When pregnant women have excessive stomach acid, it can easily make people nervous. Many people believe that they cannot take medication during pregnancy, so they don't know what to do. In fact, as long as pregnant women with excessive stomach acid pay more attention to a reasonable diet, sleeping position, avoid smoking, and do not take medication indiscriminately, it will be fine.
1. Reasonable diet
Do not overeat to avoid increasing the pressure in the stomach and raising the diaphragm. Eat small meals frequently, slow down the eating speed, and chew thoroughly.
Especially for dinner, avoid overeating and eating too late. It is best to eat within 2-3 hours before bedtime, so you have enough time to digest the food.
Avoid foods and beverages that may cause gastrointestinal discomfort. This usually includes carbonated drinks, alcohol (you cannot drink alcohol during pregnancy no matter what), caffeine, chocolate, acidic foods (including citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, mustard, vinegar, etc.), processed meats, mint foods, spicy, heavy-flavored, fried, or high-fat foods.
Chew a piece of gum after eating. Chewing gum can stimulate saliva secretion and help neutralize stomach acid.
2. Sleeping position
Use multiple pillows or wedge-shaped cushions to elevate the upper body and raise the head of the bed 15-20 centimeters, elevating the upper body by 10-15 degrees. This can effectively reduce esophageal reflux. However, it is not advisable to rely on high pillows to elevate the entire upper body because elevated pillows cannot elevate the entire upper body. On the contrary, it can cause bending between the esophagus and stomach, affecting the smooth flow of food into the stomach and aggravating heartburn.
3. Loose clothing
Wear loose clothing to reduce esophageal reflux, and avoid tight clothes that squeeze the waist and abdomen.
Maintain regular bowel movements and actively prevent and treat respiratory tract infections to avoid increasing intra-abdominal pressure.
4. Do not smoke
Do not smoke. Smoking not only causes many serious health problems but also increases stomach acid secretion. To achieve the desired effect, women who have a smoking habit should quit smoking before pregnancy. However, if you still smoke during pregnancy and find it difficult to quit, please consult a doctor to see if she can help you find a suitable method to quit smoking.
5. Taking medication
Non-prescription antacids containing magnesium or calcium may help relieve discomfort in the stomach, but be sure to consult a doctor before taking them because some brands of antacids contain aluminum, aspirin, or a large amount of sodium. You can take alkaline medications under the guidance of a physician, such as aluminum hydroxide gel, Le De Wei, or drugs that protect the gastric mucosa, such as sucralfate, Dile suspension, etc., which can help relieve heartburn.
