What Can Pregnant Women Take For Heartburn

Don’t Eat Right Before Bed

Having a hearty meal and then heading to bed is a recipe for heartburn, warns Joel Richter, MD, director of the division of gastroenterology and nutrition and the esophageal diseases center at the University of South Florida, in Tampa, who has studied heartburn during pregnancy. He recommends trying not to eat for at least three hours before you go to sleep. You should also try to avoid liquids starting a few hours before bedtime.

Heartburn Symptoms And Pre

If your heartburn symptoms donât go away with medicine, itâs important to see your doctor as it may be a sign of something more serious, such as pre-eclampsia. A pregnant woman with pre-eclampsia usually has high blood pressure and problems with her kidneys. Pre-eclampsia could also seriously affect a womanâs liver, blood and brain. Any pregnant woman can experience pre-eclampsia â almost 1 in 20 Australian women will develop it.

Because pre-eclampsia is dangerous for both you and your baby, you should let your doctor know if your heartburn medicine is not working. This is especially important if youâre also feeling very unwell or you have:

• sudden swelling of your hands, feet or face
• a headache that doesnât go away with simple painkillers
• problems with your eyesight such as blurring or seeing flashing lights or dots
• a strong pain below your ribs

Find out more about how pre-eclampsia is treated here.

Don’t Treat Tums Like Candy

As with most things, moderation is key. According to the manufacturer’s website, pregnant individuals are advised to limit themselves to a maximum of 15 TUMS Regular Strength 500 within any 24 hour period. The maximums differ from product to product, so be sure to read the bottle carefully and consult with a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.

Dr. Clark suggests keeping an eye on intake and symptoms. “If you find you are using TUMS daily or they do not relieve your symptoms, be sure to let your obstetrical care provider know.”

But if TUMS aren’t working to relieve your symptoms after a while, don’t fret. “It may be time to consider alternative therapy for your symptoms of GERD, like a prescription medication,” says Dr. Clark.

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Which Diet And Lifestyle Changes Relieve Heartburn During Pregnancy

The management of heartburn during pregnancy involves many of the same principles as management in the non-pregnant state. Lifestyle changes may include:

What Could Be Causing My Diarrhea

You could be suffering from the usual suspects food poisoning, irritable bowel syndrome, a virus or diverticulitis to name a few. There are also a few pregnancy related issues. It may be your bodys natural response to pregnancy or your pre-natal vitamin may be at fault. Your stomach lining may be reacting to the high iron content or simply disagree with your multivitamin. Generally a condition, for example diverticulitis is going to be pre-existing and you will have discussed it with your doctor, so diarrhea is not going to be a surprise during your pregnancy.

If you are suffering from loose, watery bowel movements note down the frequency and consistency. It will help your doctor determine what may be causing it if your diarrhea persists.

Diarrhea occurring later in your pregnancy can trigger labor or even pre-term labor. If you lose too much fluid you become dehydrated which in turn can stimulate the uterus causing it to contract and labor to begin.

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Can Acid Reflux During Pregnancy Hurt My Unborn Baby

Dr. Johnson assures that simple reflux on its own is not harmful to fetuses. It is only when there is a drastic effect on nutritional input that GERD during pregnancy could become a problem. If symptoms are preventing you from eating the recommended number of calories, it is important to contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Natural Remedies For Pregnancy Heartburn

Diet and lifestyle modifications are the primarytreatments for GERD during pregnancy. Try the following steps to manage acid reflux during pregnancy:

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Eno Has Many Ingredients

You must have heard about the phrase unable to keep the food and liquids down. Do you know what this means? It means that it is widespread in pregnancy that the food you eat will come out again. It will come out of your stomach when you vomit. I should also warn you that what will also expect to vomit. What is the main reason why you cant keep the food down? The main reason is that the stomach cannot digest the food and hold it in your stomach. As a result, the food comes out of your mouth.

The best way to digest your food is to use eno. Eno has many ingredients. Those ingredients primary function is that they break down all the food inside your stomach to digest it. Have you heard about the thing called the acid in your stomach? If you havent, let me tell you about it. This acid helps in breaking down the food for the stomach to digest. Eno has specific ingredients that boost this acids function, and it breaks down food faster and better.

One other positive thing about eating eno is that it controls nausea. You must have heard about the word nausea if you were searching on a website about pregnancy. Nausea is the most common thing in pregnancy, and you should not be worried bout it. Most women rush to doctors fearing that it will harm the baby inside them. That is not the case as nausea does not harm the baby, and it happens in extreme cases otherwise, it is considered normal.

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How Can I Prevent Or Treat Travellers Diarrhea

Travellers diarrhea can be more severe in pregnancy. It can also pose a risk to your baby, especially if the diarrhea is caused by a more serious infection such as toxoplasmosis, listeriosis or hepatitis E.

Avoid using bismuth subsalicylate to treat diarrhea. Speak to your health care provider about what medications you are able to take.

To help prevent travellers diarrhea, you need to follow good personal hygiene practices and be careful about what you eat and drink. For tips on how to stay healthy while travelling, see HealthLinkBC File #41e Travellers Diarrhea.

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Natural Ways To Relieve Pregnancy Heartburn

There isnt much that can be done about preventing the organic causes of heartburn during pregnancyhormones and babys growth are natural and wanted aspects of pregnancy. So what can you do?

First, its important to avoid over-the-counter options, like Zantac. Although some practitioners will tell you these conventional medications are safe during pregnancy, new research suggests they arent safe during pregnancy or ever. In fact, many big name storesCVS, Walmart, and Walgreens, to name a fewrecently pulled these drugs from their shelves over concerns that they contain cancer-causing agents.

The good news is most women with healthy, normal pregnancies will find easy, convenient, and effective measures to relieve heartburn discomfort naturally, including:

Look Out For Medication With Magnesium Oxide

The heartburn medicines that include magnesium oxide are good for pregnancy. They will increase the amount of magnesium in your system to help limit the production of stomach acid and reduce the flare up of your heartburn.

Look out for those in tablet form and use as little water as possible. When you swallow any type of liquid, you will start the acid production in your stomach. By keeping the water to as little as possible, the tablets can just get to work on your system.

Antacids with magnesium in it will neutralize the acidic effects. It doesnt affect any other part of your body, so your baby isnt going to be affected.

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Symptoms Of Indigestion And Heartburn

Symptoms of indigestion and heartburn include:

• a burning sensation or pain in the chest
• feeling full, heavy or bloated
• burping or belching
• feeling or being sick
• bringing up food

Symptoms usually come on soon after eating or drinking, but there can sometimes be a delay between eating and developing indigestion.

You can get symptoms at any point during your pregnancy, but they are more common from 27 weeks onwards.

Is A Woman Considered Weak If She Doesnt Have A Natural Birth

Labor and giving birth are hard work, and its not called labor for nothing, as women and their bodies work extremely hard during this time to help the baby make its way into the world.

In addition to being hard work, labor is also extremely painful for most women, as the uterus must contract forcefully in order to open enough for the baby to fit through the birth canal.

So, in no way should a woman be considered weak if she asks for medication or an epidural during labor, as she is bringing a miracle into the world and should be commended either way.

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Why Does It Happen In Pregnancy

Many women who have heartburn during pregnancy have never had problems before. Unfortunately, if you had heartburn before becoming pregnant, youre more likely to have symptoms while you are pregnant. Although the exact reasons arent clear, most experts believe that pregnancy hormones, particularly progesterone, play a role. Hormones cause relaxation of the esophageal sphincter. This is a tight circular band of muscle at the top of the stomach. This allows partially digested food and stomach acids to backflow, or reflux, into the esophagus. In addition, progesterone also slows the digestive process. This keeps food in the stomach longer. The pregnancy itselfthe upward pressure of the growing uterusalso may play a role.

Heartburn Often Appears During The Second Trimester And It Can Get Worse As Your Belly Grows Learn More About What Causes Heartburn During Pregnancy With Five Expert Tips For Relieving The Pain

Like the name implies, heartburn is a burning sensation in your chest but it has nothing to do with your heart. It happens when the lower esophageal sphincter , a muscle responsible for keeping stomach contents in their place, begins to relax or leak. This allows stomach acids to flow upward into the esophagus, explains Suzanne Trupin, M.D., CEO of Women’s Health Practice of Champaign, Ill.

Unfortunately, “most women will experience some acid reflux , especially in the second half of their pregnancy,” says Shari Brasner, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York City. The uncomfortable sensation tends to get worse as your baby grows.

Heartburn usually appears after meals or at bedtime, and it can range from uncomfortable to agonizing. Understanding the causes and prevention strategies can provide relief to expectant moms. Heres what you need to know about heartburn in pregnancy.

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Is Frequently Consuming Large Quantities Of Junk Food During Pregnancy Reckless

Frequently consuming large quantities of junk food is reckless whether a woman is pregnant or not, but even more so while shes pregnant.

A fetus needs an immense amount of nutrients in order to grow healthy and strong, and most junk food is devoid of any vitamins and minerals.

Its acceptable to splurge on a reasonable amount of junk food on an occasional basis during pregnancy but consuming it too often could lead to unwanted health conditions for both mom and baby.

Which Medicines Can I Take

If lifestyle changes donât provide you with relief, you may want to consider taking a medicine to help with your heartburn. Itâs always important to check with your pharmacist or GP before taking any medicines during pregnancy.

Some types of antacids can be taken in pregnancy. These help neutralise excess acid, relieving symptoms. You can find antacids as chewable tablets or in liquid form. Check with your pharmacist which antacids are most suitable to be used in pregnancy.

If youâre still getting symptoms, or youâre vomiting frequently because of heartburn, itâs best to speak with your midwife or GP who will be able to offer you further advice.

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When Should You See A Healthcare Provider About Heartburn Or Reflux During Pregnancy

Check in with your healthcare provider if calcium carbonate antacids dont seem to be helping. You should also reach out to them if you need to use them frequently for more than 2 weeks.

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any of these other symptoms with your heartburn:

• Weight loss

• Pain or cramps in your lower belly, side, or back

• Severe diarrhea that doesnt go away

• New or worsening nausea or vomiting

• Blood in your stool or stools that are very dark

When Can You Expect Heartburn During Pregnancy To End

When can you expect the heartburn to go away? If youre worried that the answer to this question is never, do not despair. Unless you had GERD prior to getting pregnant, your heartburn will almost certainly go away after you deliver your baby, says Dr. Qin.

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It doesnt go away immediately after childbirth, but over time, as the pregnancy hormones go down and as the abdominal pressure decreases, she says.

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What Is Acid Reflux During Pregnancy

People use the terms heartburn and acid reflux to mean the same thing. But they have different definitions:

• Acid reflux refers to the LES not tightening as it should. This allows the stomach acid to travel from your stomach up to your esophagus.
• Heartburn, the feeling of pain or burning in your chest, is a symptom of acid reflux.

Women may have acid reflux during pregnancy and experience heartburn due to changing hormone levels and the baby growing.

What Does Gerd Feel Like During Pregnancy

GERD can wear many hats and feel different in each individual, says Dr. Garza. Some may experience an intense burning sensation in the chest and throat, while for others it is a sharp pain just below and slightly to the left of the sternum. Some will have a sour taste or frequent regurgitation or burping. Often, symptoms are worse after meals, and this may make eating challenging, notes Dr. Ross.

Because the symptoms can be wide-ranging and different for each person, it is important to know what symptoms are concerning. Rarely, GERD can cause severe esophageal irritation that leads to pain or difficulty with swallowing, or even bleeding. Passing dark or black stool would be concerning for the development of bleeding and should prompt an immediate discussion with your physician/obstetrician, says Dr. Garza. He also cautions that GERD does not typically cause shortness of breath, pain with breathing, nor chest pain with exertion. Any of these symptoms could be signs of a more worrisome complication of pregnancy, especially the development of a blood clot, and would indicate that medical advice is necessary.

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Diarrhea In The Third Trimester

Experiencing pregnancy diarrhea near your due date? Loose stools could mean your body is preparing for delivery. Toward the end of pregnancy, your body releases prostaglandins that help soften the cervix. These hormones could also soften bowel movements. While this may sound yucky, keep in mind past generations of mothers were given enemas when they started labor. Loose stools are typically natures way of clearing things out.

Heartburn Medicines When Your Are Pregnant

All the medications that you would usually take become questionable when youre pregnant. There are some that thin the blood and others that cause problems for the cell growth and structures of your growing little one.

Now you must think twice about what to take and what to avoid regarding heartburn medicine. It can be tricky, especially when it comes to the symptoms of pregnancy. You have to put up with pain, sickness, and heartburn medicine.

The good news is that many heartburn medicine and medications are safe during pregnancy. Here are 15 that you can definitely take, with some over the counter options and some herbal remedies to soothe and treat your acid reflux.

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