Shilpa Francis

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January 03

Heartburn during Pregnancy

Heartburn is a common complaint during pregnancy which involves a burning sensation in the center of the chest. Heartburn occurs when the valve between the stomach and the oesophagus are unable to prevent stomach acid from passing back into the oesophagus.  During pregnancy, the hormone Progesterone causes the valve to relax, which can increase the frequency of heartburn and allows stomach acid to pass into the oesophagus and irritate the lining. It's more common in the 3 rd trimester as the pressure on the stomach may also push the contents back into the food pipe.