One of the more common symptoms of during pregnancy is acid reflux and pregnancy. This occurs due to a number of reasons, some of which can be controlled during the pregnancy.

Hormones play a large role in acid reflux and pregnancy. The female hormones increase in the woman's body during the pregnant state. The hormonal increase causes the lower esophageal sphincter or LES in the lower esophagus to open up slightly and to soften like the other ligaments more related to pregnancy. When the LES is softened, the end result is acid reflux during pregnancy. Gastric acid and food will reflux back into the esophagus causing acid reflux. Pregnancy can be a constant state of acid reflux, yielding chronic heart burn and the unyielding tendency of acid to occur in the esophagus, where it doesn't belong.

Another bodily change that affects acid reflux during pregnancy is the change in the intra-abdominal pressure caused by the growing baby putting pressure on the intra-abdominal contents. This means that the contents of the abdomen are forced up into the gastroesophageal sphincter, yielding acid reflux in the esophagus and throat.

The good news is that there are several methods a pregnant woman can consider to reduce the discomfort brought on by heartburn. The following are good ideas to reduce heartburn during pregnancy, although none may remove the reflux completely:

• Stay away from the various foods that you know bring on acid reflux. Some of these choices include tea, chocolate, tomato products, spicy foods, citrus products, mustard, fatty or fried foods. Ask your doctor about those exact foods that trigger reflux and keep that list with you when you eat. There are low-potential foods to consider having on hand as well.

• Try to avoid caffeinated beverages like tea, soda pop and coffee. A lot of caffeinated beverages lower the pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter and allow acid products to get into the esophagus.

• Alcoholic beverages also lower the lower esophageal sphincter pressure and can also trigger acid reflux symptoms.

• Very big meals are to be avoided. You'll do better having several small meals per day to avoid excess pressure on the stomach and on the LES.

• Don't hurry your meals. Chew your food carefully and allow the saliva to break up the food and partially digest it. This will also reduce the incidence of acid reflux.

• Remain upright and resting for at least three hours after going to bed. This will reduce the incidence of nocturnal heartburn.

• In pregnancy, plenty of water is recommended-up to 8-10 meals per day but not during a big meal. Too much water during a meal will put excess pressure on the LES. You don't want the stomach to expand much in situations of heartburn or it will make reflux worse.

• Try to raise the level of your head at least six or eight inches when sleeping. This keeps gravity on your side to keep acid out of your stomach. One way to do this is to purchase a wedge pillow or raise the entire head of your bed when you're sleeping. This will serve to keep acid out of your esophagus at night.

• Where loose clothing, especially in pregnancy. Too much tightness of the abdominal cavity will put pressure on the LES and on the stomach.

• Bend at your knees and not at your waistline. This avoids excess pressure buildup in the stomach and LES.

• Sit as upright as possible.

• During pregnancy, watch your weight gain. Acid reflux and pregnancy are directly related to weight gain. If you can keep your weight to reasonable levels, your reflux symptoms will be reduced.

• Don't smoke during pregnancy. Doctors don't approve of smoking in pregnancy anyway and this can add to the chances of having acid reflux during the pregnancy.