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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

reflux. nothing seems to work.

33 replies

vmcd28 · 18/10/2010 09:05

I'm nearly 35 weeks, suffering badly from reflux during the night.
It happens some nights but not others, but I can't see any obvious link, so I am assuming it is possibly to do with the way the baby is lying too. I take a Raniditine tablet an hour before bed, and a large swig of Gaviscon Advance when I go to bed.
The past two nights have been hellish. Both nights I woke up less than one hour after falling asleep, with my throat on fire. I had to have Gaviscon around 5 more times during the night. Last night I tried propping myself up a bit, but ended up with a sore back very quickly.
Any tips? Im working tomorrow so I need a restful night or I've no chance of getting through my shift

OP posts:

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PenguinNZ · 18/10/2010 09:25

Keenly watching for tips.

Thought I'd got away with it this time (I'm 25 weeks), but no such luck. I have no cures but have noticed the following makes it worse:

Eating within 2 hours of going to bed
Coffee
Anything with cinnamon
Carbs

So maybe avoiding these might help you?

Some people recommend chewing gum post eating too, but I haven't found any difference.

The good news, of sorts, is that it completely disappeared as soon as I went into labour last time.

Original poster

vmcd28 · 18/10/2010 09:33

Yep, same with me - I had it constantly with ds1, and it stopped as soon as I'd delivered him.

OP posts:

japhrimel · 18/10/2010 09:47

Sleep sitting up - a sofa or armchair can sometimes be easier to get well propped up on.

manchestermummy · 18/10/2010 09:54

Echo sleeping propped up - if you don't fancy sleeping on a chair try some firm-ish cushions underneath pillow mountain. I also always have water by my bed as this seems to soothe it (albeit very temporarily!).

I'm 37 weeks and have had this problem since week 10 - it's truly miserable and I feel for you. If it makes you feel better, it really will go once you've had the baby.

fountainpen · 18/10/2010 10:18

Hi, new to mn Am 34+1 and have had the heartburn /reflux thing for a couple of weeks. For me, trying all the other tips posted helps lots but the main thing is Maalox suspension. I was recommended it by a relative who is a GP, you have to ask for it at the pharmacy, so you can buy over the counter and then follow up with doc. Gaviscon makes me feels sick, so this has been a lifesaver.
Says in the info and your doc/pharmacist will say too but you cant use it in first trimester.

Swazzee · 18/10/2010 11:04

I'm now nearly 34 weeks and although I've had it since about week 14, the last couple of weeks have been hell. I've not tried Gaviscon or anything like that - but I've found that full fat milk cures it for me every time. If I wake up in the night, I pop to the fridge, glug some milk and that usually soothes it enough for me to go back to sleep again.

Glad milk is good for babies, as I'm getting through about a litre a day at the moment!

stuffedmk · 18/10/2010 11:17

Avoid eating anything too heavy or fatty.
I have found peppermint tea sometimes helps.
Try and sleep propped up.
I get this without being pregnant off and on and find that once I get it one day it will go on for a few days regardless of what I do but the above measures help reduce it faster than letting it run its course.
I am dreading being heavily pregnant but have the gaviscon on hand which is also helpful despite being horrible.
I have Raniditine in the cupboard but thought I couldn't take it while pregnant, has doctor said it ok?

plasticspoon · 18/10/2010 11:51

Are you taking enough ranitidine? I am on 150mg twice a day and that, plus a swig of Gaviscon Advance at lunch time and the odd midnight top-up, seems to be working for me. Sympathy, it's really horrible!

mum2oneloudbaby · 18/10/2010 12:15

i would echo plasticspoon i take ranitidine and gp said to start with one but if that wasn't enough increase to 2. Fortunately now baby has dropped somewhat I only need one to get me through most nights.

Original poster

vmcd28 · 18/10/2010 13:32

Stuffedmk, yep it's on prescription. Seems to be perfectly safe, but you should speak to gp first, in case there's a reason you personally shouldn't take during pg.

Thanks everyone for the tips. I may try sleeping on the settee tonight. As I said, lots of propping up in bed last night gave me a sore back.

Re the ranitidine. It's 300mg, once at night. The theory being that I tend to be mainly ok during the day. Does anyone think taking a dose of Gaviscon after meals (even when I feel fine), as a matter of course, would be helpful?

Swazzee, like you, I drink a lot of milk too. It normally helps, but it isn't doing as much any more.

Fountainpen, thanks for your suggestion. I'm off to investigate maalix now.

OH! I've just remembered, I've taken a Spatone iron supplement for the past two nights. I've never used it before, I wonder if thats been part of the problem.....

OP posts:

anne74 · 18/10/2010 18:13

I'm very interested in this thread. I've been suffering really badly. I'm 25 weeks but have had it since about 16/17 weeks. I've been swigging Gaviscon like there's no tomorrow but it's just getting worse. The burning is so horrible. I've got a midwife appt on Thursday so might see if she's got any other suggestions.

What foods do people find make it particularly bad? I tend to get it day and night.

Chynah · 19/10/2010 00:19

Go to the doctor and get a prescription for omeprazole - bl**dy magic!

KnockedUpMell · 19/10/2010 06:57

I am only 17 weeks, and have had really awful reflux for the past 3 weeks. Have found a magic cure by taking a bowl of sugar puff cereals with milk every night (I only get my heartburn in the evenings)! Turns out honey is also a natural remedy for heartburn, and the cereal really works a treat for me. I'm hoping it will continue to work for me throughout pregnancy, keeping my fingers crossed!

Original poster

vmcd28 · 19/10/2010 14:40

Just a quick update. Last night was quite a lot better.
I had dinner at 7pm, with a glass of water. After dinner, I took a swig of gaviscon, even tho I didn't feel like I needed any. I then had one non-alcoholic beer, but no other fizzy drinks, just water or milk. At 1030pm I started to feel acidy, so ate two rich tea biscuits, which helped. At 11 I had a ranitidine tablet with milk, and went to bed half an hour later. I took another swig of gaviscon. I woke up at 2ish feeling a bit acidy, so had more gaviscon. I woke a few more times due to being uncomfy, not due to reflux.
So, my theory is that no fizzy drinks or snacks after dinner helped, as did taking a plain biscuit when I felt the acid. Hopefully it'll work tonight too...

OP posts:

RoxieP · 19/10/2010 15:23

I don't know if this will be useful as I don't tend to get it at night, but I have found that taking a preventative dose of Gaviscon after every meal and before bed, whether I need to or not, rather than waiting for it to start, has worked for me. The Gavsicon sits on top of the contents of your stomach and prevents the reflux from happening. I find if I wait for it to start it's too late. Also cut everything greasy and fatty out of your diet. It's hard but it works. I find taht I have stopped craving fatty foods as I know I'll pay the price if I eat them! If you do actually get heartburn I find renniesd work better than gaviscon at actaully relieving it. I find the chewy ones best.

RoxieP · 19/10/2010 15:25

Oh and I use the advance gaviscon (you have to get it from the chemist) rather than the original one which doesn't work!

BlingLoving · 19/10/2010 15:27

All this sounds good but fizzy drinks and/or sugar will make the reflux flare up so a cracker might be better than tea biscuit.

Original poster

vmcd28 · 19/10/2010 16:31

roxie, yep thats my new theory - that Gaviscon as a preventative is a help. (It is Gav Advance I use). The only problem is that if I have too much it makes me a bit constipated again.

Bling, rich tea were the only biscuits I had that arent covered in chocolate :)

OP posts:

islandbaby · 19/10/2010 17:55

i second the omaprezole suggestion. It's incredible. I haven't had the slightest sign of reflux since starting to take it. Nothing. nada. zilch.

BlingLoving · 20/10/2010 09:46

But they won't let you take it when you're pregnant? I was on it before, and got taken off the moment I announced I was having a baby.

If you are on it while pregnant, please tell me how because I'm only at the beginning and i can tell this is going to be bad.

Samraves · 20/10/2010 10:05

I was on omeprazole before I got pregnant, did try and reduce my dose but back up to 40mg. the doctor has told me it is absolutely fine...

BlingLoving · 20/10/2010 11:08

Rrrreeaaallllyyy ?

Excellent. I'll stick with the Ranitdene for now but perhaps after 12 weeks when I imagine things will start getting worse I'll ask to go back to the omeprazole.

Original poster

vmcd28 · 20/10/2010 12:20

last night was another good night for me. I think not eating anything except plain biscuits after dinner is working well. And no Irn Bru after dinner. :(

OP posts:

Chynah · 20/10/2010 21:42

I was prescribed omeprazole when 30ish weeks pregnant - baby fine.

me23 · 20/10/2010 21:54

Actually omeprazole is licenced for use in pregnancy it is perfectly safe.
Ranitidine is not icenced for use in pregnancy but is considered safe as no adverse effects have been reported.

I am suffering too, it's so bad I have it all day and night and throw up with it too. Have started taking ranitidine, but am going to ask G.P for omeprazole when I see him next.

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