Hello heartburn my old friend*
*I lie. It’s not my friend and I’ve never known it before pregnancy. But the song is catchy and it was stuck in my head.
Heartburn is my EVIL NEMESIS and it plagues me Every. Single. Day.
No matter what I try…
- eating smaller portions
- chewing slowly and thoroughly
- drinking almond milk
- banning anything remotely yummy from my plate (oh hot wings I drool at the thought of you)
- resisting the urge to lie down on the couch after dinner
- using an extra pillow to raise my head higher at night
- abstaining from pre-bedtime snackies
- retiring my corset (ha, just kidding… but it makes me wonder, did Marie Antoinette have a pregnancy version of hers?)
… it sneaks up on me anyways and tortures me to the point that I scream MERCY! and reach for the Tums.
I did read an article a few weeks ago that said taking too many Tums during pregnancy is dangerous (I know, I want to read it again too but I can’t find it anymore, dangit!!!), but then the same week I read another article that refuted the first.
What’s a girl to believe?!
So for now, I just keep trying all those things above that aren’t working (eternal optimist, anyone?), and taking my little magical rainbow candies in moderation. Oh, and trying not to complain too much. Because I don’t know about you, but I feel there are few things more annoying than a pregnant girl moaning all the time about how sick she feels. Most of the time, I feel like a rockstar! And I’m sure that’s partly because I tell myself I feel like one. So I’m not going to let this one little thing get me too riled up. Mind over matter… mind over matter…
Just don’t get between me and my Tums.
And if you know of another remedy that I should try, for the love of God, please share.
My name is Kasia Fink and nothing makes me happier than finding goodness. This is a collection of my findings... I mean, finkings.
Try munching on raw almonds. They should cure the heartburn. :)
i’m one of the pregnant women who moans a lot about how sick she feels… just throwing that out there, haha.
i have heard multiple times, that apple cider vinegar can work wonders. some people mix it with a little apple juice to dilute the taste, but some women take it straight up.
I second the apple cider vinegar! If you’re having reflux, it helps a lot with that. I usually boil water like I’m making tea and pour myself a cupfull, then add about 1.5 Tbs of ACV, and then enough maple syrup to where it tastes good. :) It really does help.
Also, this one’s more for reflux than heartburn, but if you ARE getting reflux, chewing gum can really help.
I’m not sure if you can take it, but if you can, I like Pepcid waaaay better than Tums for my acid reflux. The raw almond suggestion is something I’m going to try out now, too!
I third the apple cider vinegar!
I’m sure you are already doing this, but you didn’t mention it so just in case, have you tried ice water? When my heart burn was really bad, I was just guzzling icy cold water, and it did help!
I am one of those pregnant ladies with heartburn too.
I have tried everything and it is discouraging (Tums… pepcid…. smaller portions despite nausea…)
But maybe comfort comes from groupies with the same issue and we can all ban together and form ‘the sisterhood of heartburn, a coalition of mom’s-to-be’ and try to find humor in it? Too cheesy? ;o)
i know that during pregnancy you’re more prone to heartburn but the idea that it comes from spicy foods is a myth. it’s more about fats & oils than anything else because they float on top in your stomach. if you cut back on those things it’ll really help out, this means cutting back on – butter, mayo, high fat meats like steak & bacon… basically anything delicious! but seriously, i’ve had really bad GED and acid reflux to the point of a hiatal hernia and have had many a lecture by my specialist about what will help it. of course some of the things you mention should help a little too (not lying down after meals, eating smaller portions but consistently throughout the day, etc.).
oh, and if you’re getting acid from it chewing gum really really helps!
i recommend mango too… hope you find your miracle cure!!
I was just singing that song the other day! Amazing song. I’m not pregnant, so I am basically no help in the heartburn department. Just wanted to say that I hope it subsides asap! Sending you positive vibes! You have such a great outlook on pregnancy…love it.
Hey there–
As one who is awakened by terrible heartburn in the middle of the night, I found the amazing Mylanta remedy. I’m not sure it’s readily available in Canada, or that it is completely okay for pregnancy, but if you label read and find it’s an all-clear, it really is the only thing that works for me, before taking those prescriptions. I absolutely love your blog! Hope this helps!
I am a whiny one too…Try sipping milk (which I am not sure is the same as almond milk? but may serve the same purpose). I am a ditto of you, and the too many TUMS is bad for you thing is based on the fact that you are overdoing it on the calcium and excess calcium is not good for you. My husband is a doctor and agrees that I should not be taking them like candy, but I try to keep them to less than 3-4 a day, but only if I HAVE to. Needless to say, I have heartburn MOST of the day. However, I will burp up everything I eat so it makes no sense to not eat some stuff I want. Everything you suggested does help, as does drinking water. Thankfully at least yours may disappear after baby!
My doctor suggested Gaviscon, I found it helped a bit. Heartburn really sucks though!
Thanks for all the suggestions (and commiseration!) guys. Apple cider vinegar sounds like the last thing I’d want to try (more acid? really??) but with so many of you chiming in, I promise to try it.
@Terra – Interesting, I’ve never heard of raw almonds as a cure but I snack on them at work all the time and they give me heartburn too. Maybe I’m just an anomaly.
@Emily – Yes, ice water does work for a tiny bit of relief but considering I’m already going pee 50 million times a day, I think it might be dangerous. ;)
@notsojenny – Thanks for the great info. You’re right, spicy stuff probably isn’t the culprit but it sure feels like it gets worse after I eat it. Boo. Chewing gum is a good suggestion too, except I hate chewing gum more than I hate heartburn. I know, I’m weird.
@Meghan – Thanks, I’ll have to check that out.
I’ve found celery to help with heartburn. I’ve never tried the ACV… but have downed a spoonful of baking soda in a pinch.
I’m not having any heartburn yet, but when I was trying to get pregnant, I started stocking up on all of the essential oils that I would need during pregnancy. Peppermint oil rubbed on your sternum is supposed to help with heartburn, but because it’s so strong, it’s best to dilute it 1:2 with something like almond oil, or even vegetable oil. Good luck!