This pregnancy has really thrown me for a loop! (TWINS…Yikes!) My last two pregnancies were pretty standard with the traditional aches, pains and discomforts but overall I was like the superhero of pregnant ladies. I was stacking firewood, painting and working a full time job that required quite a bit of running around all the way up to my due date. I was active and most of the more severe symptoms didn’t come around until the last few weeks…but this time…eeesh! I have felt like I was in the last few weeks of gestation for the bulk of the pregnancy!
One of the symptoms I’ve had every pregnancy is Acid Reflux. However, like pretty much everything this time around, it’s so much worse. I tried Tums, 12 hour antacids, papaya enzymes, natural supplements and more but nothing seemed to help especially for instant relief. That fire in your throat feeling just hung out all the time. It was especially worse at night when I tried to lay down.
I started looking up home remedies and suggestions on how to help. Two things I read about that might help were aloe water and baking soda. One article suggested mixing baking soda with a little bit of water and drinking it. Aloe water was suggested as a couple times a day substance to help overall digestion and eventually help with the acid. I actually always have aloe water on hand (the stuff helps with so many things). This is the kind I get because it’s not bitter or thick so it’s very easy to take.
Anyway, I thought, why not mix it all up? Take both the aloe water and baking soda at once. So, here is what I call my elixir before bed.
Aprx. 1 shot glass of Aloe water
Aprx 1 shot glass of regular water
1 Teaspoon of baking soda
Mix it all up until baking soda is dissolved and chug it down!
I have to warn you, it’s not tasty but when you’re desperate for relief I think you’ll find its not THAT bad. Also, heads up, it will make you burp like a sailor for about 20 minutes or so. Sometimes this is not pleasant if you have to take it following a meal you’d rather not revisit. BUT…
That burping somehow will give you the relief you need. The burning in your throat will subside!
For me, this is generally a temporary relief. I do this more for that instant help so you can actually lay down for bed. I sometimes would still have to take a 12 hour antacid to get me through the night but we all know those don’t give you any instant relief.
Obviously, I’m not a doctor, or even close to one so please take this as a shared experience for what worked for me. I just wanted to share in case I could help anyone else get some relief.
I did ask my doctor if there were any repercussions from this routine I should worry about. He told me I would have to consume a lot more baking soda in any given day to be concerned about side effects. He encouraged the continued use 1 or 2 times a day especially if it helped me.
Let me know if it helps you too!
