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Pregnancy

nighttime heartburn and tight chest

3 replies

Madigan · 05/03/2010 07:07

This is my 3rd pregnancy (30 weeks), and I have always suffered with heartburn at night - and Gaviscon usually resolves it.

But for the past week or so, I keep repeatedly being woken up with heartburn and a sore throat (which the acid has caused, I suppose - lovely!), and what I can only describe as tight and sore lungs! This brings on a coughing fit, and I feel quite short of breath for a couple of minutes. It is really unpleasant, and lasts a few minutes. I am having to sleep with about 5 pillows, so am basically sitting upright - as lying down brings on more heartburn/coughing.

I am exhausted from waking up all the time. Any tips on what I can do?

Would it help the heartburn to basically no eat anything at all in the evening?

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roary · 05/03/2010 20:17

Same thing happened to me in my first pregnancy and is happening again. I was prescribed zantac (ranitidine) by the consultant late in my first pregnancy and it was a life saver. Have been taking it since about 25 weeks this time. Heartburn is such a problem because it's both physical (tummy pusthed out he fhte usual position) and hormonal (making the sphincter that closes off your tummy more relaxed). I had aexactly the same symptoms as you and it is awful. For me, nothing worked other than the zantac Eating early does help a bit.

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zanz1bar · 05/03/2010 20:50

Forget the pillows and get some bricks.
You need to raise the head of your bed with some bricks, more pillowws can encourage you to hunch over a bit and that makes the heartburn worse.
I had it with all my pregnancies. Even sitting down for too long would make it worse. fewer pillowws but a titled bed straightens out your torso and can make it better. Only a bit better but enough for a few hours sleep before you need another glug of gaviscon.

Also if it helps not eating in the evening then don't. Have a big breakfast and snack a lot. i stoppeed eating after 5-6pm in the late stages anyway.

It is horrible and you have my sympathies, remember it will just stop once you have the baby.

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Madigan · 06/03/2010 16:52

Thank you for advice and sympathy! Will get some zantac now , see if that works.