8 Ways to Avoid Pregnancy Heartburn
It kind of feels like you just ate a dozen atomic wings and chased them down with a vat of BBQ sauce, with a side of your BFF’s brother’s five-alarm chili. The heartburn is epic. Even though heartburn is just another one of those little not-so-welcome parts of pregnancy that you’ve come to expect, you don’t have to totally give in to the pain. Before the burn begins again, check out the ways to keep it under wraps.
1. Liquify It: Liquids are less likely to cause heartburn than solid foods; they move through the stomach quickly, and some even soothe the digestive tract. Of course, some beverages are less than desirable when it comes to pregnancy and heartburn — obviously alcohol is out, and so are coffee, citrus juices, and teas made from spearmint or peppermint (which are bad for your acid reflux). Drinkable yogurt, soup broth, milk, and the oh-so-mild chamomile tea are all totally try-able.
2. Forget Fried: You’re probably craving fried pickles smothered in French fries and McD’s chicken nuggets. Those foods may taste good going down, but they don’t feel as good when they’re on their way back up. Fried foods are heartburn triggers that you’ll want to avoid. Bonus: Choosing healthier options won’t just make your esophagus feel better — they’ll make your whole body feel rad too.
3. Spice Girl: You already know that your fave General Tso’s chicken isn’t helping your heartburn, but avoiding visible chili peppers isn’t the only way to keep heartburn at bay. Anything that’s heavily spiced, such as cinnamon cider or garlic-slathered pasta, can cause you pain later on.
4. Bedtime Burn: That midnight snack isn’t helping your heartburn out. Avoid eating at least three hours before bedtime, if possible. Sometimes eating before bed is completely unavoidable, or just plain not okay with you. If this is the case, try to keep your head elevated after eating, and sleep on your side.
5. Mini Meals: Feasting on a five-course meal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner isn’t doing you any favors either, so try swapping out those big ol’ meals for several mini ones. Eating less, but more often, can work wonders for your digestion. That baby of yours is putting plenty of pressure on your belly; stuffing an already-squished stomach can result in heartburn.
6. Slow Down: You’re a hungry mama. A really, really hungry mama. And that means you’re about to scarf down the big batch of takeout in front of you. Bad news: eating too fast can contribute to heartburn. Try eating as slowly as you can — this may just stop the burn before it ever begins.
7. Clothing Choice: Okay, so your clothes aren’t actually causing your heartburn. But wearing those skinny jeans that sort-of-kind-of fit you or that really tight tank from your pre-pregnancy days won’t help matters. Constricting your body may make heartburn feel worse than it actually is. Give yourself a break and put on something loose.
8. Doc Talk: If you’ve tried avoiding trigger foods, already split your meals into mini portions, started to slow down, and done everything else you possibly could, and you still have heartburn, it’s time to talk to the doc. Your medical provider can tell you if there are safe meds for you to take, or they can look for a possible underlying problem.
What’s your go-to heartburn fix? Share your answer and tweet us @BritandCo!
(Photo via Getty)