Is It Safe To Use Eno During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a very delicate situation. Everything you do during this phase, especially what you consume, directly impacts your baby’s well being. And the innumerable advice that comes your way doesn’t make it easy either, because it’s difficult to separate myths from facts. One such burning topic is about consumption of Eno during pregnancy. With heartburn and acidity being common during pregnancy, it is natural for expecting mothers to look for a fast-relief method. Although Eno works pretty well for most of us, its potential risks or benefits on a fetus are hitherto unknown. Here we share some of the common questions about it and its answers by people from various walks of life and get a peek into their opinions and experiences.

In This Article

Are There Any Harmful Effects Of Eno?

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“Yes. It is really very harmful to body to drink or take daily 5 gram Eno, irrespective of flavours, contains 2.32g Soda Bicarb (Meetha Soda selling Rs 30 a Kg with your grocer); Citric acid 2.18 g, and Anhydrous sodium carbonate 0.50 g. Total sodium content, 0.85g is enough for day’s body need. Therefore, if there is salt in your other meals as well, intake of sodium become more than double the normal requirement by your body. Its excess may cause your body to retain water. It is also harmful to heart. Please avoid its regular use.”

– Vivek Bhagwat, BA MA Ph.D., on Quora.

“Most doctors will instruct their patients to use a non-systemic (not absorbed by the body) antacid to provide relief of symptoms. Although most antacids are generally thought to be safe during pregnancy, there are no medical studies that prove it, and safest would be to use the ones most often used and known to be safe.”

– Sara Cortez, on Quora

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“The following is a list of possible side effects that can arise from any component of Eno Powder. This is not a comprehensive list. These side effects are possible but not always occur. Some of the side effects can be rare but serious. Consult your doctor if you notice any of the following, especially if they do not disappear.

Muscle pain or twitching
Nausea or vomiting
Vomit
Stomach cramps
Gas
Eno Powder can also cause side effects that are not listed here.”

– Riya Srivastava, on Quora

Here’s some expert advice too:

Is Eno Safe In Pregnancy?

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“During pregnancy, it is advised that you discuss the use of ALL medication (even OTC stuff) with your gynec first.…. Non-systemic antacids contain magnesium, aluminum or a combination of both and include products such as Gaviscon. Although most antacids are generally thought to be safe during pregnancy there are no medical studies that prove it!”

-Irene Danckwerts, Registered Pharmacist at Tygervalley, Cape Town, on Health24 website.

Is It Safe To Use Eno During Pregnancy?

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“Honestly I used Eno throughout my pregnancy (my daughter just turned 6 months). And I did not have any issues. Moreover, I asked my doctor before doing so just to be on the safe side.”

– Kulvinder Gill, mother of one, on Quora.

“Eno is a brand name for sodium bicarbonate with citric acid. It is considered low risk during pregnancy.” Peter Clark, Family Physician with ALS, on Quora

As you can see, various people have different opinions about the use of Eno during pregnancy. And, the fact that there’s absolutely no research done in this area, makes it all the more complicated. So, while the jury is still out there about its use, we recommend that, as a thumb rule, to consult your Gynecologist before you try it out. Until then, you can always try safer and natural methods to deal with pregnancy heartburn. Be careful and have a safe pregnancy!

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