Safe Remedy for Heartburn During Pregnancy

The most obvious cure for heartburn is to not get it in the first place. You can roll your eyes now if you like; easier said than done, right? Wrong. There’s actually a number precautions you can take to minimize your chances of developing heartburn when you are pregnant, and treating heartburn if it does occur.

Here’s a few helpful "Do’s and Don’ts" for preventing and treating heartburn while you’re pregnant:

* DON’T eat foods that upset your stomach!
Some of the most common heartburn triggering foods are things like, soda, alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, greasy foods, spicy foods and highly processed foods. Of course, some people’s tolerance to these types of foods are higher than others, so use your better judgment. If you normally experience discomfort from certain foods, there’s a very good chance that those foods will upset you more while pregnant.

* DON’T eat too much!
Instead of having one or two large meals in a day, eat smaller portions more often. Filling your belly only makes your stomach harder, increasing your chance of discomfort. Try to eat five or six small meals instead. It is easier for your stomach to digest small amounts of food.

* DO sleep on a pillow that keeps your head elevated.
When you elevate your body while you sleep, the acids in your stomach stay where they’re supposed to stay. Sleeping flat allows the acids to creep up your esophagus so you awake with heartburn, and that’s no fun. Just slip an extra pillow or two under your head before you fall asleep to avoid a nasty morning.

* DO wear loose clothing!
Tight clothing should be avoided during pregnancy anyway. Not only is there a risk of harming your baby, tight clothing can actually trigger or worsen heartburn. Be particularly cautious of clothing that is tight around the waist and chest. Avoid wearing bra or elastic waist pants that are too tight.

Unfortunately, there is no single treatment or preventative for heartburn while you’re pregnant, but if you keep these things in mind, you can greatly reduce the chances of experiencing this discomfort during an already taxing time.