What causes heartburn in pregnancy?
One of the reasons women experience heartburn in pregnancy is that the stomach is displaced and compressed by your growing uterus and baby. There is less room in your stomach. Therefore there is a return of stomach contents into the esophagus. Another reason for heartburn during pregnancy is the effects of progesterone on the gastrointestinal system. Progesterone has a relaxing effect on the body. This helps to keep the uterus from contracting. This relaxing effect also relaxes the esophageal sphincter leading to increased reflux of stomach acids into the esophagus.
