Mama Mads

Heartburn is one of the common symptoms during pregnancy. Changes in your hormones and body shape can cause the valve at the entrance to the stomach to relax so that it doesn’t shut as it should, which in turn contributes to acid reflux and heartburn. The acidic stomach contents crawl back up into the esophagus. It is commonly known to get worse as your pregnancy progresses, as the growing uterus presses up on the stomach. 

Tums 

Drinking lots of water

Skimmed milk

This was a tip that I fortunately chanced upon from the amazing subreddit I’m part of. I switched my dairy intake to skimmed milk, from full-fat milk and immediately saw my heartburn reduce dramatically. 

Sleeping on left side 

Don’t roll your eyes at this one, but it does work!

Avoid trigger foods

Elevate your head while you lay down/sleep

My General Physician recommended that I place 2 pillows beneath my head while I sleep. I tried this tip but didn’t end up getting a good night’s sleep until a few nights had passed. 

Eat smaller meals throughout the day

Instead of opting for the usual three meals per day, try eating smaller meals frequently throughout the day. This helps reduce pressure on the stomach.

Eat your last meal for the day 2 hours before you sleep

This was a God-sent tip for me, because I used to have my dinner, sit upright only for 30 mins and then go to bed. No wonder I used to struggle a lot to catch a wink! 

Chewing Gum

I’ll be honest, I didn’t try this one out as I’m not a fan. So I’ll just tell you what my GP recommended. Chewing gum stimulates saliva production which helps neutralize and reduce stomach acid and thus, heartburn symptoms.

Go for a walk after dinner

I know we’re all tired but I urge you to resist the feeling of wanting to lie down immediately after your meals. It’s recommended to go for a walk and not sit down after your meals.