nighttime heartburn and tight chest

[Madigan]

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?

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.

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.

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