Hi Guys,

I am having terrible heartburn these days. I can't eat my dinner properly. I am having Mylanta almost evryday. I have this problem since I am pregnant.

Do you guys also get heartburn? what are you all doing to avoid or reduce it ?
Also when I eat less in dinner I am hungry by 5:00am in the morning..sometimes I have to get up in night also to take Mylanta because I just can't sleep with that acidic sensation.

Please help me with some advise.

Ruchika Jyoti replied. Hi Ruchika
Im from the Dec board and have been facing the same problem since the beginning of my pregnancy.
It did reduce a bit after the First trimester but its still bad.
Atleast Im glad im able to eat now...
I never had any morning sickness though...
Looks like this is the way it will stay throughout too esp as the baby grows.

I kept taking Mucane gel (similar to Mylanta) but then stopped as it just had a momentary effect and made me feel even sick.
Now I just have noticed foods that make it worse and avoid. like cabbage, potatoes, spicy food.
There doesnt seem to be any rules though as with a normal heartburn.... nothing happens with chips or pastries or anything else heavy...
Just some particular foods that i can avoid.
Also there doesnt seem to be any rules of when it happens... sometimes after breakfast and lasts the entire day. sometimes just from lunch onwards till evening snacks.
Well 4 more months to go... just hoping it doesnt get worse.

Take care

Jyoti Nikita replied. Hi Ruchika,

So sorry to hear about the heartburn. I don't know much about household remedies but I have heard chewing black cardamom helps in heartburn and acidity. Don't take the whole thing as it could be too hot, just take a small piece, (u may split it into 3-4 pieces and chew 1 piece, as and when reqd).
Also don't keep long breaks between meals, try to eat something every 2-3 hrs.

Hope this helps.

Take care-Nikita.
ruchika replied. Thank you guys..but whatever you mentioned I do it already but may be I have to do it religiously.

Thanks
Ruchika Avi replied. It's me again Ruchika, here are some more tips:

Avoid eating large meals; try and break you food intake into smaller, more manageable portions.

Avoid having a lot to drink with meals. You swallow more air when you drink with meals and this can aggravate heartburn when it subsequently comes up again.

Avoid drinks containing caffeine (coffee, tea, cola) because these too relax the muscle at the top of the stomach holding the acid in.

Avoid lying down or stooping immediately after meals and sit in a comfortable upright position rather than slouching.

Try using a few extra pillows at night so that you sleep a little more upright. Alternatively, put the head of the bed up on blocks.

Try using some simple antacid mixtures or tablets such as magnesium trisilicate. These are available over the counter at the pharmacist and do not contain ingredients that are absorbed so they cannot harm the baby-they merely neutralise acid in the oesophagus and stomach.

Avoid indigestion tablets such as cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine-they are not known to be harmful but are absorbed into the bloodstream

Good luck
-Avi
Avi replied. Hey Ruchika, sorry to hear about the heartburn. Try the cold milk before going to bed thing like Siddhi suggested, I am sure it will relieve the heartburn.

And yeah, eat an hour or two before you go to bed and not just before going to bed. I heard it helps too.

Take CAre
-Avi Siddhi replied. Hey Ruchika,
Whenever I have heartburn I usually take cold milk or thick buttermilk. I relieves my heartburn. Also drink lots of water the whole day but not in between meals...drink a glass before or after 15 mins u have completed ur meal. Then my doc also says that I shouldn't immediately lie down after my meals, maybe after an hour or so. I dont know if this is effective for everyone, but this works for me so please try this and see if there is any difference. Beats taking any medicines:-) Hope this helps!!
Take care,
Siddhi Vandana replied. Hi Ruchika

I'm facing exactly the same problem, though mine started just a week back. I know how you must be feeling. I get it all through the day and its very uncomfortable.
Try using Tums, it gives me instant relief and also contains calcium, I am chewing on one most part of the day :) Also, I take a glass of cold milk at night just before going to bed, it prevents my night time heartburn to some extent. Drink lots of fluids, specially water.

Hope this helps, Take care
Vandana