Tips to Avoid Ulcers During Pregnancy

Entering the period of pregnancy, some women complain of stomach pain accompanied by the effects of bloating and a disconcerting burning throat feeling. This is an ulcer complaint, which is sometimes experienced by pregnant women.

Be careful in dealing with complaints like this during pregnancy; some therapies commonly used trigger toxins on the fetus. So it is necessary to understand first why pregnant women can experience ulcers and how to deal with it, which is safe for the fetus and the mother.

Photo by Anastasiia Chepinska on Unsplash

Why Do Pregnant Women Have Ulcer Problems?

Ulcers experienced by pregnant women are not a complaint of gastritis, as many are worried about. Generally, there is no inflammation or injury to the stomach that needs attention.

It's just that during pregnancy, stomach acid rises very easily, accompanied by a pressure effect on the esophagus area that triggers stomach acid to rise easily. Bloating and stinging are caused by friction against the stomach wall with acidic substances that trigger irritation and increase gas levels indigestion due to the effect of an increase in the amount of acid.

The causes of this condition are relatively diverse. Some experts see the effect of increasing hormone progesterone levels in pregnant women, which triggers a relaxing effect on the muscles, including the muscles in the esophagus and diaphragm area.

This relaxing effect makes stomach acid easily rise into the throat and triggers acid reflux or GERD, often characterized by burning sensations in the stomach, chest, and throat area.

The effect of hormonal changes in pregnant women's body triggers the appearance of enzyme reactions indigestion. Reactions that are also the cause of frequent nausea in pregnant women, lack of appetite, or become very tasty.

And some women, especially those who already have ulcer complaints before pregnancy, will also experience an increase in stomach acid production. This triggers the formation of gas in the stomach, which causes pregnant women to feel bloated easily.

Coupled with the enlargement of the stomach and uterus, which will press the digestive area, the heavier the digestive burden, which allows an increase in acid production and an increase in acidic substances from the stomach to the esophagus and throat.

Tips to Avoid Ulcer when Pregnant

Apart from taking antacid drugs, you can try to run the following tips. Here are tips that can help you control pain and reduce the recurrence of ulcers during pregnancy.

Eat less and more often.

If you are accustomed to eating three meals a day, you can increase your eating frequency with smaller portions. This method can help you feel more comfortable without the effects of stomach upset, sour, and sore.

Hormonal effects result in altered enzyme structures and pressure problems from the uterus and reduce your stomach's capacity to take in food. Eating in regular portions and at the usual time may no longer be comfortable for your stomach.

You can try changing your diet at least 5-8 times a day with smaller portions. Changing your diet is more effective at preventing ulcers from recurring than taking antacids.

Choose the soup menu and eat slowly.

 Soup foods tend not to be difficult for the stomach to digest because the water in the food makes it easier for soft fast foods. If you eat food without soup, add a glass of water on your side and help defrost the food with a sip of water for every three bites.

Chew food slowly until smooth to facilitate digestion. For you to understand, the finer the food you digest, the lighter the stomach load, and the easier it is for the stomach to process it. The less acid that needs to be produced.

Avoid eating before bed.

Make sure you allow at least 3 hours between meals and bedtime. This gives the food time to digest properly, and you don't go to sleep on a full stomach.

Going to bed on a full stomach will make you feel uncomfortable. Because during sleep, your digestion also decreases its intensity and makes food settle in the stomach. Until the next morning, your stomach will produce extra acid to digest the leftovers.

As a result, your stomach will feel very bloated, bloated, hot even to the throat, and maybe you will experience the significant effects of nausea when you wake up.

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