Although that burning sensation that you sometimes experience in your chest has nothing to do with your heart, it’s called heartburn. It can be quite bothersome especially in women during their pregnancy. It would be great to know how to get it to stop using effective natural remedies for acid reflux.
The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes enough to allow the acids in the stomach to rise up into the esophagus, when you have heartburn or acid reflux. The hormone changes during pregnancy can allow the muscles in the esophagus including the LES, to relax more frequently.
Relieving heartburn during pregnancy may just involve some trial and error. Lifestyle changes play a big role in helping to reduce heartburn. These are also the safest methods for both the mother and the baby. Here are a few natural remedies for acid reflux and GERD:
- Eating smaller meals can help in bringing down symptoms of acid reflux and GERD. Also avoid drinking any beverage between meals. Water is the best form of beverage that you may want to stick to. Taking the time to chew your food and eating slowly can also help with the symptoms of acid reflux and GERD.
- Stay away from foods and beverages that may trigger your heartburn. Foods like chocolates, fatty and spicy foods, acidic foods like citrus fruits and tomato-based food items, caffeine and carbonated beverages have to be avoided at all costs.
- A leisurely walk after a meal can help to keep your heartburn away. Another important thing that you will need to remember is to stay in an upright position for at least an hour after you have had a meal. This can help with digestion and also help to lower symptoms of GERD and acid reflux.
- Make sure that you wear loose and comfortable clothing rather than tight-fitting ones.
- Maintaining a healthy weight is also very important, as your weight plays an important role in controlling symptoms of heartburn.
- Making use of pillows and wedges while you lie down in order to elevate your upper body also helps in reducing heartburn.
- It is also advisable to sleep on your left side, as lying on your right side will place your stomach higher than your esophagus, which can lead to heartburn.
- Another effective natural remedy for acid reflux and GERD is chewing a piece of sugarless gum after your meals. Chewing on gum increases the saliva, which in turn can neutralize the acid coming back up into the esophagus.
- Once the symptoms of acid reflux starts, you can eat some yogurt or drink a glass of milk to quell the symptoms.
- Some other natural remedies for acid reflux include drinking chamomile tea with some honey in it or just a glass of warm milk can also do the trick.
Therefore, just making these easy and simple lifestyle changes can help pregnant women deal with symptoms of acid reflux and GERD.
