[Submitted Question]

I started having problems with acid reflux at night, any suggestions?

[WombToBloom]

Acid reflux is really common in pregnancy, in part, because the fetus is pushing up on the stomach contents and the valve that keeps the esophagus closed off from the stomach is not strong enough to keep acid from the stomach from going up into the esophagus and causing burning of the chest and esophagus or a bad taste in your mouth, called “water brash”.

The treatment for acid reflux differs in pregnancy than not in pregnancy. There are medicines like Tagamet, Prilosec and Zantac that can be used when you’re not pregnant. They have not been adequately tested in pregnancy to be considered safe. This leaves things like Maalox and Tums, which neutralize the stomach acid so that it cuts down on the amount of acid that gets into the esophagus. Mylanta is good for this purpose, too. The side effects are minimal and they work for at least a short period of time to prevent reflux or to treat it once it occurs. Buy a bottle of Maalox or Mylanta or chew up some Tums and night before you go to bed and see what happens. You can repeat these medications during the night if the heartburn starts up during the night. They are not perfect choices, but they are very safe in pregnancy.

[InnerSerenity]

My suggestion would be to stay away from most commercial forms of Antacids such as tums and instead treat heartburn and reflux more naturally and homeopathically.

Papaya enzymes are an excellent substitute for Tums, just eating papaya itself can be helpful. Pineapple also helps out. Nux Vomica homeopathy can also help out with heartburn and acid reflux.
Of course small meals, drinking some milk or yogurt before bed time and not sleeping entirely flat also help out.

[DoulaJamie]

You can try limiting the amount you eat and drink after a certain time in the evening...this helped me...and try not to lay completly flat when you sleep....good luck..hope this helps

[Littlemummy]

I had bad heartburn towards the end of my pregnancy, I used Rennies as well as trying to sleep more upright.

[journeybirth]

I swore by papaya enzymes with all 3 of mine! You can get them at the grocery store by the vitamins.

[JFletcher]

I wish I'd known about Papaya! I have several bottles, but use them just for my daughter to help with digestion in the GFCF diet. This would have been a lifesaver.

[Supernova]

I started having horrible acid reflux and heartburn around 18 weeks into my pregnancy. I took a couple of Tums before bed for awhile, but then that stopped working. My doctor recommended using Pepcid, which worked much better, but took longer to kick in.

I did find that if I didn't eat two hours before bed, that would often help.

I really think the heartburn was the worst thing about my pregnancy.

[fawnanddoe]

I have had wonderful luck with yogurt! Not a fruity flavored yogurt though, I got Bulgarian yogurt. It's kind of tart, but it helps a lot

[Nicolexx]

hmmm suggestion's are great ... Thanks for all of sharing these suggestion's with us.