Reflux symptoms during pregnancy

Instead of getting worse, the incidence of heartburn and other symptoms of acid reflux can remain stable across the 3 trimesters of pregnancy. Acid reflux occurs when digestive juices from the stomach seep up into the oesophagus, leading to heartburn and other symptoms. During pregnancy, a lot of women have to battle with morning sickness and nausea. It is said that nausea and vomiting that is not severe usually stops after the first 3 or 4 months of pregnancy. But in extreme cases, it can continue for a longer time. To investigate the symptoms of acid reflux in pregnancy, researchers at San Carlos University Teaching Hospital, Madrid surveyed 263 women who were less than 12 weeks pregnant and a similar number of matched controls. The pregnant women completed telephone surveys at 12, 24 and 36 weeks of pregnancy and at one year after delivery. The controls were surveyed at entry into the study and 21 months later. The results showed that incidence of acid reflux symptoms did not differ markedly by trimester. The incidence was roughly 26 percent, 24 percent and 25 percent in the first, second and third trimesters, respectively. It was found that for women of South American origin, the risk of acid reflux symptoms in the first trimester increased by more than twofold. Weight gain during pregnancy was a risk factor for acid reflux in the third trimester. In addition, there was also an indication that pregnancy in itself might constitute a risk factor for developing acid reflux. At one year after delivery, the incidence of reflux symptoms was significantly higher in the pregnancy group than in controls Thus, heartburn and symptoms of acid reflux are unlikely to worsen as pregnancy progresses.