Pregnancy comes with a whole host of new experiences. Most are great but some can be a little unpleasant. One of the latter is acid reflux, or heartburn as it's more commonly known, and it's something many women will experience during pregnancy even if they have never suffered it before.

In fact, by the third trimester nearly three quarters of all pregnant women will suffer from heartburn, so if you're one of them, you're not alone!

What is heartburn?
Heartburn is commonly associated with an intense burning sensation in the oesophagus (the muscular 'pipe' which connects your mouth and throat to your stomach). At the end of the oesophagus is a sphincter valve which is normally closed, sealing acids and undigested food inside your stomach. When you eat, food travels down the oesophagus and through this valve into your stomach. It's normally a one way process, but occasionally acid and food pass back up into the oesophagus and can even reach your mouth. This is acid reflux, or heartburn.

Why is heartburn such a problem during pregnancy?
There are two main reasons why heartburn is common at this time. Firstly, your body is experiencing a surge in the hormone progesterone. This hormone is a muscle relaxant, there to help your body prepare for childbirth. Unfortunately, it relaxes all the muscles in your body to some degree, including the sphincter valve at the entrance to your stomach. As this valve becomes more relaxed, food and acid find it much easier to escape back up into your oesophagus where they cause heartburn.

The second reason becomes more prevalent as your baby grows. It's a simple space issue. Your baby's increasing need for room to grow pushes everything else out of the way and puts pressure on your digestive tract. Understandably, it becomes easier for acid to escape your stomach when under pressure.

What can I do to reduce the incidence of heartburn?
There are some simple steps you can take to help alleviate pregnancy heartburn:

• Avoid trigger foods - some women will experience pregnancy heartburn no matter what they eat, but some foods are known to trigger an episode or make your symptoms worse. As a general rule, avoid fatty foods, chocolate, coffee and cola drinks. Alcohol and cigarettes should be avoided during pregnancy regardless, but they are also associated with acid reflux.
• Eat in moderation - as large meals will put additional pressure on your stomach's sphincter valve. You may also experiment with an elimination diet. An elimination diet is a trial and error process - remove one potential trigger food from your diet at a time and see if this helps reduce the incidence and severity of your heartburn. With persistence you may be able to identify which foods are the most problematic for you and eliminate them from your diet permanently.
• Let gravity help - it can be hard enough getting comfortable with a growing baby inside, but try sitting and sleeping in a more upright position. Gravity will help your stomach acid and food stay where they belong. Try using an extra couple of pillows on your bed at night - it may only take a small elevation to put a stop to nighttime heartburn.
• Watch your weight - keeping weight within recommended limits will further help reduce pressure on your digestive system. Speak to your health care provider if you're concerned about your weight.

Is there anything I can safely take?
During pregnancy you will naturally be wary about taking medicines. However, 'alginates' for the treatment of heartburn are suitable for use at this time. Alginates are taken orally, usually in liquid or tablet form, and work to form a thick layer on top of your stomach contents. This layer helps to prevent acid and food from rising back into the oesophagus. They are digested naturally and don't enter the bloodstream. Alginate products are available without prescription from your chemist or supermarket. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider if an alginate product is right for you.

I'm still concerned about pregnancy heartburn. What should I do?
Most cases of heartburn are simply an inconvenience that can be alleviated and relieved, and will eventually diminish after your baby is born. But if you are experiencing severe heartburn symptoms regularly you should speak to your doctor or healthcare provider for further advice.