Maybe you’ve heard that the more heartburn you have while you’re pregnant, the more hair your baby will have when he’s born? Believe it or not, a small study recently showed that there may be a link between the severity of heartburn and the amount of hair your baby has at birth.
While baby’s hair doesn’t cause heartburn, the hormones that contribute to baby hair growth are also associated with heartburn. So, if you’re feeling the burn, your baby may be arriving with a full head of hair!
What causes heartburn during pregnancy?
About 80% of pregnant women suffer from heartburn. It is one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy, often beginning around month two and carrying on until your little one is born. It happens when large amounts of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and relaxin relax the smooth muscle tissues throughout the body.
This impacts the gastrointestinal tract, esophagus, and the valve between your stomach and esophagus. This relaxed valve is less able to stop the backflow of contents from your stomach into your esophagus.
This can irritate the esophageal lining and cause a burning sensation in your throat and chest area. Your relaxed digestive tract also slows the movement of food, which contributes to constipation.
Later on, the added pressure of your growing uterus on your stomach and intestines can make things worse. Add in the increased acidity in your stomach caused by your pregnancy, and you feel the symptoms from all these factors.