Heartburn during pregnancy is a burning feeling in the chest or throat caused by stomach acid backing up into the esophagus. It is one of the most common complaints of pregnancy, affecting well over half of expecting mothers, and it tends to get worse as the months go on. Pregnancy heartburn is not harmful to the baby, it almost always goes away after delivery, and there are safe ways to manage it in the meantime.
Why does pregnancy cause heartburn?
Two things happen at once. Early in your pregnancy, progesterone relaxes smooth muscle throughout your body, including the valve at the bottom of your esophagus that normally keeps acid in the stomach. The same hormone slows digestion, so food and acid linger longer. Later in pregnancy, your growing uterus pushes the stomach upward and squeezes it, which forces acid up through that already-relaxed valve. That is why heartburn often shows up in the second trimester and peaks in the third.
How to treat heartburn during pregnancy without medicine
Small changes in how and when you eat often bring relief. Eat five or six small meals instead of three large ones, so your stomach is never overfull. Sit upright for two to three hours after eating and skip the late-night snack, since lying down with a full stomach is the most reliable way to trigger reflux. Chewing sugar-free gum after meals also helps, because saliva neutralizes acid.
Common food triggers include spicy or fried foods, citrus and tomato, chocolate, peppermint, caffeine, and carbonated drinks. You do not need to cut all of them; most women find one or two that are the worst triggers. Loose clothing around the waist helps, too.
