10 Reasons to Avoid Antacids During Pregnancy

Nausea, heartbu and vomiting are all common complaints during pregnancy. The entire digestive system is thrown for a loop by the changes in hormone levels, food intake and blood flow that the body experiences when pregnant. However, antacids aren’t always the best answer. Here are ten reasons why antacids should be completely avoided during pregnancy. Reasons 1 and 2: Water Retention and Swelling Antacids that contain baking soda or sodium carbonate often result in the retention of water and swelling of extremities such as the feet, ankles and hands. Water retention can add excess bulk to an already growing body and make the mother-to-be feel even more uncomfortable. Swelling is already a common pregnancy conce – especially in the later months. This swelling can make pregnancy uncomfortable and at times, even quite painful. Reason 3: Contributes to Kidney Stones Even though some antacids are advertised as a great way to get more calcium, the calcium in them is not properly absorbed. This is because the stomach acids that are necessary to absorb the calcium are neutralized by the calcium carbonate antacids. The unabsorbed calcium is then swept away with the stomach contents and can contribute to kidney stones. Reason 4: Risk of Harm to the Fetus Calcium carbonate is a Class C drug during pregnancy. This means that calcium carbonate has been shown to have an adverse effect on developing fetuses in animals. Class C medications have not been sufficiently tested on humans while pregnant. Animal studies may or may not lead to the same results in humans. Class C medications such as antacids should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk and should only be used on the advice of a physician. Furthermore, calcium carbonate is secreted into breast milk. This means that even after the baby has been born, antacid use should still be curbed. Reasons 5 and 6: Unabsorbed Nutrients and Food Sensitivities or Intolerances Stomach acid is needed to properly digest food. When antacids are used, food isn’t properly broken down and is pushed out of the stomach. The body is then unable to absorb the nutrients that both the mother and developing fetus rely on for proper development. A pregnant woman needs an increased nutrient intake, not a decreased amount of nutrients absorbed. These undigested food particles can also cause the immune system to go on the attack against that particular type of food. This can lead to food sensitivities or intolerances during a time when a varied diet is extremely important and digestive conce s are already an issue. Often, this leads to a vicious cycle of more and more digestive issues. Reason 7: Acid Rebound The term “acid rebound” refers to the body over-producing stomach acids to compensate for the use of antacids. Simply taking an antacid does not address the issue that originally started the problem. Instead, it can make the problem worse by the body trying to make enough stomach acid to have the acid required to digest food. This increased stomach acid will lead to more heartbu and feelings of indigestion, causing yet another vicious circle of digestive problems. Reason 8: Iron Absorption Iron is a crucial need for a pregnant woman’s body and the developing baby inside. Calcium interferes with the body’s absorption of iron. Foods or supplements containing iron should be consumed at a completely separate time from those containing calcium. Antacids often contain calcium. When a pregnant woman resorts to using antacids several times throughout the day, iron deficiency can be the result. Symptoms of iron deficiency in pregnancy include fatigue, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, headaches and pica (desire to eat non-food substances, such as clay). Reason 9: Overly Alkaline Consistent use of antacids can cause the body’s tissues to become overly alkaline. This alkaline environment is perfect for the development of kidney stones. Kidney stones are already likely to form because of the excess of calcium in the digestive system from the antacids. The alkaline status makes this problem even more probable. Kidney stones are calcifications within the kidneys that can cause permanent kidney damage if they aren’t removed. Reason 10: Unpleasant Side Effects Beyond all the reasons stated above, ingredients in the antacids can lead to some very unpleasant side effects during pregnancy. Some of these side effects include constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, thirst and stomach cramps. Unfortunately, many of these side effects are the exact reasons why the antacid was consumed in the first place, making it unclear whether the benefit of the medication would outweigh any potential risk. Natural Relief Methods Just because the use of antacids during pregnancy may not be advisable does not mean that women need to suffer through the nine months – there are some natural relief methods for heartbu and indigestion. Some foods that have been shown to offer relief include almonds, herbal teas, ginger, vinegar, papaya enzymes and chewing gums. The best way to treat indigestion though is through prevention. Eat small amounts of food several times through the day, making sure to chew each bite thoroughly. Never rush through meals and make sure to take a rest afterwards to allow the food to be processed thoroughly. Indigestion and heartbu are common pregnancy complaints. However, there are many reasons why pregnant women should avoid antacids. Try natural products for relief and prevent digestion issues altogether by changing your eating habits.