When someone gets pregnant, the body experiences so many beautiful and miraculous things. You’re growing a human, and it’s truly incredible to see what your body is capable of. But there are also numerous challenges you have to deal with. One of the most common and unfortunately uncomfortable challenges pregnant women experience is heartburn.
This is a common symptom due to changes in hormones and increased pressure on your stomach caused by your growing baby. During pregnancy, the hormone progesterone can relax the lower esophageal sphincter, making it easier for stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus and cause heartburn, so a lot that isn’t necessarily due to what you’re eating or drinking is happening. During the first trimester, it is more likely caused by hormonal changes. Whereas during the third trimester, the baby grows bigger daily, which can be the cause.
Heartburn during pregnancy affects the digestive tract and appears as a burning sensation in the stomach and esophagus that moves all the way up to the chest. You may also be experiencing acid reflux. The pain associated with heartburn is pain coming from behind the breastbone. However, even if the feeling is annoying, it’s best to try natural remedies first instead of over-the-counter medications.
Why?
For starters, the most common heartburn medications, like Prilosec, are not considered 100% safe for a growing baby. Therefore, you may not want to risk exposing yourself and your baby to the potential side effects. Safer alternatives like over-the-counter antacids, aka Tums, are also best limited because they interfere with healthy, regular digestion and nutrient absorption, which is not ideal during pregnancy. We need to fully absorb all our nutrients for baby and focus on natural heartburn relief.
Other options include pregnancy-safe digestive enzymes or potentially including a probiotic supplement in your routine, especially if you do not enjoy any fermented foods like yogurt, miso, or sauerkraut.
Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help With Heartburn During Pregnancy
Searching for a natural remedy, such as chewing gum, ginger tea, or coconut water, or simply avoiding foods that give you heartburn, like spicy food, is a wise choice to improve digestion and reduce acid. Remember to seek professional medical advice if the sensation of heartburn persists or becomes too painful.
This leads us to our topic today: Apple Cider Vinegar, a natural way to reduce heartburn during pregnancy. Apple cider vinegar is a great natural alternative to “heartburn pills” because it contains beneficial bacteria and other elements. In small amounts, it is safe to consume during pregnancy and easy to find in most health food stores. Today’s post will discuss how apple cider vinegar helps with heartburn during pregnancy. Keep reading to find out more!
The short answer, yes, it can!
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) contains acetic acid and enzymes that can help to regulate stomach acid levels. A 2016 study found that it helped with heartburn symptoms, especially in those who didn’t respond well to over-the-counter medications, although the results were not statistically significant. Buy the ACV with mother, this is the fermented bacteria and probiotics that are usually accumulated on the top of the bottle. The unfiltered and unrefined vinegar has a cloudy and murky appearance. This is the most natural, organic, and ideal type of apple cider vinegar, even if it might look a little unappetizing.
You may wonder if ACV is safe during pregnancy since it is mostly unpasteurized. Pasteurization is a heat-treating process, so it kills most of the good bacteria when we just want to get rid of the harmful bacteria. So, pasteurized apple cider vinegar negates its benefits in the first place—unless it is being used purely for flavoring purposes!
It is ultimately up to your comfort level whether or not you want to try apple cider vinegar for heartburn relief.
How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Heartburn
Now that you know apple cider vinegar can be an easy “at-home” relief aid for heartburn during pregnancy, here is how to take it for optimal results and safety.
Take One Tablespoon Or Less
Since apple cider vinegar contains high acid levels, you should stick to one tablespoon at a time. It will be enough to help regulate the digestive juices in your stomach and relieve heartburn. Just so you know, one tablespoon is 15 milliliters, so to be sure, you can measure it as well.
Dilute ACV With Water
Again, the highly acidic content means it is best to drink diluted apple cider vinegar. The ideal ratio is one cup of water per one tablespoon. Mix it up and you are done, it’s like drinking a tall glass of water with a little extra something! It has a very unique flavor, so you’ll have to find what works best for you. Especially if you have any pregnancy food aversions, you could also throw ACV in a smoothie, or if you’re into juicing, which you guys know I’m not a huge fan of (see this post on juicing during pregnancy ), you can also add ACV to your favorite juice.
Dilute ACV With Tea
If mixing ACV in water isn’t your thing, try mixing it into a warm or iced tea. Herbal teas like ginger, peppermint, or chamomile can help mellow the sharp flavor of ACV—and might even help with nausea or digestion. The flavor is definitely unique, so experiment to see what works best for you. I like adding a splash of ACV to a cup of ginger tea—it’s soothing and feels more intentional than just drinking it in plain water.
Drink AVC Before Larger Meals
The optimal time to drink your apple cider vinegar cup is before a meal to prevent heartburn. If you like a big breakfast or typically get heartburn after breakfast, try drinking it in the morning. It may also be beneficial to drink it before a meal that is high in carbohydrates, like pizza or pasta. Try to plan ahead if you know you will be going out with friends or for a specific meal.
However, no matter which meal, do what works best for you; you may want to eat smaller meals. The point is to drink ACV before your meal so that it reduces heartburn before it really kicks in, especially if the kind of meal you are about to eat typically gives you heartburn. Ideally, you would want to avoid those foods altogether, but sometimes those are your favorite foods and hard to avoid.
Don’t Overdo It
As there isn’t any research on ACV during pregnancy, it is best not to overdo it. Pregnant women are not recommended to drink more than two cups of apple cider vinegar concoction daily, i.e., two tablespoons or 30 milliliters. So, just make sure not to go crazy with the ACV. Even though it is a natural relief solution, it must be taken in moderation! And too much of anything can cause other issues that you definitely don’t need to add to your plate during pregnancy.
Other Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar For Pregnant Women
ACV Helps Manage Blood Sugar Levels
Although the research is limited, some data suggest ACV may help with better blood sugar control, of course, coupled with a healthy diet, limiting foods high in sugar and refined carbohydrates. Keep in mind that this data is also in non-pregnant individuals. So if you have recently been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, still follow the guidelines above when using ACV during pregnancy.
ACV May Improve Heart Health
A few animal studies suggest ACV may reduce cholesterol levels, leading to improved heart health. Another study conducted in rats showed that it reduced blood pressure. However, there is no evidence in humans. So relying on ACV for a healthy heart during or after pregnancy is not wise. Your diet and lifestyle as a whole are the best ways to keep your heart healthy.
ACV Helps Relieve Morning Sickness
It’s a win-win! You might be able to knock out nausea and heartburn all in one. Many people claim that apple cider vinegar curbs morning sickness for pregnant women. However, other research states it may induce nausea when taken on an empty stomach, so tread lightly. Mixing one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with juice from half a lemon, a bit of honey, and warm water may be your new favorite drink!
ACV May Help With Pregnancy Acne
Acne during pregnancy is quite common due to hormones. Apple cider vinegar is also known to help relieve those pesky pimples that pop up! The acetic acids found in ACV are the key here. So, ACV paired with a good skincare routine and complementary treatment is a great defense system for getting clearer skin while pregnant. Mix one part apple cider vinegar with three parts room-temperature water to get the best results. Then, apply delicately to the skin with a cotton pad, and you are good to go!
Have You Taken Apple Cider Vinegar During Pregnancy?
Now you know how to use apple cider vinegar to relieve heartburn during pregnancy. That being said, there isn’t much research to support ALL the claims made on the internet about ACV, and no real research on its use during pregnancy, so it is best to limit use still and avoid regular ACV shots; just dilute it instead. And, of course, if you find it makes your heartburn WORSE at all, stop using it immediately.
Remember, everyone is different, and every pregnancy is unique. Always double-check with a doctor before trying any new supplements if you’re pregnant. And if you’re looking for more ways to improve your overall health and pregnancy experience, check out our app, The Prenatal Nutrition Library!
