9 Best Drinks For Heartburn During Pregnancy
Heartburn is a common condition during pregnancy. In simple terms, heartburn is used to refer to a burning sensation in the chest region. However, it usually has nothing to do with the heart. According to studies, more than 50% of pregnant women experience symptoms of heartburn, especially in the second and third trimesters. If you are among the 50 %, then keep on reading to find out what to drink for heartburn during pregnancy.
What Causes Heartburn?
In other words, heartburn is referred to as acid indigestion. It's a condition that results after stomach contents come back up(reflux) from the stomach. This reflux is the one that causes a burning sensation or irritation in the esophagus.
The fact that heartburn isn't a serious health complication, there are plenty of ways on how you can manage it. For instance, you can use medications as well as home remedies.
Medications For Heartburn During Pregnancy
Are there any safe medications one can take for heartburn during pregnancy? Yes, over-the-counter medications such as Tums. According to studies, tums are safe, and they offer relief for heartburn during pregnancy. Additionally, they have calcium components which are essential in the body. At average, pregnant women need 1200mg of calcium daily. Other medications can help manage heartburn while pregnant besides tums; they include Rolaids and Maalox.
What To Drink For Heartburn During Pregnancy?
If you feel there is no need to take medication, you can opt to go for home remedies. Here are some of the drinks you should consider trying out.
In fact, most pregnant women experience relief from natural heartburn home remedies. However, bearing in mind that some of the pregnant women experience heartburn in different ways, you should try what fits you. If you experience severe heartburn, make sure you speak to your doctor or midwife.
Water
Staying hydrated is crucial whether you are pregnant or not. In fact, there are plenty of benefits that you reap by drinking enough water, one being that it can help reduce your heartburn.
However, you should note that drinking lots of water all at once can actually worsen the condition. This is because the excess water can fill up the digestion track, causing the water to come back up through the esophagus worsening the situation.
Instead, opt to sip water throughout the day for better results. This consistent slow water intake keeps you hydrated which can help reduce the heartburn.
Fresh Lemon Water
Lemon is another miracle ingredient in your kitchen. According to studies, drinking lemon water helps boost the production of digestive juices and bile. This helps to balance the low stomach acids and as well as aids in digestion.
Preparing a cup of lemon water is quite easy. Simply squeeze out the lemon juice in a glass of water. You can add honey to taste. Drink.
Yogurt or Milk
Drinking a glass of milk or yogurt can help relieve your heartburn. However, some studies suggest that fresh milk from cows can give relief while others indicate that cow's milk tends to worsen the heartburn.
You can go for alternatives such as nut milk, rice milk, or goat’s milk. Make sure you drink it warm. You can as well add honey to help soothe the irritation in the chest.
Peppermint
Peppermint is another fantastic home remedies for heartburn. They help soothe and reduce the occurrence of the heartburn during pregnancy. Simply make a sugar-free cup of peppermint, and you will get relief.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Another widely used and renown home remedies for treating a wide variety of health conditions. Among the many applications of Apple cider vinegar, relieving heartburn is one of the applications. Simply add one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar is a glass of warm water. It will help to balance the stomach acid in your stomach and relieve the heartburn.
Ginger
Ginger is another miracle working natural remedy for a variety of conditions. Besides adding flavor to our food, ginger can help treat stomach-related complications.
Simply slice raw ginger and add it in hit water. Allow it to rest for about 10 minutes and drink. Remember also to drink ginger water in moderation since over-consumption can lead to contractions. You can as well add honey to improve the taste.
Coconut Water
Another excellent home remedy to relieve heartburn is coconut water. It's said to neutralize the acid levels of the stomach. This is because it's rich in electrolytes and alkaline minerals such as potassium that promote the pH balance.
Make sure also to drink it in moderation as excessive consumption is associated with irregular bowel movements. And, am sure you don't want to this to your problems.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is another natural healing agent used since ancient times. You can use it to get relief from pregnancy heartburn. Additionally, Aloe Vera is widely available, as it can also be obtained from the local food stores. Besides treating reflux symptoms and heartburn, it's also quite effective in treating inflammation during pregnancy. In fact, it should be a must-have ingredient in your kitchen.
Pickle Juice
The pickle juice is rich in healthy enzymes as well as acid. In fact, it's a formidable drink that aids in normalizing the stomach acid levels and can also improve your digestion. Therefore, if experiencing heartburn during pregnancy, this is an excellent remedy to try out.
Those are a few drinks that you can incorporate in your diet if you are experiencing heartburn during pregnancy. However, there are other ways that you can rely on. If you are not sure what to drink for heartburn during pregnancy, talk to your doctor.
How to Prevent Heartburn in Pregnancy
For most women, heartburn starts in pregnancy. And, there are plenty of ways on how you can avoid or prevent experiencing heartburn when pregnant. Importantly, you should focus more on how and what you eat. Consider practicing these few tips;
- Eat smaller amounts of meals throughout the day
- Stay hydrated always - avoid drinking lots of water at the same time.
- Avoid eating a few hours before sleeping
- Always stay/sit upright after eating - lying down usually exerts pressure on the stomach forcing the stomach contents back up
- Use a pillow when sleeping
- Avoid eating cold foods
While heartburn shouldn't get you worried a lot if you experience sudden heartburn or the heartburn persists, or severe symptoms, then it can be as a result of a serious problem, and therefore you should seek immediate health care attention.
Otherwise, if you are confident that there is no underlying problem causing your heartburn, now you know what to drink for heartburn during pregnancy. In most cases, the heartburn is said to disappear after childbirth.