Anyone who has ever been pregnant knows that heartburn and pregnancy go hand in hand. This is unfortunate, and often leads to other issues such as insomnia and loss of appetite.
Of course, everyone has to sleep and eat, especially someone who is growing a tiny human, so neither of these problems is good to have. Besides all that, heartburn in and of itself is uncomfortable, and something nobody should have to deal with.
If you’re pregnant and having issues with heartburn, you may be wondering what you can do about it. Fortunately, there are some options. Not only that, there are actually natural, healthy options that allow your body to do its job properly while also relieving you of your heartburn symptoms.
Try these natural, drug-free solutions to find what helps you.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Let’s start with an age-old solution used by many people: shots of apple cider vinegar. This might taste disgusting, but it actually does work. It also does double duty by giving the body a healthy dose of probiotics in the process.
The way it works is by lowering the pH of stomach contents, which helps move the digestive process along. This is a good thing because heartburn is caused by food that isn’t being digested properly and is therefore sending acid and gases up the esophagus.
So how does this method work? Simply add 2 teaspoons of ACV to ¼ cup of water and drink. Repeat this process every 5–10 minutes until the problems subside.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is another solution that works well. That said, instead of aiding in digestion, this solution actually reduces the amount of acid in your stomach and esophagus. While this sounds great, it isn’t always the best solution because the lowered acid levels can actually slow digestion, causing more problems later in the day. Still, when you need fast relief and the ACV isn’t cutting it, this is a good option for temporary relief.
To use baking soda as a heartburn remedy, mix a half-teaspoon of baking soda with ¼ cup of water and drink. If the burning isn’t gone in 5–10 minutes, repeat.
Papaya Enzymes
It might sound funny, but papaya can actually help with heartburn as well. Many pregnant women swear by papaya enzymes, claiming they work much better than over-the-counter heartburn drugs. Because papaya enzyme dietary supplements seem to be so effective for so many, they are a great thing to try if you’re suffering.
That said, papaya is one of the many foods pregnant women should be wary of due to the fact that the unripened fruit can cause contractions. Fully ripe papaya is completely safe however, and because the enzymes are made using ripe papaya, no problems should come of using them. In fact, even eating an entire fully ripened papaya can be a safe and effective heartburn remedy for those in the second and third trimesters.
Papaya enzymes should be taken according to package directions in order to ensure safe and effective usage. These supplements can be found in most health food stores.
Hopefully this article gives you some relief from the dreaded pregnancy heartburn. After all, everyone deserves to enjoy their pregnancy and heartburn is anything but enjoyable.