Indigestion during Pregnancy

Progesterone, the hormone of pregnancy, relaxes the smooth muscle of the uterus, allowing your pregnancy to grow. At the same time, other smooth muscle is relaxed. One of the unpleasant, side effects is the relaxation of the opening between your stomach and your esophagus (the tube between your mouth and stomach). Combine this with slowly increasing pressure on your stomach from your growing uterus and you have the potential for raging indigestion. Contrary to common belief, what you eat has only a small effect, although eating a large meal may make your symptoms worse. The main factors that worsen indigestion are the acidity of your stomach contents and your position (for example, lying down or standing).

Antacids are good for reducing the acid content of your stomach. Most over-the-counter antacids are safe to take during pregnancy and products that contain calcium are especially good. However, many women need stronger antacids or histamine receptor antagonists (H, blockers), which you can buy from drug stores or by prescription. You can also help ease indigestion by not lying down or bending over immediately after a meal.