Reviewed by The Mom Store editorial team, October 2026. See our editorial policy.
The home remedies that actually help with digestion in pregnancy are mostly about how and when you eat: smaller meals, more fibre and fluid, staying active, and not lying down soon after food. They work for the two most common problems, heartburn and constipation. Traditional fixes such as jeera water, ajwain or saunf after meals are comforting for many women, but none of the NHS guidance linked below recommends them as treatments, so treat them as a habit you enjoy rather than a remedy.
Heartburn and indigestion
The NHS page on indigestion and heartburn in pregnancy explains that hormonal changes and the growing baby pressing on your stomach are behind it, and that it becomes more common from about 12 weeks. Symptoms include a burning feeling in the chest, feeling full or bloated, burping, nausea and bringing food back up, usually soon after eating.
What the NHS suggests:
- Eat smaller meals more often instead of two or three large ones. That can mean splitting a full thali into two smaller meals.
- Do not eat within 3 hours of going to bed.
- Sit upright while you eat and for a while afterwards.
- Cut back on caffeine and on rich, spicy or fatty foods. You do not have to give up spice entirely; notice which dishes set you off.
- Raise your head and shoulders in bed with extra pillows, and try sleeping on your left side.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking.
If changes to your eating are not enough, a pharmacist can suggest an antacid or alginate, but tell them you are pregnant, because some are not suitable. The NHS also advises taking antacids at least 2 hours apart from iron or folic acid tablets, as they can stop them being absorbed properly.
Constipation
Constipation is common in pregnancy and after birth. The NHS page on constipation says its simple self help measures are safe to try while you are pregnant:
- Build up fibre gradually from fruit, vegetables, whole grains, oats or linseed. The NHS guide to a healthy diet in pregnancy notes that fibre helps prevent constipation. Whole wheat rotis, dalia, brown rice, guava and pears are easy ways to add it.
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially as you add fibre.
- Stay active. A daily walk helps many women go more regularly.
- Keep a routine: go at the same time each day, give yourself enough time, and do not put off the urge.
- Rest your feet on a low stool so your knees are higher than your hips.
Do not take a laxative, churan or herbal digestive powder without checking first. A pharmacist or your doctor can tell you which laxatives are suitable in pregnancy.
Bloating and wind
Bloating often comes with both heartburn and constipation, so the same steps help: smaller meals, eating slowly, fibre with enough water, and a walk during the day. Loose clothes that do not press on your tummy after eating make it more comfortable to live with.
When to see your doctor
See your doctor or midwife if heartburn or constipation is not getting better with these changes. Get checked promptly if you have:
- difficulty swallowing, a hoarse voice or a cough that will not go away
- weight loss, or pain or swelling in your stomach
- blood in your poo
- constipation that is not improving with treatment, or you feel tired all the time
Contact your maternity unit urgently if heartburn does not ease with antacids, or if you also have severe pain just below the ribs, a very bad headache, problems with your vision, or sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet. The NHS page on swelling in pregnancy lists these as possible signs of preeclampsia.
This article is general information and does not replace advice from your doctor.
