Relieving heartburn

Heartburn affects most women at some stage of pregnancy. It is commonly linked to eating, bending or lying down.

Advice

• Eat small, frequent meals.
• Eat slowly.
• Increase your intake of complex carbohydrate foods such as rice and potatoes.
• Avoid food that aggravate heartburn, such as rich, fatty or spicy food, chocolate, citrus fruit and coffee.
• Don’t drink large amounts of fluid with a meal.
• Stay upright for an hour after eating.
• Lie on your right side. It allows gravity to empty the stomach.
• Sleep propped up with pillow or elevate the head of your bed if possible.
• Wear clothes that aren’t too tight around the waist.
• Drink milk or eat yoghurt.

When simple measures are ineffective, consult your doctor, as antacids are likely to be beneficial.

(Ilse Pauw, Health24)