Heartburn among pregnant women is fairly common and occurs due to the increased amount of the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the muscles in the esophagus, according to Baby Center. This makes it easier for stomach acid to back up after meals. Some foods more commonly produce heartburn, and avoiding them will make you much more comfortable.
Oranges, Grapefruits, Lemons, Limes
Due to the high acidity in citrus fruits, you should eliminate them from your diet to help relieve the discomfort associated with heartburn during pregnancy. This includes juices made from citrus fruits, including oranges, grapefruits, lemons and limes. When these foods back up into your esophagus, producing heartburn, the high acid content makes this condition especially painful. The American Pregnancy Association reports that heartburn is usually the worst in your third trimester, and you might find that you can tolerate small amounts of citrus until that point without a problem. Many pediatricians say it's OK to take an antacid tablet, such as Tums, to relieve heartburn, but check with yours first.
Garlic and Onions
Spicy food is a common trigger of heartburn during pregnancy. Eating foods that have a bite to them can exacerbate the condition, which can be quite painful. Avoid foods that taste spicy to you to prevent your stomach from sending them back up your esophagus and causing heartburn. You may find that some foods are more problematic than others, so keeping a journal of what you eat and how you felt later will help you determine the ones that you should cut back on. The March of Dimes names garlic and onions as additional trigger foods, two ingredients that are often used to prepare spicy dishes such as chili, salsa and curry. If you take an over-the-counter antacid, be sure it doesn't contain aspirin, recommends Baby Center.
Fast Food, Fried Meats, Fried Vegetables, Fried Potatoes
Food that has been fried often causes heartburn, especially during pregnancy. Fatty foods are digested slowly, so they have more of a chance of backing up into your esophagus. The American Pregnancy Association says that if you have a high-fat meal, try not lie down right after eating and chew some gum, which can neutralize the acid in your stomach and prevent it from having such an easy time coming back up. Fast foods are something to stay away from, as are fried meats, fried vegetables and fried potatoes.
