Swollen body parts, burgeoning breasts and morning sickness. Just when you thought this is all you will have to put up through while you are pregnant, your digestive system also doesn’t fail to surprise you. Indulge in eating a little spicy food and you will start experiencing heartburn or acid indigestion in some time. It feels quite uncomfortable when there is a fiery churning behind your breastbone followed by acidic burps that make it up to your throat, bloated stomach and frequent coughs.

Well, if you have been having acidic troubles, you must know that this is less about the quality of food you eat and more about hormones. We understand that heartburns can be troublesome for you. But before providing the ways in which you can bid goodbye to it, let us understand heartburn in detail.

Heartburn is characterised by a burning acidic feeling which is felt in the upper chest, caused by acidic food in the stomach. If this happens at regular intervals, it can also result in a medical condition called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD).

Take a look at some of the ways in which you can bid goodbye to heartburns.

Watch Your Eating Habits

Whether or not you are pregnant, you must be aware that spicy and acidic foods have more of a tendency to create gastric troubles as compared to comfort and bland foods. Keep a check on the quality of food you have and don’t consume foods like garlic, citrus vegetables, chocolate, sodas etc as they meddle with your digestive process.

Have a small portion of meals three times a day so that your stomach keeps lighter and is able to digest food fast. Remember that posture is very important when you eat. So, don’t slouch or eat 3 hours before you sleep.

Kick that Butt

Although cigarettes can bring bigger trouble for you and your little one, it is one of the major triggers behind acidity or heartburn. Cigarettes relax the valve that keeps stomach contents down enabling acids to shoot up your throat. This was just to acquaint you with how cigarettes make the heartburn worse. Otherwise, smoking is a huge “No no” for pregnant women.

Say No to Alcohol

And then follows alcohol. No matter how tempting it the idea of alcohol may seem for occasional indulgences, exposure to it can cause a lot of problems for your baby. It works pretty much the same way that cigarettes do. By relaxing the valve that keeps stomach contents in the stomach, it hinders the digestion process creating acid troubles. If you’re having other beverages, try to have them after a gap of at least an hour as it might be difficult for your stomach to digest it along with your food causing heartburn at a later stage.

Go Easy on Attires

Getting conscious about their body image, pregnant women often tend to wear tight attire so that the belly doesn’t show and they look slimmer. However, wearing tight attires or garments create pressure around your midsection worsening your acidic symptoms. So, wear the stretchy and comfortable maternity pants and flaunt your baby bump!

Heads Up While Sleeping

In order to avoid acid reflux, try elevating your head 6 to 9 inches while sleeping. The best way to do this is by placing at least two pillows under your shoulders. You can also buy a wedge pillow that can be placed between the mattress so that your body keeps elevated and there are lesser chances of getting acidic burps.

Try Alternative Treatments

Many women avoid taking medicines while they’re pregnant. During such times, going for acupuncture might be of help. Treatments like this should be undertaken completely under doctor’s supervision as hands and feet are already swollen during pregnancy. However, some studies have proved that pregnant women that received acupuncture mentioned of having better metabolism and sleep as compared to the ones who did not.

Heartburn Medications

Over-the-counter antacids could be your last resort as they neutralize the acids in your stomach. According to research conducted by The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, OTC antacids containing calcium carbonate might not pose a danger while you are pregnant.

Please note that Antacids that contain sodium bicarbonate, can increase swelling and the ones that contain aspirin can prove to be toxic for your baby. Antacids having magnesium trisilicate as one of its content are also not safe.

Winding Up

If you are prone to acidity, these issues are likely to happen with or without consuming spicy food. However, steps like going for a daily walk, eating in portions at regular intervals and maintaining a sleeping position can help a lot.

*Information shared here is for general purpose Please take doctors’ advice before taking any decision.