While heartburn can be uncomfortable, it usually isn’t harmful. Acid reflux occurs when pregnancy hormones relax the muscle that connects your mouth and stomach (esophagus), allowing food and acid to recirculate back up into it and create discomfort.
To reduce stomach burn, aim to eat smaller meals more frequently and consume fluids between meals instead of with them. Sleep on your left side to help avoid lying down after consuming foods directly afterward.
Avoiding Trigger Foods
Heartburn is one of the more prevalent symptoms associated with pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters, due to uterine pressure pressing upon your stomach and pushing acid upwards into your throat. While occasional heartburn is harmless, frequent or severe instances could be more serious – potentially leading to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or preterm labor complications. To reduce its frequency or severity, try eating smaller meals more frequently while avoiding foods which trigger it.
Foods to avoid include fried or fatty foods, spicy dishes, chocolate, caffeine, mint leaves, citrus fruits and carbonated beverages. Instead, opt for more frequent but smaller meals with nutritious foods that won’t lead to heartburn – such as whole grains, root vegetables and green veggies.
If avoiding certain foods isn’t helping, talk with your doctor about safe over-the-counter medicines to manage any discomfort you’re feeling. Antacids may provide temporary relief; however they won’t address what’s causing it in the long run. If chronic heartburn arises during your pregnancy it may be wise to explore longer-term solutions instead.
Avoiding Overeating
Though it can be tempting to indulge in binge eating in order to alleviate pregnancy heartburn, overeating can actually aggravate it. An overly-stuffed stomach puts pressure on your esophagus and pushes it upward, leading to heartburn symptoms. To lower your risk of overeating and avoid unnecessary discomfort during your pregnancy, aim for smaller meals throughout the day and refrain from eating anything within three hours before going to bed at night. Sit up immediately after meals as well as avoid beverages containing caffeine as these measures may help immensely.
If your heartburn persists, try chewing sugarless gum after meals to stimulate saliva production and neutralize acid that builds up in your esophagus. Or drink milk or add honey to warm milk to soothe its burning sensation; or keep Tums or Maalox nearby so you can use as needed.
If these lifestyle changes don’t help, speak to your physician about taking over-the-counter or prescription medication to relieve discomfort. Or ask about proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or H2 blockers which are generally safe during pregnancy.
Getting Plenty of Water
Pregnancy heartburn is an uncomfortable reality that many women must contend with; fortunately, its effects typically subside once your hormone levels return to their regular levels after giving birth.
Drinking plenty of water during pregnancy is one of the best ways to alleviate heartburn. Water helps your food digest easily while also preventing an excess production of acid that causes burning sensations in your stomach. Just be sure to sip small sips at a time as opposed to drinking in large gulps!
Eating foods known to cause heartburn is also recommended; such as chocolate, fried foods, fatty and greasy meals, acidic fruits like citrus fruits or tomatoes and carbonated beverages may all trigger it. You should try eating smaller meals more frequently while sleeping with your head elevated and slowly chewing each bite; chewing gum after meals may increase saliva production which helps neutralize stomach acidity; however if these natural treatments don’t bring relief speak with your doctor who may suggest over-the-counter antacids that are safe during pregnancy.
While heartburn during pregnancy can be uncomfortable, it can often be managed through lifestyle adjustments and home remedies. If symptoms become unbearable, speak to your healthcare provider about safe-for-pregnancy medications that could ease the burn.
Getting Plenty of Sleep
Sleep is essential during pregnancy, but heartburn may make sleeping difficult. If this discomfort prevents you from restful slumber, talk to your physician about safe over-the-counter heartburn medications that could provide some relief.
If your heartburn symptoms are mild, try taking an antacid, such as Tums(r) or Maalox(r). Antacids should provide relief while remaining safe for pregnant women. If this doesn’t do the trick, talk with your physician about prescription medication that reduces stomach acid such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and H2-receptor antagonists – but be sure to get approval first before using these substances during your pregnancy.
To better understand heartburn, it helps to take a quick anatomy lesson. A long tube called the esophagus connects your mouth and stomach; its muscles act like gates after you eat to ensure food bits and digestive juices stay where they belong in your stomach. Pregnancy often puts extra pressure on this esophagus muscle, leading to that uncomfortable “burning sensation” in chest and throat area.
Avoid heartburn by eating smaller meals more frequently, drinking water between meals, limiting spicy or fatty food consumption and lying down after eating. Over-the-counter antacids like calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide may provide fast relief; for severe cases of heartburn it’s wise to seek medical assistance immediately.
