First Trimester Heartburn ? What to Do

First trimester heartburn can be pretty intense and pretty frequent.  You may want to take a hard look at your diet and cut out certain things.  Here are some of the things that can cause heartburn:

Alcohol
Caffeine
Carbonated beverages
Chocolate
Citrus fruits and drinks
Coffee (regular or decaf)
Fried and fatty foods
Tomatoes and tomato products

You should try to eliminate or cut as many of these things out of your diet as possible.

First Trimester Heartburn – Sleep Timing and Position

Try to never lie down right after a meal.  You should try to wait at least two hours before lying down or you may experience heartburn.  Your stomach acid is in maximum production level during the first hours after you eat a meal so do not promote heartburn by lying down at this time.

When you do lie down try to keep your upper body elevated, this will enable gravity to help keep your stomach acid where it belongs.

First Trimester Heartburn – Antacids

There are many over-the-counter antacids available.  It is typically a good idea for you to test different antacids (assuming your physician is comfortable with you using them).  You will start to see that different antacids work differently for you.

Some antacids will have little effect on your first trimester heartburn. Some antacids will work but take too long.  Some may work quickly but not last long.  If you pay careful attention to how they work you will be able to come up with an antacid system that works for your body.

First Trimester Heartburn – Prescriptions

If your first trimester heartburn is bad enough or often enough that it is causing you major discomfort your doctor may prescribe an antacid for you.  Some doctors may be reluctant to do so but in the end you are not expected to be in major discomfort for months.  First trimester heartburn may be common but the severity of it will differ from person to person.

You will also want to monitor how your body reacts to the prescription.  See how long it takes to work and how long it works.  Make sure you understand if it is something you are supposed to take before the heartburn kicks in or after.  Ask your doctor any questions you may have.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that you will have to find the right cure for your particular case of first trimester heartburn. Every woman has a different pregnancy and has different things that work for them.  Find what works for you and you can put an end to your first trimester pregnancy.

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