Along with morning sickness, swelling, changes in the body, and fatigue, heartburn is a common symptom during pregnancy. Many women experience discomfort because of it, and look for over the counter ways to treat the heartburn. But there are plenty of safe and affordable natural remedies for heartburn during pregnancy. Chances are, you already have many of them on hand. This post outlines various tips and tricks to relive heartburn during pregnancy, as well as some lifestyle advice on how to avoid it altogether.
“Ever see those street performers who eat fire? They stick a flaming object down their throat for entertainment. I think this image best describes severe heartburn during pregnancy, but as most women would agree, there’s nothing entertaining about it. It feels like hot, acidic lava burning and rising up in the chest, leaving a nasty taste in the mouth. I think that that kind of pain is best left to the fire eaters!
Heartburn can occur throughout pregnancy, often starting in the 1st trimester and intensifying from there. Here’s everything you need to know to avoid it – and get relief from heartburn during pregnancy – naturally.
What causes heartburn?
There are many possible causes of heartburn during pregnancy, including:
Hormones
Yes, hormones play a part of everything when you’re pregnant, even with heartburn. Pregnancy hormones cause all types of stomach symptoms (link Why We Get Morning Sickness), including heartburn. The hormone progesterone causes the valve that prevents stomach acids from passing back into the esophagus to relax, allowing for acids to pass more easily and irritate the lining.
Hormones also slow down digestion, causing for less stomach acids to be produced. Although it can seem counterintuitive, less stomach acids actually create heartburn and acid reflux.
Making room for baby
Baby takes up more and more room in your abdomen, as pregnancy goes along. Baby compresses all your digestive organs and diaphragm up into less space, leaving it easier for stomach contents to pass back up into the esophagus. This becomes particularly prominent in the 3rd trimester.
Okay, as you can see, there isn’t much that can be done about preventing the organic causes of heartburn during pregnancy. Hormones and baby’s growth are natural and wanted aspects of pregnancy. So what can you do?
Natural ways to relieve pregnancy heartburn
Natural ways to relieve pregnancy heartburn, and natural ways to prevent getting heartburn while pregnant completely! Put out the fire easily and naturally.Most women with healthy, normal pregnancies will find easy, convenient, and effective measures to relieve heartburn discomfort naturally.
Of course, as with everything in life, there are exceptions to this. If you find your pregnancy heartburn persists or seems extra severe, talk to you doctor or midwife.”
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