Definition
Stomach acidity in pregnancy is a very common and quite frequent disorder, attributable to the typical gestational changes that occur both anatomically and hormonally.
Generally, stomach acid in pregnancy is a disorder that can be easily prevented and treated. Despite this, you should not underestimate him and contact your doctor, avoiding any form of self-diagnosis and / or self-treatment.
Causes
During the first months of gestation stomach acid appears to be mainly due to the increase in progesterone levels, which are able to slow down the digestive processes (thus slowing the speed of gastric emptying) and reduce the sphincter tone placed between the stomach and esophagus, thus favoring the reflux of the acid contained in the same stomach.
From the fourth month of gestation onwards, however, stomach acid seems to be mainly due to the increase in the size of the fetus and the pressure exerted on the stomach walls.
Symptoms
The symptom that characterizes stomach acid in pregnancy is the annoying burning sensation, which can be felt both at the gastric level and at the esophageal level (due to the acid reflux that is created).
Information on Stomach Acid Medications for the Care of Pregnancy is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Stomach Acid Medications for Pregnancy.
drugs
In truth, when possible, we try to limit as much as possible the use of drugs for the treatment of stomach acid in pregnancy, so as to avoid unnecessarily exposing the fetus and the mother to any kind of potential risk.
In fact, before resorting to pharmacological treatment, we try to solve the problem of stomach acid in pregnancy by making small changes to the mother's lifestyle, such as:
- avoid eating too large meals
- avoid fatty foods and coffee
- avoid going to bed immediately after meals
- avoid wearing clothes that are too tight
- avoid making movements that can increase abdominal pressure.
However, if these precautions are not sufficient to resolve stomach acid, the doctor may decide to intervene by prescribing to the pregnant woman the administration of specific drugs that do not cause damage of any kind to either the fetus or the mother.
Generally, the doctor decides to resort to the administration of antacid drugs that work by temporarily neutralizing the excessively acidic environment that has been created in the stomach.
Proton pump inhibitors, on the other hand, are rarely used during pregnancy, as there are not enough data about their safety during gestation. For this reason, the doctor prescribes these medicines only in cases of actual need and only after a careful evaluation of the relationship between the potential benefits expected for the mother and the potential risks the fetus can face.
Antacids
Antacid drugs are the main medicines used to treat stomach acid and can also be used in pregnancy. However, although these are self-medication medicines and no medical prescription is required, their use during pregnancy must be carried out only and exclusively on the advice of the doctor and only under the close supervision of the same.
Among the antacids most used against stomach acid in pregnancy, we recall:
- Calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate (Citrosodina Antiacido®): these salts are widely used to counteract stomach acid and can also be used in pregnant women, as long as their use is under strict medical supervision.
Calcium and magnesium carbonates are found in medicinal preparations in the form of orosoluble tablets. Generally, we recommend taking one or two tablets (each containing 680 mg of calcium carbonate and 80 mg of magnesium carbonate) per day, after main meals, or as needed.
- Aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide (Maalox®): these compounds are also widely used in the treatment of stomach acid and, even in this case, their use is possible during pregnancy, but only if the doctor considers it absolutely necessary .
Aluminum and magnesium hydroxides are available in different pharmaceutical formulations, including chewable tablets and oral suspension.
When used as chewable tablets, we recommend taking one or two tablets (containing 400 mg of each active ingredient) three to four times a day, after meals and before bedtime.
