Heartburn

[Heartbeep]

Im 34 weeks pregnant & for the first time in my life I have heartburn.

It's constant I can't get any relief. I'm hungry but in agony after eating, waking up at night in pain. I'm taking gaviscon tablets but they're not doing anything.

Are there any foods that won't give me heartburn or does anyone know what else I can take or can I take more gaviscon than the box recommends to see if that helps?

Thanks.

Try a muiller light yoghurt, they were my saviour or half a glass of milk Not low fat i know but if needs must!

The Gaviscon liquid is much better than the tablets - I was all squeamish about it but the peppermint one isn't too bad and the double action one (bright pink bottle is actually great, I've come to quite like the taste! Have several bottles dotted around the house and am just swigging it straight from the bottle. I'm 34 weeks too and been suffering for a while!

I've also been drinking milkshake, which I know is bad but mmmmmm, and eating small amounts (well...) of vanilla ice cream. Cold and creamy seems to do the trick.

Things that I've found make it worse - fruit and fruit juice, fizzy drinks, spicy foods, and anything slightly acidic really. I'm much better with plain things, the creamier the better - cheesy pasta sauce, risottos with sour cream, that kind of thing.

Also, I'm sure you know this already, but laying down too soon after eating is a bad idea (so earlier dinner perhaps) and don't lean back on the sofa after dinner or anything - I'm only alright if I'm sitting bolt upright!

I had a spell of this and spoke to a midwife at the hosp. She recommended sending my DH to buy every single kind of heartburn remedy. I was then to try them all until I found one that worked.

I had been prescribed Gaviscon but it didn't work. In the end the 'Fruity Tums' from Asda did the trick . We now have 20 odd packets of heartburn meds!

I've suffered with a couple of really agonising bouts, woke me up and thought i was having a heart attack! Was being sick and struggled to breathe.

We actually went to the hospital (suspected gall stones) and the nurse gave me a massive serving of Gaviscon and some paracetomol. Ten minutes later the pain was gone and I felt very silly.

The nurses exact words were chug the stuff until the pain goes. Which is what I've done ever since and managed to fend off attacks.

The aniseed one doesn't work as well as the peppermint one in my experience. But literally chug 10ml at a time with a five minute gap in between until the pain is gone or the acid dies down has been a god send.

Good luck!

i guess it's different for everyone, tums almost made me throw up in the first trimester so they're out for me. i've found Gaviscon and the boots own version works really well, it's foul and i have to have a drink of something afterwards but it really works. and also an ice lolly (although only temporarily)

Liquid stuff is definitely better for me (39+4). I got some cheap stuff from Morrisons which works a treat.

I'm 34 weeks and have just started to get heartburn too. It's not bad enough yet that I need to medicate but I had a really gross episode today (TMI ALERT) where I was bent down hoovering and a whole load of clear watery fluid came pouring out my nose. It felt really acidic so I think it was some kind of heartburn reflux type stuff. Eugh. I was hoovering DH's car which he is preparing to trade in for a big family-mobile. There goes another £500 off the price .

Definately liquid Gaviscon is better than tablets, just chug straight from the bottle (I've had heartburn since 15wks and have gone through bottles of the stuff, have to sleep sitting up). I've also started taking a 75mg ranitidine tablet before bed (sometimes 2 cos you can take up to 150mg per 24hrs) and they work really well and are safe in pregnancy. The doc will prescribe it for you (150mg tablets I think from docs) but if just for occasional use you can buy the 75mg ones over the counter (otc Zantac tablets are 75mg ranitidine). At the mo I'm just buying Tesco's own, £1 for a box of 12

Thanks for all the suggestions. I've got the liquid stuff but it was making me gag, I'll try it again as this is so painful. Sorry to those who've been suffering for a long time, it's horrible.

I'll also stock up on a few brands tomorrow.

DD had reflux when she was newborn, now I know why she was so grouchy!

Rennie's work for me

I'm in same situation at 22 weeks- I ate too late the other night and ended up vomiting all the dinner up in the night!
I'm sleeping bolt upright, sipping gallons of milk through a straw and have antacids dotted everywhere in the house, every room, handbag and car!
I don't like the gaviscon double action tablets as they seem to coat my teeth but I do like the Fruity Tums and the spearmint Rennies. Tums work better but the bottle says I can only take 7 in a day
I haven't tried the liquid gaviscon yet- I remember using it with DD as the GP prescribed it but the tablets are a bit more convenient.

I've had it since about 12weeks. I'm now 21. Gaviscon liquid made me vomit yesterday, and the tablets only work while I have one in my mouth. Today I took 1 75mg ranitidine at about 4 pm and I've been fine since. Is £2,99 for 12 from boots so going to see gp about a prescription.

it's a pound for 12 in tesco, but get gp to prescribe it for free -you sshould have your maternity exemption cert. my gp is umming and aahing about prescribing ranitidine for me, as no-one else seems to prescribe it at the surgery. Just watch with the liquid gaviscon - it contains a lot of sodium, so if you have high blood pressure, it is worth looking at something like ranitidine instead.

You should get your bp checked ASAP as heartburn type pain can be a sign of pre eclampsia.

I've had heartburn since week 14...some underlying problems in the stomach though.
I use Gaviscon liquid and I'm also on Omeprazole which is amazing. Prescription drug so need to go to the GP for that but it really works wonders.

Boots own indigestion tablets worked for me last pregnancy, I haven't had it much this time round but still keep a pack handy

Sleep/lie only on your left, on the right opens your oesophagus and makes it worse

I slept almost upright with about 5 pillows

hope you get some relief soon!

Love hearts are a bit of a random alternative. I also hate the liquid Gaviscon - it makes me gag and want to vomit for at least half an hour after taking it and the ultra fine texture of the tablet also was gross. But love hearts have helped a bit. Not so good for your teeth though!

Finally something for which the remedy is sweets, glasses of cream and icecream!