Heartburn during pregnancy is one of the most common issues expectant mothers face. So much that there are myths around them, quoting that the stronger your heartburn during pregnancy is, the better will be the hair growth of the new born. But of course, heartburn during pregnancy can be a nasty thing to deal with. Heartburn does not really cause any harm, but it can be a very uncomfortable experience for as long as you have it.
So what causes this heartburn during pregnancy?
As the uterus expands during pregnancy, it pushes the stomach upwards in order to accumulate the ever growing fetus. This condensation of the stomach against the esophagus causes the contents of the stomach to move up in to esophagus. This ends up causing heartburn.
Heartburn during pregnancy CAN BE WORSE IF:
- You are carrying more than one fetus simultaneously (twins, triplets or higher order multiples)
- You are carrying a large fetus
- Your baby is in a breech position, where the head could be pressing against the diaphragm
So let’s learn some home remedies for heartburn during pregnancy.
Home Remedies for Heartburn During Pregnancy
1. Eat right to ease heartburn during pregnancy
Eating small, frequent meals, chewing slowly on small morsels, eating meals which are low on spice, especially chilies and peppers are eating methods that need to be practiced during the entire phase of pregnancy. Also, make sure to consume foods that are less acidic, and try to eat your meals on time, preferably on a regular pattern or schedule. Do bear in mind that consumption of heavy meals, eating in haste, having large, improperly chewed morsels will only aggravate the situation of heartburn during pregnancy. Eating meals late at night can cause heartburn issues too.
Also read : 10 Effective Home Remedies For Heartburn
2. Identify Triggers for heartburn during pregnancy
Due to the different tolerance levels in our bodies, some food may appear too acidic or gassy for some women, and perfectly alright for the rest. So try to identify the type of foods that triggers the heartburn in you. Just because your pregnant friend is intolerant to it, doesn’t mean that you will be too. Identifying and then evading consumption of those triggers will certainly be a boon in dealing with heartburn during pregnancy.
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3. Coconut Water
Sipping coconut water when you suffer with heartburn during pregnancy can be very helpful as coconut water has acid neutralizing properties.
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4. Almonds for treating heartburn during pregnancy
Almonds are rich in certain fats and oils which work as a neutralizing agent for acids in your stomach. Having a handful of these almonds on and off during pregnancy can help the expectant mother deal with heartburn issues, and also improve her nutrition (and of course her baby’s too!).
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5. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera gel also helps to soothe heartburn by neutralizing acids and inflammation. However, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you consult your doctor before consuming any Aloe vera products as they can be unsafe for some types of pregnancies.
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6. Milk with Honey for treating heartburn during pregnancy
A table spoon of honey mixed with a cold glass of milk is a magical remedy for treating heartburn. This concoction aids better digestion and avoids the build up of excessive acids in the stomach.
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7. High Enzyme foods for preventing heartburn during pregnancy
Fruits like pineapple, papaya, bananas and avocados contain abundance of natural enzymes that enhance the stomach’s ability to digest food. Frequent consumption of these fruits can help in decreasing the frequency and chances of heartburn flaring up during pregnancy.
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8. Ginger for heartburn during pregnancy
Ginger is famous for being a natural antacid. Consumption of ginger can be in either raw form, wherein you can take an inch long piece of ginger and chew on it, or add it into your foods or tea. It enhances flavor as well as prevents and cures heartburn during pregnancy.
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9. Fennel Seeds for heartburn during pregnancy
Fennel seeds have been used in Ayurveda for centuries for their ability to aid digestion and soothe problems related to improper digestion of food, like GERD and heartburn. Pop in a tea spoon full of fennel seeds in your mouth and chew on them. They also work as a mouth freshener.
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10. Lemon Water for treating heartburn during pregnancy
Squeeze in the juice of one lemon in to a glass of water. You may add some rock salt or black salt to it. Sip this drink a few times a day for immediate relief from heartburn. This drink also has a very refreshing taste and is likely to enlighten the mood of the consumer as well.
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11. Fermented foods for heartburn during pregnancy
Foods like kim chi, yogurt, raw sauerkraut, etc are high on enzymes and good bacteria and are very helpful in managing heart burn issues during pregnancy.
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12. Bentonite Clay for management of heartburn during pregnancy
Though the bentonite clay finds most uses in the cosmetic world, drinking a concoction of 1 – 2 ts of bentonite clay mixed with 8 0 19 ounces of water through the day can help relieve heartburn dramatically. It is paramount that a pregnant woman drinks plenty of water along with this concoction to dilute and flush the clay down the esophagus. Bentonite clay has absorbing properties that enable it to absorb all the excesses of acids, hormones, etc from the body.
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Remedies for heartburn during pregnancy are very simple, but it is vital to consult your doctor prior to the trial of any of these remedies. Each pregnancy is different and what may be ‘normal’ or ‘OK’ with one, may carry a risk for the other. Do let us know how these remedies for heartburn worked out for you!
