Pregnancy and Acid Reflux

Many assume that the acidity is just another of the many symptoms of pregnancy, but in fact there is a scientific reason for the increase of acid reflux. The placenta produces progesterone, which relaxes the muscles of the uterus. This hormone acts as a muscle relaxant to other parts of the body, including the valve between the stomach and esophagus. Since it is more relaxed than usual, allowing stomach acid to back up into the esophagus causing a burning sensation.

Here are some tips that can help keep your acid reflux under control:

• Avoid caffeine, spicy foods, tomatoes, citrus, chocolate, fried and fatty foods, as it will increase heartburn.

• Eat several small meals throughout the day instead of a few large meals.

• Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly before swallowing.

• Drink water between meals rather than during.

• Chew gum after every meal. The saliva produced by chewing helps to neutralize the acid.

• Sleep with your upper body slightly raised to keep the stomach acids, making it harder to go back up.

• Wear loose clothing, especially around your waist and stomach.

• Try to gain weight between the recommended 25 to 30 pounds. Too much or too little can have an effect on heartburn.

• Ask your doctor for a good antacid. You may want to start with something like Tums and then move on to something more serious if that fails, as Prevacid. (You can buy generic Prevacid online at discounted rates).

• Do not smoke. It is always good advice, especially for a pregnant woman!

• Eat at least three hours before bedtime. If you eat too close to bedtime, your body will be forced to try to digestion while lying down, which can cause heartburn.

 

Why You Need These Essential Nutrients During Pregnancy

The nutrition of women during pregnancy is important because it prepares your body for changes that it is experiencing and because the developing baby depends on it to develop properly. Therefore it is essential during pregnancy consume some essential nutrients that will allow them to both stay healthy. Iron, calcium and folic acid are some of the key nutrients to your health and development of the baby.

This article will focus on these basic components of the diet for pregnant women, their importance and function, and the main sources of the same.

Iron is essential during pregnancy because it prevents anemia, carries oxygen to all tissues of the body of the mother and baby, is vital for energy production in muscles and is involved in DNA synthesis. It is so important that doctors almost always recommend an iron supplement to be sure you consume adequate amounts. However, a supplement does not replace a good diet, so be sure to consume good sources of iron such as lean meats (with little or no fat), poultry, fish, beans, spinach, and fortified cereals. Iron needs vitamin C for proper absorption, while calcium is involved with it.

But calcium is the next essential nutrient! No problem, just try to eat it two hours apart from iron sources. But do not get frustrated if you feel it is very difficult to do, most importantly, these essential nutrients you consume during your pregnancy.

Calcium is essential for the formation and development of bones and teeth, contraction of muscles and blood clotting and other vital functions. If the baby does not get enough of your diet will begin to use your reserves and that can affect you, so it is important to see the dentist. Calcium needs vitamin D and magnesium to be absorbed properly, and its main sources are dairy products in general, green leafy vegetables and soybeans.

Our fourth essential nutrient is folic acid or vitamin B9. It is considered by some as the most important vitamin during pregnancy, so much so it is recommended that all women of reproductive age eat a proper amount of folic acid to ensure that start with pregnancy has good stocks of the same. It is essential to ensure proper formation of the brain and the system of baby's nervous, but also is essential for DNA synthesis, cell division and development of red blood cells. It can be found mainly in the liver, cereals, spinach, broccoli, orange and Apple, among others.

In this article we have focused on iron, calcium and folic acid as essential nutrients during pregnancy. But they are not the only ones you need because they depend on other nutrients to ensure their absorption into the body. All vitamins and minerals are essential for the proper assimilation of proteins, carbohydrates and fats because they produce the vital chemical functions for it. Most healthy foods are more sources of an essential nutrient during pregnancy, so eating for two means above all to pay attention to food quality rather than quantity.

Be sure to gain weight appropriately, neither more nor less than what you need. Above all, enjoy your pregnancy and give yourself a treat once in a while, do not go overboard either end and visit your doctor filled questions!