelaxation of MusclesAcidity Preventions during Third Trimester of PregnancySmall Frequent MealsChoosing Proper FoodStay ActiveFree ClothesWhat is Acidity?Acidity or Heartburn is a reflux of acid thrown upward from stomach towards throat or chest. If the food consumed by you contains more stomach acid, this reflux happens. The acidic throw towards chest or throat is painful and gives a burning sensation. Usually pain or burning sensation is felt in ribs or chest bone. If acidic reflux is much higher, you can also feel sour liquid coming to your throat. The reflux is sometimes so high to make you feel puking.There is a valve at the bottom of the throat or oesophagus in our body. This valve keeps the acid in stomach settled downwards. When this valve stops working or relaxes, the stomach acid is thrown upwards. This causes acidity or heart burn.Causes of Acidity during Last Trimester of PregnancyAcidity is one of the most common things experienced during pregnancy. Usually, acidity is more often felt in last trimester of pregnancy. But some mothers may experience it throughout their pregnancy term making it difficult to eat desired food most of the time. Various reasons of acidity during last trimester of Pregnancy are explained below.Growing Abdomen during PregnancyThe most common reason of experiencing heart burn or acidity during last trimester of pregnancy is your growing belly. You baby needs more room in your abdomen making it big enough. Your stomach and digestive tracts shrink upwards to adjust your body. This would make easy for acids to flow or stay upwards causing acidity during last trimester of your pregnancy.Hormonal ChangesWith your changing body type, your internal hormones are too changing in each trimester of pregnancy. These hormones are responsible for the treatment of food you eat during pregnancy. This changing metabolism because of pregnancy hormones can cause acidity for food types which rather suited you most before pregnancy.Relaxation of MusclesAlso the hormones of pregnancy are responsible to relax the muscles between stomach and throat or gullet. As said, the function of this valve is to stop the acidic reflux to come upward from stomach. Due to changing hormones during pregnancy, this valve relaxes, and so the acidic reflux happens most in third trimester of pregnancy.Acidity Preventions during Third Trimester of PregnancyAs we know prevention is always better than treatments. It just takes little efforts to avoid heart burn during pregnancy as explained below.Small Frequent MealsEating frequent small quantity meals rather than eating all at one time is the easiest way to avoid or prevent acidity during third trimester of pregnancy. It would help your food digest easily without causing any reflux. Chew properly whatever you eat and try not to gulp food. Also it is important to not eat in a hurry.Choosing Proper FoodWhile it is difficult to control your taste buds during pregnancy term, it is also important to keep an eye on what you are eating. Try to avoid eating fried or spicy food. Rather opt for fresh fruits and properly cooked vegetables to satisfy your hunger. Consume more fluids throughout day. Milk fights acidity or heart burn instantly.Stay ActiveSleeping or lying down instantly post food intake is not suggested for pregnant ladies. Rather involve yourself in small activities or walk to help digest your food easily and thus preventing heartburn or acidity.Free ClothesRelax yourself by wearing free fitted clothes. Body hugging clothes can give pressure on your abdomen and can lead to acidity during third trimester of pregnancy. Sleep in an elevated position from head as it would stop acid reflux. If you want prop more pillows under your head and shoulder to make you comfortable and prevent acidity during third trimester of pregnancy.Although, acidity during pregnancy is common, you must inform your obstetrician about it if it is causing a lot of discomfort. After examining you, he or she may recommend right measures to deal with it. Please do not take anything without your obstetrician’s prescription for dealing with acidity. Stay safe and have a healthy pregnancy!