Many pregnancy discomforts can be relieved with good diet, hydration, gentle exercise, and rest. The recommended suggestions are a good starting point for improvement. If these suggestions don’t provide relief, then looking into additional therapies may be helpful. The herbs suggested are safe during pregnancy, although talk to your care provider for any additional questions or concerns.

HEARTBURN

Heartburn is common during the end of the second and through the third trimesters. It is likely cause by relaxation of the cardiac sphincter of the stomach, decreased gastrointestinal motility, and lack of room in the stomach due to the increasing size of the uterus.

Recommended: Eat small frequent meals; maintain good upright posture, stretch your arms over your head to increase room for your stomach, avoid overly fatty foods, drink very little with the meal and directly afterwards, avoid cold foods with meals, spicy foods may aggravate heartburn, avoid eating a large meal before bedtime.

Natural aids: Digestive enzymes taken before a meal can help break down the foods quicker and better; liquid calcium/ magnesium supplement, papaya enzymes or as a food, plain baked potatoes, thoroughly chewed raw almonds, cashews or filberts.