How to Deal With Heartburn While Pregnant

Even though that horrendous heartburn you are suffering through during pregnancy may mean a head full of hair for your unborn child (some people believe) when he makes his entrance into the world, that doesn't make it any easier to live with. Heartburn is a symptom that many pregnant women experience, even if they have never experienced heartburn before. And heartburn during pregnancy isn't a mild discomfort, it is an industrial strength discomfort. You can't, however, take whatever medication you may find at the local drugstore like you might when you aren't pregnant. So, how can you deal with heartburn during pregnancy?

Things You'll Need

• Milk of magnesia
• Chewable antacids

Instructions

1. Consult your physician before taking any medication, even if it is over-the-counter. Just because you don't need a prescription for a certain medication doesn't mean that it is safe for your baby. So, before you reach for what you would normally take for heartburn, give our physician a call to make sure it is safe for your developing child.

2. Chew some antacids such as Tums or Rolaids. These can offer some almost immediate relief when you are experiencing heartburn and they also give you and the baby a nice dose of calcium. Make sure you pay attention to the recommended dosage of these chewable antacids and contact your physician if you feel you need to go over the daily recommended dosage.

3. Take a swig of some milk of magnesia. Over-the-counter drinkable heartburn relief such as Maalox can offer fast relief when you feel like a hole is being burned through your esophagus.

4. Call your physician and ask if you can take a 150mg Zantac tablet every 12 hours. Zantac can offer the relief that many pregnant women have been looking for. Just like when you aren't pregnant, a medication that works for you may not work for another, and a medication that works for another may not work for you, so you have to be patient when trying to find a medication that works.

5. Cut back on acidic, spicy and greasy foods, as well as any foods that you know trigger heartburn. Changing to a bland diet can really help reduce any heartburn you are experiencing.

6. Wait after eating before you recline. Lying down right after eating is almost a sure-fire way to induce heartburn during pregnancy, especially if you overate. Speaking of overeating, avoid it. Eating several smaller meals instead of stuffing yourself with one large one can help avoid unnecessary suffering.

7. Quit smoking. If you haven't already, then that industrial strength heartburn that you are experiencing may make it a little easier for you to gather the motivation to quit smoking. When you are experiencing severe heartburn the last thing you are going to feel like doing is lighting up a heartburn-inducing cigarette, and before you know it you will be smoking far less each day. So, why not just quit? Your unborn child will definitely thank you.