Heartburn is the burning sensation you feel in the centre of the chest. This is also called as acid indigestion and gastro esophageal reflux. This burning sensation occurs because of indigestion in the stomach. The acids present in the stomach comes back (reflux) to the esophagus, causing burning sensation and irritation. The acids sometimes even make up to the throat, causing irritation. This type of burning sensation has nothing to do with the functioning of the heart in almost all cases and is more due to the expansion of the abdomen and the resulting shift in organs during pregnancy.

Heartburn is a common complaint during pregnancy, and it involves indigestion and due to its burning sensation in the centre of the chest. Most of the women experience heartburn during their pregnancy. As per a study, up to 45 per cent of pregnant women experience heartburns. This heartburn is very common during the second and third trimesters. Even though it is harmless, heartburn during pregnancy can be extremely discomforting and cause problems. Experts say that heartburn is caused by the hormonal and physical changes in the body. This problem arises during pregnancy, and most usually are solved after the delivery.

Causes of Heartburn:

During normal digestion, food travel down the oesophagus (the tube which connects your mouth and the stomach), through a muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and into the stomach. This LES is part of the doorway between your esophagus and stomach. It opens to allow food through and closes to stop stomach acids from coming up. When you have heartburn or acid reflux, the LES relaxes enough to allow stomach acid to rise to the esophagus. This causes pain and burns in the chest area.

During pregnancy, an important hormone named progesterone, also called as pregnancy hormone is released in ample amount. This hormone nurtures the womb of the pregnant woman and the baby present inside it. Apart from this, this hormone acts as a muscle relaxant. Due to this, the LES relaxes more frequently as a result, more acids may seep back up. Due to this, the acid from the stomach enters the esophagus and causes a burning sensation in the chest area.