Acid reflux

Prior to getting pregnant I had suffered from minor acid reflux but since getting pregnant it has gotten worse.

Every night before bed (for the past 3 weeks or so since I have started my 2nd trimester) I have these coughing fits and indigestion so bad that on occasion it makes me throw up. I am taking tums and trying to relax when this happens (for the most part it helps but not always).

Is anyone else going through this? Do you have any suggestions as to what to do when this happens??

Thanks :)

Acid reflux

my doctor suggested eating more often, and not laying down after eating. she said tums rarely helps but it's allowed.

i believe she also said we could take one of those 24-hour antacids but i can't recall which one ...

Re: Acid reflux

My reflux with my first two pregnancies was bad - this time it is horrible! With all three pregnancies I took zantac 150 - the first two times I only needed it once a day (strangely enough right around 3 EVERY day) - this time if I don't take it every 12 hours, I am in trouble. I still need to take tums in between too. With my first two it started around 20-22 weeks, this time it was at 10.

For me, it doesn't matter what I eat, but you might want to try and stay away from fatty foods and anything that is spicy or acidic and see if it makes a difference.

I would check with your OB about the Zantac though - it really makes such a huge difference. Oh, and if you end up needing it, they have a generic at Costco which I started using today - hopefully it works as well - it is SOOOO much cheaper!

Re: Acid reflux

Thanks it is so frustrating. I am not really hungry at night so I just have a small dinner and maybe a snack ( I am staying away from fatty foods and spicy) but last night was horrible I couldn't keep popcorn down

Acid reflux

You can take other meds then Tums. I can't even drink water without having indigestion. I've vomited many times due to it. I'm on a doctor approved cocktail of a Pepcid AC in the mid morning(around 10) and a Zantac 150 in the evening with my prenatals (around 10 at night) you have to find what works for you. Good luck. Unfortunately, I can't tell you it gets better. I'm 33w, and suffering daily.

Re: Acid reflux

Re: Acid reflux

Zantac150.... I ended up in the ER because I thought I was having a heart attack. It was severe reflux...

Re: Acid reflux

Tums has actually been a life saver for me. At night its so bad that I cant lay down falt, I have to use a ton of pillows because of the burning. But Tums has really been amazing for me. Is there anything else similar to Tums that you can try?

My DH wrote on his Twitter account the other day:

'In my house, Tums is a side dish'

Acid reflux

If you notice a particular food that causes it and cut it out from dinner, that will help. I had acid reflux before getting pregnant and in my second trimester, it got to where I was throwing up at night from it. Bread really triggered it for me, so I stopped eating any kind of bread for dinner, even breaded food like mozzarella sticks. Haven't had nighttime heartburn for 2 months!
Also, smaller meals could help.
If you can't sleep flat, you could try raising the head of your bed up a few inches with bed risers so you sleep at a slight incline or using a wedge shaped pillow. Good luck!