Moms-to-be, your bodies are doing a lot of work! Sometimes, unfortunately, that also means some negative symptoms are side effects also pup up during pregnancy. Among the most common? Heartburn! Keep reading, and we’ll address just why that happens and how you can combat it.

What is heartburn?

Despite its name, heartburn does not actually have anything to do with your heart. So, what is it, and why does it have such a name? The answer is as simple as some people equate the sensation or symptoms with those of a heart attack or heart disease. The reality, however, is that heartburn is caused by acid reflux, a condition that causes the stomach’s contents (stomach acid) back up into the esophagus. This causes a burning pain in the lower chest and is part of the reason for heartburn’s name.

If you happen to experience heartburn, you are one of millions. The American College of Gastroenterology estimates that at least 15 million Americans experience heartburn daily. Among these millions, of course, are pregnant women.

What causes pregnancy heartburn?

Heartburn during pregnancy is a common complaint, especially during the third trimester. (In fact, it affects 50% of pregnant women!)  Your growing baby is placing pressure on your stomach at this point, which makes you more prone to experiencing heartburn.

So, how do you know if you’re experiencing pregnancy heartburn? Look for the following symptoms:

• A burning sensation in the chest right behind the sternum (your breastbone) that occurs after eating and lasts for a few minutes up to several hours
• A burning sensation or hot, sour, or salty-tasting fluid at the back of the throat
• Chest pain, especially when you bend over, lie down, or eat
• Belching
• Coughing
• Hoarseness
• Wheezing or asthma-like symptoms

The good news to remember if you do have these symptoms is that occasional heartburn isn’t dangerous, but if it becomes chronic, it could indicate other serious problems, so you should definitely talk to your doctor about chronic occurrences.

Natural heartburn relief

If you’re trying to find a natural approach to battling heartburn during your pregnancy, there are definitely some things you can do to find natural heartburn relief. They include the following.

Eat smaller meals throughout the day

It’s true: you are eating for two. But, that doesn’t mean you should be overeating or eating large quantities of food at any given meal. Doing so puts a high amount of pressure on your stomach which can result in an increase in stomach acid production for digestion. Eating smaller meals throughout the day can help avoid this.

Avoid trigger foods

Certain foods can actually increase the production of stomach acid and aggravate heartburn symptoms. To avoid this, there are certain foods you should limit or avoid in your diet. They include fried foods, packaged foods containing artificial sweeteners and preservatives, tomatoes, citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit, garlic, onions, chocolate, coffee, caffeinated products, and peppermint.

Eat foods that are good for digestive health

Just as you want to avoid foods that aggravate your stomach and your digestive health, you’ll also want to supplement your diet with foods that have been shown to aid digestive health. Among these foods are fresh vegetables (such as artichokes, cucumbers, pumpkin, and squash, which all contain prebiotic fibers), tea (such as chamomile, fennel, or ginger tea), and healthy fats (such as coconut oil which is easy to digest and is nourishing to the digestive tract).

Final thoughts

If you’re experiencing heartburn and are ready to give natural heartburn remedies a try, we recommend getting started with Pure Baby. Simply ingest a small amount daily (by itself or mixed with food) and experience the benefits. The best part? When baby finally gets here, you can both use Pure Baby in any number of ways!