What Are the Best Natural Ways to Relieve Pregnancy Heartburn?

You’ve got the prenatal vitamins. You nap when required to keep your energy up. You’re watching your baby bump grow. But along with the joy of pregnancy, you might have picked up a not-so-welcome side effect: a stubborn, burning feeling in your chest.

If that sounds familiar, you are far from alone. In fact, a study found that 30% to 80% of pregnant women deal with significant heartburn. 

So why is it so common? The main reason is your pregnancy hormones. They cause a valve at the top of your stomach to relax, allowing acid to sneak up into your esophagus. This is what creates that burning sensation.

The good news? You don't have to just "grin and bear it." This guide is here to help you understand why pregnancy heartburn happens and share simple, natural ways to find relief.

In this post, we’ll walk through everything from why acid reflux symptoms start in early pregnancy for some women to practical tips you can try to finally get a comfortable night’s sleep.

What is Pregnancy Heartburn and What Causes it?

Heartburn in pregnancy is a common condition characterized by a burning sensation in the chest and throat, caused by stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus. This acid reflux is triggered by pregnancy hormones, like increased progesterone, which relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that usually prevents acid from rising.

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, approximately 60 million Americans experience heartburn symptoms at least once per month, making it a relatively common occurrence amongst the general population. 

However, pregnant women tend to experience heartburn at much higher rates; one study suggests that between 17 and 45% of pregnant women deal with heartburn symptoms during their pregnancy.

Why Does Pregnancy Heartburn Happen? 

Healthline says the reasoning isn’t evident. However, pregnancy hormones, such as progesterone, may be to blame. 

While common in the general population, pregnancy creates a perfect storm for heartburn. The reasons are threefold:

• Hormonal influence: Increased levels of progesterone relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle that prevents stomach contents from moving upward.

• Physical pressure: As the uterus grows, it pushes against the stomach, raising the likelihood of acid escaping.

• Digestive slowdown: Pregnancy hormones also slow digestion, leaving food and acid in the stomach longer, which can worsen reflux.

• Additional weight gain: Additionally, some attribute the added weight and pressure of the pregnancy to increased heartburn symptoms.

These factors together create the perfect conditions for acid reflux, making acid reflux in early pregnancy and late pregnancy a widespread concern.

How to Identify Pregnancy Heartburn

Here are some Pregnancy heartburn symptoms:

• A burning sensation in the chest, typically after eating

• Chest pain 

• A burning feeling in the throat

• Sour, hot, or salty-tasting liquid in the back of the throat

• Belching, Coughing, Hoarseness and Wheezing

Note: Some women report that their symptoms are triggered or worsen after bending over, lying down, or eating.

Is Heartburn More Common in Early or Late Pregnancy?

As we have mentioned above, heartburn during pregnancy is quite common. While some women notice acid reflux in early pregnancy, most report worsening symptoms during the second and third trimesters. This is likely due to the increased pressure the growing uterus applies to the intestines and stomach. Still, managing symptoms early helps prevent them from escalating.

The statistics show that, in the first trimester, about one-third of pregnant women experience acid reflux; in the last trimester, up to two-thirds do.

How to Relieve Heartburn During Pregnancy: Tips for Expectant Mothers

Finding effective pregnancy heartburn relief often involves a two-pronged approach: preventing symptoms before they start and soothing them when they occur. So, let’s talk about how you can find pregnancy heartburn relief using natural remedies.

Preventative Strategies: Stopping Heartburn Before It Starts

Getting ahead of heartburn symptoms is the best way to find relief! Use these preventative care tips to avoid triggering symptoms:

• Avoid heartburn-inducing foods, such as:

• Spicy sauces and seasonings

• Greasy, fried, fatty foods

• Highly acidic foods (i.e., citrus fruits and tomatoes)

• Caffeine

• Carbonated beverages

• Opt for smaller meals throughout the day instead of large meals.

• Don’t rush through meals; do your best to eat slowly.

• Sip water in between meals instead of while eating.

• Try to stand or sit upright after a meal, as lying down may cause the LES to relax and cause heartburn.

• Use a pregnancy pillow or a body pillow to keep your body in a neutral, comfortable position while sleeping.

• Wear loose-fitting clothes so that you don’t add any additional pressure to your abdominal area.

• Manage your stress to quell symptoms.

Important Note: You should also avoid smoking or drinking alcohol. Besides causing heartburn, smoking or vaping and drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause health problems for the fetus.

How to Relieve Heartburn Symptoms During Pregnancy

If you’re already experiencing a case of heartburn, use these natural remedies for pregnancy heartburn to find relief:

• Ginger: Alkaline foods, such as ginger, can help curb inflammation and soothe the digestive tract. Adding whole ginger into your diet is one way to prevent and alleviate heartburn symptoms during your pregnancy.

• Milk: Having a glass of milk after a meal or while you’re experiencing heartburn can help cool or quell acid reflux symptoms.

• Apple cider vinegar: Although apple cider vinegar tastes pretty acidic, its composition is actually pretty neutral, which makes it a great candidate for balancing out stomach acids. The less acid in your stomach, the lower the potential for heartburn symptoms to occur.

• Pineapple and papaya: These two fruits are known to speed up the digestive process, which, in turn, can lower the likelihood that you’ll have heartburn after eating.

• Exercise: After eating, try to take a 10-15 minute walk to promote digestion and mitigate feelings of heartburn.

• Sleep at an incline: Physicians say sleeping on your left side and at an incline is the best sleeping posture for heartburn relief. Heartburn happens when stomach acid travels upward into your esophagus, so positioning your body where gravity can help is a great way to find relief. Click here to learn how MedCline’s Reflux Relief System can help.

Note: Before testing out natural remedies or over-the-counter options to deal with heartburn while pregnant, be sure to consult your doctor. 

When to Call or Visit Your Doctor

If you have heartburn that often wakes you up at night, returns as soon as your antacid wears off, or creates other symptoms (such as difficulty swallowing, coughing, weight loss, or black stools), you may have a more serious problem that requires attention.

Your doctor may diagnose you with GERD. This means that your heartburn needs to be controlled to protect you from complications such as damage to the esophagus.

Reach out to your doctor if you:

• Want to take an antacid. Some are not recommended during pregnancy

• Have severe hoarseness, wheezing, vomiting, or a hard time swallowing

• Have trouble sleeping because of heartburn

How MedCline’s Reflux Relief System Can Help

Our patented acid reflux pillow is the only solution on the market that uses the left, inclined sleeping posture recommended by physicians for heartburn relief. Engineered with medical-grade materials, protective casing, and three sizing options, our Reflux Relief System is the ideal solution for women experiencing pregnancy heartburn or those with generic acid reflux symptoms.

Clinically-proven results

A recent clinical trial presented by the Cleveland Clinic at the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Conference (ACOG 2016) in Washington, DC, showed that the MedCline Reflux Relief System reduced gestational reflux symptoms by 70% after only 2 weeks of use.

The study also found that with MedCline, these women, in their second or third trimesters, were able to fall asleep more easily, fall asleep faster and reported an overall improvement in sleep quality. MedCline offers a proven, natural treatment for women suffering from nighttime gestational reflux.

The findings of this study are consistent with previous studies showing the significant improvement in nighttime symptoms experienced by the inclined, left-side sleeping position created and maintained only by MedCline.

 Key Takeaways

• Pregnancy heartburn affects between 17 and 45% of pregnant women and is most common during the second and third trimesters.

• Heartburn symptoms during pregnancy can be characterized by a burning sensation in the chest or throat, coughing, hoarseness, wheezing, and more.

• Pregnant women can find heartburn relief by taking preventative actions, such as avoiding triggering foods, wearing loosely-fitted clothing, and enlisting the help of our Reflux Relief System.

Want to learn more about how MedCline can help? Speak to one of our Sleep Specialists today!