Finding out you’re pregnant comes with many expectations, including imagining nine months of glowing skin and a blossoming baby bump. Don’t worry; these are still in your future. But like any good journey, you may encounter a few hurdles along the way. One being heartburn.
Heartburn during pregnancy kind of feels like a soda can that’s been shaken one too many times, and inside of your belly. If you’re looking for a more scientific reason for heartburn, you can blame your stomach and esophagus. Heartburn is a sudden burning sensation that can be felt in your throat as the liquid contents in your stomach begin to shoot upwards through your esophagus.
The reason it suddenly occurs during pregnancy is due to the hormone progesterone. This hormone helps to relax a woman’s muscles during pregnancy, and in turn - relax their stomach valve, which typically keeps acid away from the esophagus. For a double whammy, as your baby grows, the uterus begins to push stomach acid out of the stomach. Talk about a one-two punch!
The good news? You can try different ways to prevent this. Here are some tips we hope you find helpful in preventing heartburn.
Eat More Frequently
Pre-pregnancy, you may have been used to eating three large meals a day, but now you should aim to eat closer to six meals a day. Meals should be lighter and not as heavy as the three previous meals you may have used to eat. When deciding what to eat, steer clear of spicy, greasy, acidic foods and carbonated drinks as these items tend to make heartburn worse. However - just as each pregnancy is unique, so is a pregnant woman’s heartburn, so it is best to learn which foods are triggering it. Consider starting a pregnancy journal to log your food intake and note which foods cause heartburn and which soothe it. Not only will it help you track food causing the heartburn, you can use your journal for other pregnancy notes for memories to look back on after your little one is born.
Increase Your Water Intake
Drinking extra water is a daily goal for almost anyone, but it’s especially important if you’re pregnant. Water helps with digestion, relieves swelling associated with pregnancy, and can even help offset heartburn. While you should drink water throughout the day, try to have water between meals and not during as this will prevent heartburn from occurring.
Consider Your Sitting and Sleeping Positions
If you feel heartburn coming along as you are heading to bed, don’t fret about losing sleep just yet. Prop up a few pillows to provide yourself with a bit of an incline. Doing so will help keep acid from coming up in your throat. Giving your body a few hours before bed to fully digest after eating will help as well. To help with digestion, avoid laying down for an hour to three hours after eating. Another suggestion is to sit with your back upright and not slouch while eating. An added bonus? This can help your overall posture as well!
Heartburn can be uncomfortable when you’re pregnant, especially if you’re dealing with other symptoms like morning sickness and swollen ankles. But, there is some good news. These simple changes to diet and sleep can help put out the flames and once you give birth, the heartburn should start to subside.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the conversation and stay up-to-date on cord blood & tissue, genetics, pregnancy, and everything in between!
Disclaimer: PerkinElmer and ViaCord do not endorse or make recommendations with respect to research, medications, or treatment. All information is provided for informational purposes only.
References:
Kids Health. How Can I Deal With Heartburn During Pregnancy? https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/heartburn.html
Health. Why You Get Heartburn During Pregnancy—And 12 Ways to Soothe It. https://www.health.com/condition/heartburn/12-ways-to-soothe-heartburn-in-pregnancy?slide=eed3af3b-7584-49f3-8816-92a2957d032d#eed3af3b-7584-49f3-8816-92a2957d032d
American Pregnancy Association. Heartburn During Pregnancy. https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-health-wellness/heartburn-during-pregnancy-982/
Nationwide Children’s. How to Avoid Heartburn During Pregnancy. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/family-resources-library/how-to-avoid-heartburn-during-pregnancy
Standford Children’s. Pregnancy and Heartburn. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=pregnancy-and-heartburn-134-10
