Heartburn & Weight Gain
Hormone changes during pregnancy would relax the valve between the esophagus and stomach. This causes heartburn when acid may leak from the stomach. To prevent this problem, you should eat several smaller meals during the day rather than bigger ones. After eating, try to sit upright for 30 to 60 minutes so that food would be digested more easily. If you need to take antacids to treat heartburn, make sure to consult your healthcare provider to make sure both you and your baby can be safe. [5]
Weight gain is more common at the end of the first trimester. In the first few months, pregnant women would gain around 0.5 to 2 kilograms. Though the calorie requirements do not change much for early pregnancy, they tend to increase in later stages. When pregnancy progresses, weight usually spreads between the uterus, breasts, amniotic fluid, placenta, fat, and increased fluid and blood volume. [6]
