Heartburn during pregnancy: what helps?

Causes of heartburn in pregnancy

Various factors mean that you suffer from heartburn more frequently during pregnancy:

• As your baby grows, it puts pressure on various organs, including the stomach. Stomach acid and acidic chyme are pushed up towards the esophagus.
• At the same time, your body releases more of the hormone progesterone , which causes the muscles to relax. The closing muscle between the stomach and the esophagus becomes a little “slacker” under the hormonal influence and gastric juices can get back into the esophagus more easily.
• In addition, your digestive system works more slowly during pregnancy. Even some time after your last meal, acidic stomach contents can still be pushed up and cause heartburn, especially if you lie flat or bend over.

Symptoms of heartburn in pregnancy

Heartburn can vary in severity depending on how badly the esophagus is affected. Those who suffer from heartburn can expect minor symptoms such as frequent belching, clearing the throat, a lumpy feeling, a feeling of fullness, a sour taste or excessive salivation. Severe heartburn can also cause cramping after eating and pain in the abdomen, chest, and throat.

Preventing heartburn during pregnancy

Small changes in everyday life often help to prevent heartburn during pregnancy:

Tip 1: Avoid certain foods and drinks

Your food should not be too greasy or spicy. Enjoy sweets in moderation and avoid coffee, cigarettes and alcohol. Drinks with a lot of carbonic acid or sour juices can also lead to the unpleasant burning sensation. In between you can drink a lukewarm glass of water with dissolved healing earth to prevent heartburn.

Tip 2: Consciously eat small meals

Eat five to six small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones. Take the time to consciously enjoy food and chew it thoroughly. Loose clothing prevents additional pressure from being exerted on the stomach.

Tip 3: Relieve the stomach in the evening

Many pregnant women suffer from burning around the breastbone and in the throat, especially at night when the body is lying flat in bed. You can prevent this by not eating anything two hours before bedtime. Try to sleep with your upper body elevated so that stomach juices don’t get into the esophagus in the first place.

Tip 4: Home remedies such as fennel tea and mustard

If you don’t want to resort to medication right away, you can try some home remedies. Fennel tea or a teaspoon of mustard shortly after meals alleviate the symptoms and stimulate digestion.

Tip 5: Freshly squeezed potato juice

Freshly squeezed potato juice, which you can buy in the pharmacy or health food store, is also said to help with heartburn. 5 ml of the juice 3-4 times a day is enough to neutralize excess acid in the stomach. You can also squeeze the juice from organic potatoes yourself. The tubers are processed with a grater and pressed out wrapped in a kitchen towel. Make sure that the potatoes do not have any green spots, because then they contain substances that cause exactly the opposite – stomach pain and cramps.

If there is no improvement, there are medications that you can take during pregnancy without any problems. Active ingredients such as sodium alginate, magaldrate or hydrotalcite help relieve symptoms. If the funds are not enough, H2 receptor antagonists can also be taken, which help to regulate the production of gastric acid.