Causes of indigestion during pregnancy :
One of the chief culprits behind heartburn and other digestive problems is the hormone progesterone. Progesterone decreases your muscle tone and can relax the muscles of the stomach to slow the emptying time.
The stomach also gets pushed up so much during the last trimester that it sits much higher than normal and food contents can be pushed up into your esophagus. When this happens, the valve allows food particles or stomach acid to sit in your esophagus. This can cause heartburn and indigestion.

What you can do to treat Indigestion during pregnancy ?

- Drink plenty of water.
- Add fiber to your diet : The recommended amount of fiber in an adult diet is 25-35 grams per day. If you are pregnant, you might benefit from adding another 15% (or 3-5 grams) per day. Foods that are rich in fiber include whole grains, popcorn, and raw vegetables.
- Walk, Don’t Talk : Pregnant women are often advised to take a walk right after their meals. Also, they must eat five or six small meals each day, instead of three large ones; that way the amount of pressure put on the stomach to digest the food is decreased.
- Peppermint : It is available quite easily and is an excellent cure for indigestion and causes no side effects on either you or your child. So when you feel like you may get another bout of indigestion, make yourself a cup of peppermint tea.
- Avoid eating or drinking things that encourage the valve in the esophagus to relax further. These include greasy or fatty foods, chocolate, caffeine, carbonated drinks, tomato products, citrus juice, peppermint and spearmint, alcohol, onion, garlic, and spicy foods.
- Sit up straight while eating.
- Reduce your stress level by taking time out for something you enjoy, such as a warm bath, a good book, or a chat with a friend.
- Commit to not smoking or drinking alcohol.
- Raise the head of your bed by placing wooden wedges under the legs.
- Talk with your doctor about which antacids are safe during pregnancy, such as calcium carbonate (Tums).

Symptoms :
- Burning in the stomach or upper abdomen.
- Heartburn
- Abdominal pain, bloating (full feeling), belching and gas, nausea, vomiting, acidic taste, “growling” stomach, and sometimes diarrhea.

Causes :
- A disease or an ulcer in the digestive tract might cause indigestion.
- For most people, it is the result of eating too much, eating too fast, eating high-fat foods, or eating during stressful situations. Indigestion is not caused by excess stomach acid.
- Being tired or stressed, smoking, or drinking too much alcohol or caffeinated beverages can cause indigestion or make it worse.
Sometimes people have persistent indigestion that is not related to any of these factors. This type of indigestion is called functional, or non-ulcer, and is caused by a problem associated with how food moves through the digestive tract.

Treatment :
- Combine 1 tbsp. of ginger and lemon juice with 2 tbsp. of honey in 8 cups of warm water. Mix these ingredients for several minutes until they are adequately joined. Consume this mixture when you begin to feel the effects of indigestion.
- Green tea and herbal tea are very effective in improving digestion.
- Eat 10 to 20 grapes whenever you experience any type of digestion issue. Grapes are very good at relieving indigestion, as well as an upset stomach.
- Add 1 tbsp. of cinnamon to 8 oz.. of cold water, then mix thoroughly. Drink this mixture 1 hour after you have eaten to prevent or relieve indigestion, as well as flatulence.
- Drink 4 oz. of pineapple juice after each meal to prevent any type of digestion problem, including belching, flatulence or bloating. If you experiencing these problems, consume the drink each day, after every meal, until your indigestion has subsided.
- Avoid eating junk food during indigestion. Foods like fizzy
drinks, caffeinated drinks, garlic, alcohol, acid fruits, chocolate, and
tomatoes/tomato products can give you heartburn and indigestion.
- Start taking diet rich in green leafy vegetables.
- Eat small meals so the stomach does not have to work as hard or as long.
- Eat slowly.
- Caffeine causes the stomach to produce more acid, so reduce or avoid foods and beverages that contain caffeine.
- If stress is a trigger for your indigestion, reevaluating your lifestyle may help to reduce stress. Learn new methods for managing stress, such as relaxation and biofeedback techniques.
- Smokers should consider quitting smoking, or at least not smoking right before eating, as smoking can irritate the stomach lining.
- Avoid wearing tight-fitting garments because they tend to compress the stomach, which can cause its contents to enter the esophagus.
- Do not exercise with a full stomach. Rather, exercise before a meal or at least one hour after eating a meal.
- Do not lie down right after eating.