Are you pregnant & looking for heartburn relief? These tips and home remedies are great to relieve heartburn during pregnancy and can make you feel better fast!

Ahh…!! I still remember my third trimester when no matter what I did I was somehow not able to shake off this weird heartburn feeling in my throat. It was unbearable to lie down and sit and all I wanted was something cold and sweet to get down my throat to find relief. I was lucky to undergo the severe heartburn condition only in my third trimester, but I have and seen a couple of my pregnant friends who were at this miserable heartburn condition from as early as the first trimester.

Although heartburns during pregnancy is a common thing, there are a few natural remedies as well as over the counter medicines that can help you find relief. In this blog post I will dive into what causes heartburns, when can you expect them to show up in pregnancy and a few tips that might be able to relieve you of the heartburn condition.

P.S. I am not a gynecologist or a medical expert. Below remedies are from my learnings of what has worked well with me during my pregnancy as well as a few pregnant women that I know.  Please make sure to consult your OB/GYN before trying any of these.

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tips to relieve heartburn during pregnancy

WHAT CAUSES HEARTBURN DURING PREGNANCY

Heartburn occurs when the valve between the stomach and the esophagus is unable to prevent stomach acid from passing back into the esophagus. During pregnancy, the hormone progesterone causes the valve to relax, which can increase the frequency of heartburn.

WHEN CAN YOU EXPECT TO HAVE HEARTBURN DURING PREGNANCY

Although in my case the heartburns did not show up until the last trimester. But any pregnant woman can have heartburns from as early as the first trimester.

1. Tums

Tums are probably the most frequently suggested antacids during pregnancy by your gynecologist. I was a big fan of tums because it did work very well on me by providing me instant relief. Also, towards the end of my pregnancy, I had this weird desire to eat chalk. Tums was a great relief for that too as it tastes chalky.

2. Ginger

After tums, the second best was ginger (always consume in small doses) that helped me a lot with my heartburn condition. I would carry these ginger gum or this ginger chews in my purse to chew on whenever needed. Also, you can try this ginger tummy drops, which is found to work well with pregnant women. Also, ginger is known to prevent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy which is a great win for pregnant women’s going through severe morning sickness. Excessive use of ginger can cause contractions, hence make sure to use in moderation.

3. Elevate your head while sleeping

One of the key things to stop acid reflux in your system is to always keep your head up. Also, while sleeping instead of laying your head flat on the bed, keep it an elevated position so that you can prevent acid reflux from happening. I found this pregnancy pillow extremely helpful while bedtime as it would keep my head up, but also provide support for my pregnant tummy and swollen foot.

4. Water

Staying hydrated can provide heartburn relief to some extent. It will raise the pH of your stomach, dilute the acid and clear out the esophagus. It did work for me to some extent! I usually carried this water bottle with me all the time to keep a track of my water intake during pregnancy.

5. Peppermint

Peppermint is another great way to soothe your acid reflux during pregnancy. Also know to help with the nausea and morning sickness. You can try these peppermint candies but make sure to consume them in moderation. I have read mixed reviews on the usage of peppermint during the later stages of pregnancy, so make sure to consult your doctor prior to using them.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar

Although it tastes yuck… but it seems to work for many. Add 1 tsp in 8 ounces of warm water and sip it slowly throughout the day. It also seems to work great for morning sickness. One of the common reasons for heartburn is low acid level and apple cider vinegar can help balance this acid level.

7. Coconut water

Coconut water is high in electrolytes and helps promote Ph balance and hence helps in preventing heartburn. You can try this unsweetened coconut water or even better make it into a smoothie.

8. Sweet Yogurt

This seemed to work really well with me. Yogurt was able to provide me immediate relief which was great as well as healthy for the pregnancy.

9. Gums

Chewing gums are another great way to relieve heartburns. Chewing gums increases your saliva production, which helps neutralize stomach acids and ease the symptoms of heartburn during pregnancy.

10. Fennel seeds

Soak 2 teaspoons of fennel seeds in boiling water. Strain and drink it. They naturally soothe the digestive tract, reduce acid and decrease inflammation. Again, just like ginger, fennel seeds are known to cause contractions, hence make sure to use in moderation.

11. Avoid eating 2 hrs before bedtime

Try to stay clear of eating anything at least two hours prior to bedtime. This can help with digestion and avoid acid reflux while lying flat on the bed.

12. Avoid trigger foods

Certain foods and drinks can trigger heartburns. Try to avoid these whenever possible. Some on my mind are onions, tomatoes, citrus fruits, fried food, fizzy drinks, mustard and spicy food.

I hope this blog post was helpful to you and can help you find relief from heartburn during pregnancy. If there are any other tips that helped you relieve heartburn during pregnancy, please let me know in the comments below. I would love to hear back from you!

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