Heartburn is one of the symptoms that pregnant women experience the most. From different estimations, between 60% and 90% of pregnancies will include symptoms of heartburn at one moment or another. Heartburn and the associated condition can show themselves in different ways, such as indigestion, a sensation of pain and burning just below the breastbone and a sour after-taste in the throat.

When the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) ceases to work properly, acids and gastric contents can get back into the esophagus. Infrequent heartburn may not be of great concern, but increased frequency can indicate a deeper, chronic condition called acid reflux or gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is the unwanted transmission of bile, digestive enzymes and acids that then generates heartburn. These substances transfuse back from the stomach to attack lining cells inside the esophagus. The LES should normally act as a valve to keep the gastric contents in the stomach, without them escaping backwards in a healthy body.

Many causes contribute to acid reflux. They include:

1. Intake of acid forming foods such as eggs, liver and wine will contribute to the problem. Foods that provoke Candida overgrowth, which cause allergies or which are simply hard to digest are also problematical. Examples are meat and dairy products.

2. Poor sleep habits can negatively impact your immune functions. In this case, many related complications can arrive, including overgrowth of Candida, a digestive system that slows and becomes feeble and a build-up of toxins. These are all elements leading to acid reflux.

3. Excess body weight also puts pressure on the LES, forcing through more stomach juices and acids into the esophagus.

As an additional complication for pregnant women, the enlarging uterus can also pressure the abdomen and thus directly transmit pressure to the LES and force yet more gastric contents into the esophagus. During pregnancy, this is then coupled with other difficulties such as constipation, indigestion and bloating. In all, pregnancy may be yet another factor leading to GERD. Pregnancy hormones have a relaxing effect on a number of muscle tissues that include the LES. Acid reflux is intensified by a digestive process that slows and becomes sluggish

Pregnancy at the same time as GERD makes it difficult to treat the problem, as many drugs are potentially dangerous for women who are pregnant. The drugs that are permitted for pregnant women may have further undesirable side effects and are therefore not recommended in any case.

The natural approach avoids these issues and puts in place a solution to halt heartburn both now and in the future in a safe and effective manner. Did anyone tell you that pregnant women can get alleviation today from heartburn and cure a basic cause of acid reflux by selecting a holistic solution to repair the internal imbalance that was responsible all the time for GERD symptoms?

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Jeff Martin is a certified nutritionist and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, Heartburn No More . For Further Information: Acceptable Heartburn Medication in Pregnancy