Pregnancy Heartburn: Why the Antacids Just Aren't Cutting It

Heartburn is one of the more common discomforts experienced by pregnant mamas. I commonly hear from clients, "I'm popping Tums like candy all day long, but this heartburn is terrible!" So why aren't the antacids working?

Heartburn in pregnancy can be caused by a variety of factors, and often it can take some time to discover the cause, address it, and find relief.

Possible causes include insufficient sphincter activity, hormones, cramped space with the growing babe, and not having enough stomach acid. This is why often mamas will be taking lots of antacids to try and find relief, but it may actually be exacerbating the problem of not having enough stomach acid. (Heartburn in pregnancy can be caused by too much stomach acid, but this is less common.)

Here are some ideas to consider if you are experiencing heartburn in pregnancy. As always, please be in communication with your healthcare provider as you make a plan for relief.

• If possible, consider reducing antacids (Ex. Tums)

• Assess any medications or supplements you are taking and consider tweaking routine (Ex. adjusting timing, being mindful of interactions between medications and supplements you are taking,  taking with food vs. on empty stomach, etc.)

• Do any of the supplements or medications you are taking list heartburn as a side effect? OR do any of them impact acid levels in the stomach? (Ex. baby aspirin, magnesium, some SSRIs, etc.) Are there alternative medications or timing of taking them that could reduce the side effect?

• Consider increasing stomach acid - consider digestive enzymes about 15min before meals. For example: digestive bitters (watch ingredients - 5-10 drops diluted in water), apple cider vinegar (1tsp + 8 oz water - can build up to 1T + 8oz water), lemon juice in water (juice of 1 lemon + at least 8oz water - can add honey and drink cold or warm). 

• Try eating a grapefruit after a meal

• Avoid eating too much at meals - especially your evening meal

• Drink most liquids between meals (waiting 15min at least) so as not to dilute stomach acids when they need to be doing the work of digesting. Avoid chugging a lot of water in one sitting. Instead, sip consistently throughout the day.

• Slow down and don’t multitask while eating

• Try peppermint tea or warm nut milk + honey to soothe the burning feeling

• Add kefir, kimchi, or sauerkraut to meals with lots of protein or the evening meal

• Reduce high blood sugar by “dressing up carbs” or eating a lower carb diet

• Check for food sensitivities: sugary foods, spicy foods, caffeine (coffee or tea), chocolate, acidic foods (citrus or tomatoes, dairy, or gluten)

• Posture adjustment - be mindful of good alignment in everyday movements and resting positions

• Chiropractic care with a Webster Certified chiropractor. Find one in your area by clicking “Advanced Search” and checking the box “Webster Certified”

• Acupuncture

• If you are experiencing nighttime heartburn, consider eating an earlier, smaller dinner and elevating the head of the bed

• Consider chewing gum for 10 minutes after eating to increase saliva production, aiding in digestion.

Heartburn in pregnancy is unfortunately common, but the good news is that there’s a good chance you can find relief if you can get to the root cause of the problem!