How to Avoid Heartburn While Pregnant

Heartburn occurs in pregnancy because of an increase in the hormone progesterone and an ever-growing uterus taking up space and cramping the stomach. Eliminating some foods from your diet and changing the way you eat will help to keep your pregnancy heartburn under control.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pregnancy Pillows
• Ergonomic Pillows
• Pillowcases
• Nonpeppermint Chewing Gum
• Antacids

1. Avoid large meals. Overstuffing your already cramped stomach can make heartburn worse. Eat five to six small meals a day instead of three big meals. Take small bites, and chew your food well.

2. Avoid foods that trigger heartburn. Rich, fatty foods and those that are spicy will increase heartburn symptoms, as will carbonated drinks and any kind of coffee. Stay away from chocolate and citrus, too.

3. Drink very little during meals. Don't overextend your stomach with liquids at meals.

4. Chew nonpeppermint gum. Some studies show that chewing gum will decrease the discomfort of heartburn - although peppermint is known to irritate heartburn.

5. Sleep at a slight incline. Prop yourself up on a few pillows to keep your stomach acids below your diaphragm. Wait for at least an hour after eating before lying down.

6. Consult your doctor. If natural attempts to control heartburn don't work, ask your doctor which over-the-counter antacids will work best for you.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult your doctor as to how often and for how long you can take an antacid.
• Stay away from alcohol, not only for heartburn but because of the risk of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
• Stay away from antacids that are high in sodium because they can lead to fluid retention.
• Avoid over-the-counter heartburn relievers that contain cimetidine (Tagamet HB) and famotidine (Pepcid AC) because there is little evidence as to how safe they are to use during pregnancy.
• Excessive use of antacids may limit your body's ability to absorb iron, which can lead to anemia.

Who Can Help:

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[LaLaRosee]

on 6/16/2007 This is a great article! However, I sometimes really want some fatty foods when a craving arises... If I have a craving for something spicy or fatty, I just have a little bit of the food to ease the craving.

on 6/30/2006 When my sister was pregnant, she would eat oranges to help her heartburn. She said it always worked!

on 3/13/2006 Yogurt also can calm heartburn, even the kind with fruit.

on 2/21/2006 While pregnant, I had terrible heartburn, which I have never experienced before. My daughter was born with a full head of hair (which we had seen on the ultrasounds). It turns out that there is a wives-tale that if you have bad indigestion, you will have a baby with lots of hair. I have asked many women and they found this to be true as well. Heartburn may not be fun, but keep a positive attitude that you may have a baby with style-able hair right away and try to keep your stress low.

on 1/23/2006 I get heartburn very often, so taking medicine every time is out of the question for me. I drink a small glass of milk and it does wonders. The heartburn goes away fast. And you don't have to drink a lot of milk. Just a small glass.