Blimey, wasn't expecting this! SEVERE heartburn

[notnowbernard]

Well, I hope that's all it is anyway...

Never had this before in previous pregnancies

This one (I'm 35w), is almost unbearable! (The heartburn)

Am downing bottles of Gaviscon, literally

Is this a really normal symptom of pregnancy?! I really didn't know this

[vicbar]

I had this with DC 3 and 4 Im currently drinking a large bottle of Gaviscon every 2 days. Just got told to avoid sopicy food onions and toms but as it doesnt make any difference I just take the Gaviscon.
Im also 35 weeks so am feeling your pain.

[notnowbernard]

Horrible, isn't it?

I can't fathom what foods are making it flare up or worsen, either

It can come on quite suddenly

[diggingintheribs]

the doctor can you give you something that works better than gaviscon - I just can't for the life of me remember what it's called as I only had it last pregnancy

cold milk works well for me

At 35 weeks though take heart - won't be long before the baby starts to drop and it will ease up (I'm 37 weeks and it went a week ago despite baby only just starting to age the last couple of days)

[notnowbernard]

Baby is fully engaged already!

[TheNextMrsDepp]

I was the same. I slept propped up on pillows and bought shares in Gaviscon.

[peppapighastakenovermylife]

Zantac! But check with your doctor first

[Raahh]

I totally sympathise- had it really badly last time, and worse this. M only 26 week, been suffering since 12.
The doctor prescribed Ranitidine (zantac) and it really worked.

I otherwise took rennies as gaviscon (especially in liquid form) makes me heave.

Good luck- not long to go!

[Raahh]

x-posts

[dilbertina]

Oh yes, get the stronger stuff from GP, I was quite peeved I struggled with horrific acid through first 2 pregnancies and he only mentioned the stronger miracle cure third time around...! I can't remember what it is called either but you take one pill each morning and it works like magic!

[Tootiredforgodtyping]

How's your blood pressure? Severe heartburn pain can be a sign of a severe form of preeclampsiacalled Hellp Syndrome. If you have any of the other symthoms below you should contact your mw asap. Some times your bp doesn't go up until it turns critical. Don't want to worry you but if you have any other sympthoms you should get checked out and probably have some bloods done

Symptoms of HELLP Syndrome

The physical symptoms of HELLP Syndrome may seem at first like other pregnancy-induced high blood pressure conditions (such as preeclampsia).
Signs for a pregnant woman to look for include one or all of the following:

headache
nausea/vomiting
heartburn
epigastric (stomach) tenderness and right upper quadrant pain (from liver distention)
These symptoms may or may not be present:

severe headache
bleeding
visual disturbances
swelling
high blood pressure
protein in the urine

[dilbertina]

Ranitidine - that's the one! You can get zantac over the counter I think but my GP prescribed a stronger version I seem to remember. Good luck - not long to go now!

[notnowbernard]

Right, will book GP appt to get Zantac ASAP!

Re those other symptoms... saw mw on Fri. BP was fine, urine fine, no other probs

[wigglesrock]

I had really bad heartburn with my first dd, seriously thought I was dying (never having had heartburn before!!) My very old and slightly frightening granny (93) told me it was the sign of a baby with a "powerful" head of hair!!. My dd came out with a jet black bouffant to rival Elvis, seriously midwives and nurses were coming up to look at her from other wards. Subsequent pregnancy no heartburn - bald as a coot baby!! Now expecting 3dc heartburn is back!!

[Raahh]

Ha! Ha ! i heard that too- wigglesrock - and i am expecting this one to be a Yeti!
(no h/b in with ds- bald, loads of it with dd, hairy)!

Maybe there is some truth in the old wives tales!

[notnowbernard]

Interesting...

Both Dc had hair at birth, but not LOADS of it

Wonder if this one will be a bit Hairy Maclairy...

[wigglesrock]

Honestly had to take dd1 to have proper haircut at 8 months, dd2 didn't need hairdressers until 2ish, dd1 now has the most beautiful hair even if i do say so myself, btw frightening old granny still alive at 98, and still passing on some scary but true wisdoms on childbirth!!

[marriednotdead]

Had a sudden attack of heartburn at 16 weeks with ds, so bad I left dinner on the table to go to the shop for antacids. Despite craving for milk (4-6 pints a day) it never really went away.
DS was nicknamed the Rennie monster as I was buying them in bulk boxes of 96.
And yes, he was (and still is) a furball

[Chynah]

I had severe heartburn with DD whie she was breech - was prescribed Omemprazole which was absolute magic - might be worth seeing if you can get it. (Gaviscon advance and ranitidine coudn't touch it!)

[LittleBeth53]

Tell me about it! I'm nearly 30 weeks & I'm in agony every single day! I went to the doctors last week complaining of a sore throat & he said it's because the heartburn is THAT bad, acid is rising into my throat & scorching it, thats why my throat is so sore!

He didn't have any solution for the heartburn though. Gaviscon & Pepto Bismol turn my stomach, the doc said lay off Rennie coz there's something in them unsuitable for pregnant women so all I can take is Tums (which only just work but taste the best by far) & I'm drinking milk like it's going out of fashion because it's a good heartburn soother.

I was warned of the heartburn when I first fell pregnant but I never expected this! It's torture!

[CarmenSanDiego]

Zantac/famotidine is really effective and is used quite commonly in pregnancy and considered relatively safe (Category B)

Omeprazole works really really well but is Category C. It's still used quite frequently in pregnancy though.

Heartburn can be really awful to deal with. I'm on omeprazole (but not pregnant) as antacids just don't cut it.

(More on categories here)

[CarmenSanDiego]

Whoops, sorry Zantac is ranitidine (also Cat B).

[vmcd28]

Had this with my DS, and he was bald, and had very little hair for about a year!

[Paranoid1stTimer]

I too had the most awful heartburn all through from 16 weeks and before that I had full on all day sickness. I was relieved when the morning sickness went but it was basically replaced with the heartburn so I was in LOVE with Gaviscon liquid (the mint one - original one makes me sick).

Anyway, towards the end of pregnancy, my LO was so massive that I could hardly eat a thing since it felt like my stomach was the size of a pea and the heartburn turned into feeling like my stomach acid was just constantly sitting in my chest burning away and I had terrible acid reflux.

LO was born and had a good head of blonde hair - but his shoulders and back were covered in hair (which fell off after a week or two) so maybe as you all say, the old wives tales are sometimes a bit true.

I sympathise with you - it is truly horrible horrible horrible. In my case it went as soon as LO was born (well I noticed it was gone a few days after the birth when things had calmned down) so you will likely forget how bad it was!

Hope you feel better soon n get something to help

[KnitterInTheNW]

My heartburn wasn't as bad as a lot of you have had it, but I found that sipping sparkling water kept it at bay a bit. Might be worth a try?