The only time I get heartburn is at night. Tums and milk do not help at all. Any suggestions?

kenyata216 · January 2015

maltwin1 · January 2015

Everything I've read actually says that lots of dairy can be one of the things causing heartburn, so I'd definitely start with cutting out the milk and subbing in lots of water. Also try to sleep as propped up as possible and avoid eating a couple of hours before bed.

PeanettyGoodness · January 2015

I'm right there with you, as well. I was getting it at night when trying to sleep and then it never seemed to go away the next day until about bedtime, then rinse and repeat. The only thing that seemed to help a little bit was drinking so much water that I felt like I might explode. But, that was still on a temporary solution. I let my doctor know at my last appointment and got a prescription for Zantac. I've been taking it when I get up and right before bed. It's helped a ton and I am actually able to sleep now between middle of the night bathroom runs.

HayleyBug55 · January 2015

As PP has said the fat in milk can actually make heartburn worse. Sip water before bed, eat small meals and don't eat about an hour or two before bed, stay propped up instead of laying down after a meal, prop yourself up while sleeping, and avoid fatty, acidic, spicy, and minty foods. I've had gastritis, esophogitis, and bile leaking out of my liver into my stomach since I was about 12. The main food they told me to try and avoid are chocolate, mint, pepper, tomato, and citric acid.

Sahara6971 · January 2015

I was taking Pepcid and tums which didn't help. My dr. Gave me the go ahead on Zantac twice a day. I take it right when I get up and again before dinner. She said to start with 75 and see if it helps. If not, the 150 is alright too.

chickyclg · January 2015

First off stay away from dairy, PP gave some good advice about trigger foods, but also remember your stomach is shoved way up and squished. My OB gave me Nexium which has done wonders but I have a previous issues so we completely skipped the Zantac Prilosec options.

mle106 · January 2015

Apple cider vinegar mixed with water and a little bit of honey. Cuts down the acid.

chicagojackie · January 2015

There's no evidence for the milk ban my friends. Third trimester heartburn has to do with pressure on the stomach, etc from the fully grown baby and still with progesterone levels.

The problem isn't really what you're putting in your mouth. It's what you put in your vagina about 8-10 mo ago

chickyclg · January 2015

chicagojackie said:

There's no evidence for the milk ban my friends. Third trimester heartburn has to do with pressure on the stomach, etc from the fully grown baby and still with progesterone levels. The problem isn't really what you're putting in your mouth. It's what you put in your vagina about 8-10 mo ago

Interesting fact on milk! Does that also apply to standard GI problems and not just pregnancy related GI issues?

kkuf · January 2015

Organic Apple cider vinegar mixed with water. I take about a shots worth day. Doesn't taste awesome buts it's natural and for me works instantly.

dreemkin84 · January 2015

Maalox/mylanta might work better for you than yums. According to my OB it coats better and doesn't have a rebound effect like tums.

t8keepr03 · January 2015

Anything will give me heartburn including water. I never have heartburn unless I'm pregnant. The joys of being pregnant. My doctor has me taking Zantac in the morning and before bed. It helps a lot but does not get rid of the problem.

mom2xover2002 · January 2015

t8keepr03 said:
Anything will give me heartburn including water. I never have heartburn unless I'm pregnant. The joys of being pregnant. My doctor has me taking Zantac in the morning and before bed. It helps a lot but does not get rid of the problem.

Water gave me heartburn also with DD. This one the heartburn arrives at like 3am! Totally random after sleeping for hours already. The other day it was so bad I actually got sick. Thankfully we are in our last few weeks of pregnancy here.

mylazypony · January 2015

I was having really bad heartburn at night. Nothing seemed to cure it. However I was always having a bowl of cereal. About an hour later the heartburn would kick in and could feel the sour burn of dairy in my throat. I stopped having the cereal and the heartburn stopped. I still get heartburn if I have a coffee and no food in am. Cutting back dairy has helped me.

t8keepr03 · January 2015

mom2xover2002 said:

t8keepr03 said:
Anything will give me heartburn including water. I never have heartburn unless I'm pregnant. The joys of being pregnant. My doctor has me taking Zantac in the morning and before bed. It helps a lot but does not get rid of the problem.
Water gave me heartburn also with DD. This one the heartburn arrives at like 3am! Totally random after sleeping for hours already. The other day it was so bad I actually got sick. Thankfully we are in our last few weeks of pregnancy here.

My heartburn will arrive in the middle of the night like that too! It doesn't matter how I sleep or what I ate/drank that day. It will always come in the middle of the night.

Smyers2girls · January 2015

chicagojackie said:
There's no evidence for the milk ban my friends. Third trimester heartburn has to do with pressure on the stomach, etc from the fully grown baby and still with progesterone levels.

The problem isn't really what you're putting in your mouth. It's what you put in your vagina about 8-10 mo ago

This! You can take tums, anti acids, whatever, but they only thing that's going to make it go away is getting the baby out. I wake up every night with terrible heartburn and DH always says "why don't you go eat some tums?" I tell him yeah, that will help for about an hour then it will be back. My stomach is literally in my chest!

KDRichards08 · January 2015

Try crackers and warm milk with ginger and nutmeg 2 hours before you sleep. Sit up until you are ready for lights out and have NOTHING after the milk and crackers.

SaraL1175 · January 2015

I eat a smaller dinner, esp. When it had whole grains (lentils are a killer for me). They take longer to digest.

thegoodpotato · January 2015

I have a friend on her SIXTH kid who swears by celery for heartburn! I've had none this pregnancy, so haven't gotten to try out this method.

prestonbaby11 · January 2015

Maalox (mint flavor I recommend) worked for me up until the last few weeks. Now I'm taking the Zantac twice a day. My doc said they give babies Zantac for reflux if needed so there's no reason a pregnant women can't take it. Call your doc to get the dosage. It helps with the burning but doesn't make it go completely away.
@Smyers2girls‌ I'm so with you! My stomach is literally in my chest and it burns all the way up to the top of my head. Literally feels like my hair is on fire. But hey only 6wks6days left if I make it that long.

CGOODPAS · January 2015

I was getting horrible heartburn at bedtime and would drink water with lemon, started laying propped up and sleeping on my left side. If I lay on my right side or even lean too far that way I get heartburn.

I also had to cut out a lot of foods that seem to trigger heartburn for me now that never did before.

I take Zantac occasionally but usually the other things work well

I hope that helps heart burn is horrible!

Maple403 · January 2015

Yep. Milk makes it worse. Zantac + Tums makes it better.

Avoid caffeine, ginger, mint, tomatoes, citrus, spicy food, and large meals. Small, bland meals are best.

chicagojackie · January 2015

Dammit @Maple403‌ what did I just say.

The cure for pregnancy related heartburn is delivery. Different symptomatic management works for different people.

Peoples' special snowflake stories about preexisting GERD and GI issues don't apply in this case.

The problem is compression of the stomach and progesterone relaxing the lower esophageal sphincter.

Sometimes the acid blockers help because it lessens the overflow but sometimes it doesn't. Tums only help some moms. Chocolate cake helps others. Pregnant women of all cultures have this, so avoiding "spicy" food or promoting "bland" food or whatever...lame.

Maple403 · January 2015

I'm special?! Dammit! Fine. All you lucky, lucky few who only have reflux during pregnancy should completely ignore me. Sorry to mislead anyone.

Maple403 · January 2015

*dismounts high horse (really, a sparkly unicorn)*

rrenfro · January 2015

Put a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. It's a miracle worker.

keziaotting · January 2015

A tablespoon (I use a soup spoon)
Of apple cider vinegar. It tastes nasty and burns going down but cures my heartburn when nothing else helps.

windonroughwater · January 2015

Dairy products do cause heartburn. Dairy is actually acidic. Scientifically proven to cause mucous, heartburn, among other issues. Tums and sleeping with your head elevated help with heartburn. If you can somehow raise your bed up or add more pillows under your head that works wonders. I sleep with my head raised up and with tums on my night stand in case heartburn attacks worse in the night. I cut out all all dairy products and have way less heartburn this week! Amazing difference.

jsmoon · January 2015

Papaya enzymes help. My OB just recommended Zantac before eating dinner. That's made a big difference for me (when I remember)

chickyclg · January 2015

windonroughwater said:

Dairy products do cause heartburn. Dairy is actually acidic. Scientifically proven to cause mucous, heartburn, among other issues. Tums and sleeping with your head elevated help with heartburn. If you can somehow raise your bed up or add more pillows under your head that works wonders. I sleep with my head raised up and with tums on my night stand in case heartburn attacks worse in the night. I cut out all all dairy products and have way less heartburn this week! Amazing difference.

I think what was determined was that if your reflux/heartburn is purely pregnancy related dairy doesn't play a factor, but if it is do to an actual GI issue such as GERD that is different.

BeachbrideAK · January 2015

1-2drops of digest-zen essential oil in a shot glass of water. Works great!

chicagojackie · January 2015

chickyclg said:

windonroughwater said:

Dairy products do cause heartburn. Dairy is actually acidic. Scientifically proven to cause mucous, heartburn, among other issues. Tums and sleeping with your head elevated help with heartburn. If you can somehow raise your bed up or add more pillows under your head that works wonders. I sleep with my head raised up and with tums on my night stand in case heartburn attacks worse in the night. I cut out all all dairy products and have way less heartburn this week! Amazing difference.

I think what was determined was that if your reflux/heartburn is purely pregnancy related dairy doesn't play a factor, but if it is do to an actual GI issue such as GERD that is different.

---------
Yes! @chickyclg‌ for the win. Good summary.

Give the right advice or none at all ladies.

Cronicpink · January 2015

I keep waking up choking on acid reflux. It's horrible and it hurts:(! I know I have a thing for fruit and juice and I have to fight with my self about not having any juices at least 5 hours before bed time. If I don't I pay. Tums only do so much. I had now idea that milk and dairy could possibly be a cause but they haven't really been for me. Some sugar free juices have been less acidic and therefor better for the heart burn. Not that helpful but glad to know I'm no the only one suffering.

misshart00 · January 2015

I don't know if this is accurate or not but it seems to work for me. If I have an empty stomach, my heartburn seems so much worse. Usually if i can get something in my stomach, it pushes it off a little. Beyond that, I just pop tums like candy.

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The only time I get heartburn is at night. Tums and milk do not help at all. Any suggestions?

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