Inflammation and Heartburn During Pregnancy

Heartburn during pregnancy.

This past weekend, I saw a 29 week pregnant momma, who, rather than experiencing morning sickness, experienced heartburn 10 weeks into her pregnancy, and a painful inflammation in the ribs at 5 months.  I could see that the chest pain was very uncomfortable for her and it really bothered her.  Not only that, but it was affecting a previous mid-back spinal injury that happened years back, but was now flaring up again, as a result.

As I touched her body, I could feel two things:

1. An overall lack of muscle tone, and 
2. Muscle tightness and rigidity.

Neither of these muscular symptoms are feel-good factors for a regular woman, much less, a woman that's pregnant.  If you're lacking muscle tone, the muscles aren't strong enough to hold joints in place, and consequently, your posture suffers.  If you're tense and tight, then it's easy to feel pain from inflexibility, and lose range of movement.  Moreover, for the pregnant, expanding body, this tightness is like a strait-jacket on the body, constricting blood flow, limiting essential nutrients to the fetus, and causing things like heartburn.  Yes, your body has the ability to confine you if you don't listen and see to its needs!

Stretch to avoid strait-jacketing yourself!

During her Pregnancy Thai Yoga Massage, I paid close attention to her upper back, shoulders, and chest.  And gave her deep, rib-opening stretches to allow greater breathing room, and space in between her intercostals.  The treatment wasn't easy for her to stomach (haha, couldnt' resist the pun), but afterwards, she sat upright, and felt much better.  She was en route to her baby shower, so I gave her a very effective side-opening stretch that she can do every day to keep her ribs and lungs open.  I also prescribed a daily routine of swimming and/or pre-natal yoga, until the inflammation and heartburn went away, so that she is not reliant on heartburn medicine that directly affects her growing baby.