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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Heartburn -- done to death, I'm sure, but HELP!

58 replies

TobyLerone · 27/09/2013 09:07

Gaviscon makes me boak, even the tablets.

I don't drink milk, but only because it's disgusting, not because I'm intolerant or anything.

Standard Rennies are the only thing which doesn't make me heave, and they do take the edge off for a few minutes. I'm waking up in the night with basically a mouthful of acid. My GP won't give me omeprazole or ranitidine.

What can I do?! I have googled and every site which promises 'remedies' actually gives 'ways to stop getting heartburn' instead. I know not to eat big meals late at night, not to bend over/lie down, to avoid spicy food/citrus/greasy stuff etc. But REMEDIES are what I need!

What's your secret? Ice cream? Apples? Sacrificing the cat by a full moon?

OP posts:

Report

TobyLerone · 27/09/2013 12:48

Now that's not a bad idea...

OP posts:

roofio87 · 27/09/2013 12:50

sorry op, my post wasn't particularly helpful. take or don't take whatever you feel comfortable. I've had one person tell me they swear by drinking coconut water after meals and one that said a handful of almonds a day helped. not tried either myself but maybe worth a go?! hope you get some relief soon!

MisselthwaiteManor · 27/09/2013 12:57

I was wondering about infant gaviscon you know the little powder sachets? Tipped into a glass of something. But if you can stomach normal gaviscon in a milkshake then that might be your problem sorted!

andadietcoke · 27/09/2013 13:02

Weird that about the GP not prescribing ranitidine. The MW in hospital recommended it to me, and it was what I was given the night before my csection to prevent reflux. Still, though, respect your reasons.

Have you tried the different types of gaviscon? I couldn't have some but the double action one was more palatable. The propping up in bed did work for me too, but it was so nice to sleep flat again when I got home after delivery!!

MildredH · 27/09/2013 13:15

OP, I'd wait a week or so and go back to a different doctor and say its worsening and affecting how much nutrition you're about to keep down.

I'm on omeprazole and it made a huge difference.. I really feel it when I forget to take it.

The BNF states- not known to be harmful in pregnancy. I'm a doctor myself and I think looking at risks vs benefits the benefits definitely win!

It's definitely worth persevering. Other measures will help but it's miserable finding everything you eat and drink causes you a problem.

Good luck OP

grassalwayslooksgreener · 27/09/2013 13:22

I swore by 'Tums' tablets and mints such a Tic-Tacs or extra strong mints.

Hope you feel better soon its one of the downsides of pregnancy

BummyMummy77 · 27/09/2013 14:19

I've had it for years before hand. I never twigged what it was until someone pointed out GERD when I was 5 months pregnant.

Slippery Elm works to soothe the throat, papaya enzymes are great, fresh papaya if you can get it also.

I've been prescribed pantoprazole which has pretty much knocked it on the head. It's meant to be more effective and safer than opramazole (it's category 'b' in the states rather than 'c' like opramazole). I'm pretty sure you can get it in the UK too.

Be careful with the chalky anti acids. Some are not so safe in pregnancy, google them first.

Another thing I saw on a forum which has worked for me is apple cider vinegar. Just a couple of tea spoons. It's rank but it works. Or pickle juice. It's acid but it tricks your oesophagus into closing.

Really, the sleeping sitting up sucks but it's better than having acid dripping out of your nose at 4am.

BummyMummy77 · 27/09/2013 14:20

Oh, and a teaspoon of baking soda in water.

BummyMummy77 · 27/09/2013 14:24

Just googled it, you can get pantoprazole in the UK.

I really don't want to scare you and I'm sure it's rare but bad prolonged stomach acid can damage your oesophagus and lead to throat cancer. Every doctor and midwife here thought prescribing aggressively outweighed risk to the baby.

And I'm a massive hippy that probably won't even immunise for quite a while.

PinkParsnips · 27/09/2013 14:26

I totally feel your pain. My doctor wont give me ranitidine or omeprazole, he wouldn't only give me their cheaper version of gaviscon which is rubbish.
Milk also makes mine worse not better -

The only thing

PinkParsnips · 27/09/2013 14:34

Oops sorry posted too soon!

Meant to say mine is terrible at night, I'm having reflux while I'm asleep which is making me choke and vomit.

The only thing I've found is to not eat for 3 hours before bed but that doesnt help if yours is all day.

I must admit I have taken a ranitidine when it's been really bad as NHS website says they are ok but I don't like to, so am watching with interest.

Also just to say I read that propping up with pillows actually squashes your stomach and can make it worse you really need to prop the whole head up the bed up apparently.

sleepcrisis · 27/09/2013 14:45

Ooh yes cider cinegar really works. Pickle juice is delicious but I find if it doesn't work then I get pickle burps all day which is pretty unpleasant.

Nhs website says its safe to take omeprazole in pg. very odd that GPs are going against this. Also my doc showed me the bfN which also said fine to take. If I remember correctly it was ranitidine which was more ambiguous in its wording.

TobyLerone · 27/09/2013 14:48

I'd wait a week or so and go back to a different doctor and say its worsening and affecting how much nutrition you're about to keep down.

It's not.

Propping up the head of the bed is a great idea! No annoying pillows. Will get on that when DH gets home to help.

Coconut water, almonds, papayas, a syringe to shoot Gaviscon down my throat. All going on the shopping list.

Thanks, all. I'll keep trying new things!

OP posts:

TobyLerone · 27/09/2013 14:49

Cider vinegar works!? Right. Adding that!

Oddly, I think I could swallow that just fine. I think it's the milky consistency of Gaviscon which disgusts me so much.

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BummyMummy77 · 27/09/2013 15:09

Gavison makes me barf at the best of times.

Interesting the opramazole has come up ok in the UK testing. I usually trust the NHS more than the US health service.

I ripped the house apart in tears the other day trying to find some opramazole from the UK that I got for bad hangovers lol. Oh those were the days.

I'm shocked at the docs not prescribing. I'd have thought mum's lack of nutrition and sleep not to mention the dangers of GERD would outweigh any tiny potential problem they haven't even found with the drug.

Acid reflux is taken a lot more seriously here, I can't wait to have the op after this baby is out. I'm not getting pregnant again until I do!

CrispyFB · 27/09/2013 15:51

There is another drug similar to omeprazole but hasn't been around for as long. It is used in the US in pregnancy. Lansoprazole is the name. It costs more to the NHS however..

Worth looking into if you haven't already?

Purplefrogshoe · 27/09/2013 18:02

I had awful heartburn and i found the only thing that helped for a little while was loveheart or refresher sweeties

TobyLerone · 27/09/2013 18:03

Did you tell me that before? Someone on here mentioned lovehearts and refreshers and I'd forgotten. Added to the list, thanks!

OP posts:

BoreOfWhabylon · 27/09/2013 18:09

I was also going to suggest propping up head of bed, or just put pillows under the mattress at head end.

bonbonpixie · 27/09/2013 20:28

Hi OP, I completely understand how awful you must feel. I had heartburn from around 5 weeks in until 5 minutes after DD was born! It's horrendous. However you are looking for non Gaviscon remedies.... I used honey. High strength manuka honey. I had a spoonful three times a day and I can honestly say that it really helped. Also completely stopped bending over - sounds stupid but I guess we all do it so often don't think about it until I was making conscious effort to stop. You will look a bit silly picking things off the floor but for me it made a big difference.

BummyMummy77 · 27/09/2013 21:03

I've heard of the honey thing too. Lots if people swear by teaspoon of honey, teaspoon of baking soda and couple of teaspoons of apple cider vinegar.

To be honest I'd drink cow piss if it got rid of my acid.

Bending over does NOT sound silly. If I bend it's toast. Acid coming out of my mouth for hours.

TobyLerone · 27/09/2013 21:37

Manuka honey is ON THE LIST!

Thank you :)

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katebakes · 27/09/2013 23:59

penny I think omeprazole is ok to take during pregnancy. The warnings on the NHS website say that it is deemed safe which is very rare, because
even if medicine is totally pregnancy safe the warnings are never as clear cut. So if they're willing to say it's ok, then it really must be.

FishCalledWonder · 28/09/2013 00:04

No advice, just sympathy. I think heartburn in pregnancy is nature's way of making you long for childbirth.

TobyLerone · 28/09/2013 06:51

Thank you, fish. You're so right!

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