Pregnancy Heartburn: Why It Happens—And Why It Has Nothing to Do with Your Baby’s Hair
Pregnancy Heartburn: Why It Happens—And Why It Has Nothing to Do with Your Baby’s Hair
Like morning sickness and strange food cravings, heartburn tends to make frequent appearances during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters. And chances are, if you’re experiencing heartburn, you’ll likely be told your baby will have a full head of hair.
However, don’t believe everything you hear.
“There’s no physiological association between a baby’s hair growth and heartburn,” says Abigail Rizk, CNM, MSN, certified nurse midwife and chief of the Division of Midwifery at University of Utah Health. “While one small 2006 study suggested a possible correlation, other studies found no connection at all. And importantly, there’s no biological reason heartburn would influence or reflect how much hair your baby grows.”
Why Heartburn Is Common During Pregnancy
Pregnancy creates the perfect conditions for heartburn. Two major changes are usually to blame:
- Hormones: Progesterone is an important hormone for supporting pregnancy, but it also works like a muscle relaxer for the lower-esophageal sphincter—a muscle that keeps food and stomach acid moving in the right direction. When that sphincter relaxes, stomach acid moves upward, causing all those unpleasant symptoms.
- Physical pressure from the growing uterus: During the last two trimesters, the uterus expands upward into the abdomen, which can cause reflux. This is why heartburn often gets worse as the delivery date gets closer.
How to Find Relief
Heartburn can be uncomfortable, but it’s usually manageable. Many over‑the‑counter antacids are considered safe for most people. Always check with your provider before starting any medication.
You may also find relief by making a few simple lifestyle changes:
- Eat smaller meals more often instead of large meals
- Avoid lying down for a couple of hours after eating
- Wear loose‑fitting clothing
- Prop yourself up at night
- Limit acidic foods and beverages (including coffee, which is safe in moderation)
And while there is no magic diet for curing heartburn, these strategies can offer some mild relief:
- Avoid acidic foods if they make symptoms worse
- Choose blander foods like milk, yogurt, oatmeal, or bananas
- Try natural digestive aids like papaya enzymes or almonds
When Heartburn Could Be Something More Serious
Most pregnancy heartburn is harmless, even if it’s uncomfortable. But Rizk emphasizes one important exception: epigastric pain. This pain is higher in the abdomen, near the breastbone or under the right rib cage, and can be a warning sign of preeclampsia, a serious complication marked by high blood pressure and organ stress.
Epigastric pain usually appears with other symptoms, including:
- High blood pressure
- Severe headaches
- Vision changes, such as spots and flashes
If you experience these symptoms, contact your provider right away.
Get the Support You Need
For most people, heartburn improves almost immediately after delivery. Until then, your care team can help you manage symptoms and make sure something more serious isn’t causing your discomfort.
At University of Utah Health, expecting parents can choose the care that fits their needs—from midwifery care and water birth to alternative pain management options and access to maternal-fetal medicine specialists for high-risk pregnancies.
“The strength of University of Utah Health comes from its academic foundation and truly collaborative approach,” Rizk says. “We practice evidence‑based medicine, and there’s a strong commitment to informed decision‑making.”
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