Heartburn During Pregnancy Myths
Suffering with heartburn during pregnancy? I do really feel for you, I had it from the beginning but it got worse as time went on and by month 6 and it was terrible. It often happened at night when I was trying to get to sleep (as if sleeping isn’t hard enough). When you’re pregnant, you’ll often be bombarded with all kinds of old wives’ tales. You’ll also discover a lot of myths circulating online regarding the symptoms you experience. In particular, there are a lot of heartburn during pregnancy myths out there, from what it means to how to get rid of it.
So how can you spot these myths and is there any truth behind them? Below you’ll discover two of the most common heartburn during pregnancy myths.
Myth #1: If you suffer with heartburn, you’ll have a hairy baby
This is by far one of the funniest heartburn myths you’ll come across. However, it’s also surprisingly one of the few myths that has some kind of truth behind it.
In 2006, researchers from the Johns Hopkins University in America, studied 64 pregnant women. They wanted to determine whether the myth was in fact true. They were surprised to learn that 23 out of 28 women who experienced severe or moderate levels of heartburn, gave birth to babies with either average or above average hair levels. On the other hand, 10 out of 12 women who didn’t suffer with bad heartburn, gave birth to babies with lower than average hair levels.
So why is there a link between heartburn and hair growth? Well, heartburn is caused usually during the third trimester of the pregnancy, due to increased estrogen levels. The hormone causes the sphincter to relax, allowing stomach acid to reach up into the oesophagus. Estrogen is also responsible for hair growth. So, the more severe the heartburn, the higher your estrogen levels are likely to be.
When you look at those results, it does appear that the myth could actually be true. However, before you get excited about your unborn babies thick, long locks, it’s worth keeping in mind it isn’t guaranteed. Many women who have suffered from severe heartburn during pregnancy have given birth to virtually bald babies.
Myth #2: Heartburn hints you’re having a boy!
The heartburn in pregnancy gender myth isn’t as common as the hair myth, yet it’s something many parents swear by. They claim if you have bad heartburn, it means you’re going to have a baby boy.
This one is actually false. There’s no evidence at all to back this up. Sure, you’ll come across a lot of mothers on forums stating they had no heartburn at all when they were pregnant with girls, but severe heartburn when they had a boy. However, you’ll also come across a lot more mothers who didn’t have heartburn at all when they had a little boy. The only way to know for sure what you’re having is by finding out at your scan.
Overall, there are some pretty bizarre heartburn during pregnancy myths you’re likely to come across. While there is some truth behind the heartburn and hair myth, unfortunately most of it is completely false. You’ll just need to wait until you actually give birth to discover just how hairy your little one is going to be!
How to Get Rid of Heartburn?
Personally I swear by Gaviscon, I asked in a chemist for some advice and Gaviscon was recommended, I used to have a shot of that when I felt it coming on and it helped a lot. I did try Rennies but they didn’t work for me. Please remember to check with your GP first.
Here are some tips on how to get rid of heartburn at home;
Eat slowly – Rushing down your food can lead to heartburn and indigestion take your time.
Sip drinks throughout the day – This will help break down any acid that builds up.
Stay upright after Meals – Don’t lie down straight after a meal
Keep your head elevated at night – Some people get special pillows to help with acid
Keep a food diary – You will then know what triggers heartburn for you (people can have different triggers)
Carla is the founder of MyBump2Baby. Carla has a huge passion for linking together small businesses and growing families. Carla’s humorous, non-filtered honesty has won the hearts of thousands of parents throughout the UK.
She has previously written for the Metro and made appearances on BBC News, BBC 5 live, LBC etc. Carla is a finalist for Blogger of the Year award with Simply Ladies inc. Carla is also the host of the popular Fifty Shades of Motherhood podcast and The MyBump2Baby Expert podcast.
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