This is my first pregnancy, so Im new at this. I have very bad heartburn, I take Zantac 150 prescribed by my?

Question

Dr. and I eat tums like candy. My question is how long after I give birth will my heartburn go away? I never had it before I got pregnant but it is very bad now and almost anything I eat or drink gives me heartburn. Help me PLEASE!!!! :)

Answer 1

Most likely. Many women experience heartburn for the first time during pregnancy — and though it's common and generally harmless, it can be quite uncomfortable.

Heartburn (also called acid indigestion or acid reflux) is a burning sensation that often extends from the bottom of the breastbone to the lower throat. It's caused by some of the hormonal and physical changes in your body.

During pregnancy, the placenta produces the hormone progesterone, which relaxes the smooth muscles of the uterus. This hormone also relaxes the valve that separates the esophagus from the stomach, allowing gastric acids to seep back up, which causes that unpleasant burning sensation.

Progesterone also slows down the wavelike contractions of your esophagus and intestines, making digestion sluggish. Later in pregnancy, your growing baby crowds your abdominal cavity, pushing the stomach acids back up into the esophagus.

Many women start experiencing heartburn and other gastrointestinal discomforts in the second half of pregnancy. Unfortunately, it usually comes and goes until your baby is born.


What to do about it?

Though you may not be able to eliminate heartburn entirely, you can take steps to minimize your discomfort:
• Avoid food and beverages that cause you gastrointestinal distress. The usual suspects are carbonated drinks; alcohol (which you should avoid anyway during pregnancy); caffeine; chocolate; acidic foods like citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, mustard, and vinegar; processed meats; mint products; and spicy, highly seasoned, fried, or fatty foods.

• Don't eat big meals. Instead, eat several small meals throughout the day. Take your time eating and chew thoroughly.

• Avoid drinking large quantities of fluids during meals — you don't want to distend your stomach. (It's important to drink eight to ten glasses of water daily during pregnancy, but sip it between meals.)

• Try chewing gum after eating. Chewing gum stimulates your salivary glands, and saliva can help neutralize acid.

• Don't eat close to bedtime. Give yourself two to three hours to digest before you lie down.

• Sleep propped up with several pillows or a wedge. Elevating your upper body will help keep your stomach acids where they belong and will aid your digestion.

• Gain a sensible amount of weight, and stay within the guidelines your healthcare provider suggests.

• Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Avoid any tightness around your waist and tummy.

• Bend at the knees instead of at the waist.

• Don't smoke — in addition to contributing to a host of serious health problems, smoking boosts stomach acidity. (Ideally, smoking is a habit you should break before getting pregnant. If you're still smoking and are having trouble quitting, ask your caregiver for a referral to a smoking-cessation program.)

• An over-the-counter antacid that contains magnesium or calcium may ease discomfort, but check with your prenatal caregiver before taking one, because some brands contain aluminum or aspirin or are high in sodium. You should also check in with your healthcare provider if none of these suggestions helps.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Chances are that it will go away when the baby is born, there won't be anything pressing against your diaphram or stomach at that point. Has the baby turned? That sometimes helps. I take zantac twice a day and whenever I think something might give me heartburn (like doritos) I drink a glass of milk with or right after it.

Answer 4

and don't you just hate it so much??? i know i did. but luckily i didn't have to take any medicine for it but eat gum. i ate gum right after i eat any meals and it helped me. even sometimes i'll just drink a bottle water and there was that darn heartburn. then i red my book and it said to chew gum an hour or two b4 meals and right after meals ( like dessert ). it will go away while you're still in the hospital because i brought me packs of gum when i went on labor, and i didn't even touch it the whole time. but then again, maybe that depends on a person. so maybe you should try it. if it works, then it's worth taking a chance. you need as much help you can get. i know, i just had a baby.

i disagree with wendy because my son turned out to have little hair. he's hairy all over but his head had a fine thin hair. not bald. my first son who's now 9 had more than head full of hair. he needed hair cut as soon as he was born ( but i didn't cut it) i could braid it by the time he was six month old. and i didn't have a single heartburn with him.

Answer 5

I had the same problem. It's so bad when you lay down at night too huh? I chugged Maalox or what-ever before going to bed and all it did was put a dent in it. I was told to eat crackers to help keep the fluid down. That also helped. It does go away after the first trimester though. What it is (what I was told) is that your baby is making room and in the mean time it's moving your organs and your stomach is getting pushed around and the stomach acid is being pushed up. Don't worry, you'll get through it.

Answer 6

Stop using tums. They can be harmful. You are experiencing a rebound effect, causing increased heartburn. You body is designed to have an acid base balance. The tums neutralize the digestive track, the body recognizes the neutral base balance and sends more increased acid enzymes and acids to increase the system to maintain the system. Is your Doctor aware that you are eating excessive tums? Please stick to a healthy diet, excercise, avoid spices & herbs, drink excess water, do not lay down for at least one hour after eating. Avoid carbonated beverages and caffeine. NEVER take any herbs, over the counter drugs etc without first getting approval from your medical provider. Some acid indigestion is normal during pregnancy. Please seek his/her guidance not lay advice off the internet...your health and the health of your baby is very important.

Answer 7

like immediately it is great how quick it does go away i was laying there in labor and they kept giving me meds for heartburn then after i delivered i did not feel it again that was with both my kids i went through as many zantacs as i could take daily and went threw a bottle of tums a week

good luck

Answer 8

I didn't get heartburn until the end of my first pregnancy. The thing that worked best for me was to drink milk. I drank about a gallon and half a week.

It goes away as soon as the baby is delivered.

Answer 9

It should subside directly after giving birth. Im no professional but it is caused by your baby cramming all of your organs to the side and pushing up on where your food goes through your system. I am 20 weeks pregnant, and do experience heartburn, but not to that severity.

Answer 10

It lasted me the first 3 months of pregnancy. No heartburn after that and none after giving birth. Try not eating acid foods.