All the medications that you would usually take become questionable when you’re pregnant. There are some that thin the blood and others that cause problems for the cell growth and structures of your growing little one.
Now you must think twice about what to take and what to avoid regarding heartburn medicine. It can be tricky, especially when it comes to the symptoms of pregnancy. You have to put up with pain, sickness, and heartburn medicine.
The good news is that many heartburn medicine and medications are safe during pregnancy. Here are 15 that you can definitely take, with some over the counter options and some herbal remedies to soothe and treat your acid reflux.
Top Medications to Avoid
Before we get into the exact medications to try, let’s focus on the ones that you need to avoid. Read the labels to find out if the medications contain:
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Bicarbonate soda/baking soda
These three are effective heartburn medicine for relieving heartburn, but they can put your unborn baby and your health at risk. They think the blood and can make you a higher risk of miscarriage. Bicarbonate soda is high in sodium, which will cause water retention, raise your body’s sodium levels, and cause other health problems.
By knowing what to avoid, you can make it easier to find a medication that is suitable.
Reading the labels will also help you look out for “not safe for pregnancy,” “do not use during pregnancy,” or “suitable for pregnancy” labels.
Look Out for Medication with Magnesium Oxide
The heartburn medicines that include magnesium oxide are good for pregnancy. They will increase the amount of magnesium in your system to help limit the production of stomach acid and reduce the flare up of your heartburn.
Look out for those in tablet form and use as little water as possible. When you swallow any type of liquid, you will start the acid production in your stomach. By keeping the water to as little as possible, the tablets can just get to work on your system.
Antacids with magnesium in it will neutralize the acidic effects. It doesn’t affect any other part of your body, so your baby isn’t going to be affected.
Try Out Pepcid for Your Heartburn
One of the branded medications that you can take is Pepcid. This medication is commonly used for treating ulcers in the stomach, and it helps to balance out the amount of acid within the stomach and in the food pipe. It is very commonly recommended to those with GERD, which can flare up during pregnancy.
Since it doesn’t cause other effects on your body, it is safe during pregnancy. In fact, doctors recommend it in many heartburn meddicine cases.
There are both liquid and tablet forms. Liquids tend to be the most favored and they may feel like they soothe on the way down. If you want to eliminate the problem completed, consider the above advice of taking a tablet with little water.
Opt for TUMS Over Rolaids
You may be tempted to get Rolaids as that’s what you’re used to. Cut this out during pregnancy.
The best option is to take TUMS. These digest within the stomach to balance out the stomach acid. However, some pregnant women have said that they’re aren’t as effective as Pepcid during the third trimester.
TUMS is useful when you need on-the-spot treatment, but Pepcid will last longer. There is also the downside of sugar in TUMS, which should normally be managed but especially during pregnancy to avoid gestational diabetes.
Manage Acid Production with Prilosec
This one is debated among doctors, but some do prescribe Prilosec for those who are struggling to manage their heartburn. Instead of balancing out and neutralizing the acid, this medication helps to keep the stomach acid to a minimum. It blocks some of the production.
There are downsides to this. Since there will be less stomach acid, it will be harder for the food to break down in the body. This is already difficult when it comes to pregnancy since there is less space in your abdominal cavity.
You don’t get the immediate relief from heartburn with this. It’s a long-term option, and TUMS is still recommended for the more immediate effects.
Get Zantac 75 When There’s No Pepcid
If you run out of Pepcid and you can’t get anymore, Zantac 75 is an option. This is another heartburn medication that works on neutralizing the acid in the stomach. It doesn’t work on blocking the acid production in the way that the above medication does.
You can get the Zantac 75 without a prescription in both liquid and tablet form. It can be effective for on the spot heartburn relief, but it’s not the best option. It is one of those for the longer term benefits.
Zantac 75 can also help to relief stomach pains and coughs. It also helps to limit the production of ulcers in the stomach by keeping the acid levels neutral.
Opt for a Glass of Cold Milk
There is nothing better for heartburn during pregnancy than a glass of milk. This is the number one “medication” prescribed by doctors because it is effective, healthy, and natural. You will likely already have it in the house.
You don’t even need to have cow’s milk. Even soya and almond milk will do the trick. What you want is something that’s cold and neutral against the acidic levels in your stomach and esophagus. While balancing the acid, you will get more calcium in your diet to support your growing baby.
Do watch out for the amount of milk you drink. It does have natural sugars and some fats, so you don’t want to replace every drink you have with it. Just one glass should be enough for immediate relief. The downside is that it doesn’t offer the long-term effects.
Don’t add chocolate to your milk to make it taste better. Chocolate is one of the worst offenders for causing heartburn during pregnancy.
Opt for a Cold Ice Cream
Another popular “medication” prescribed is ice cream. This has a similar cooling effect as milk, because of the temperature. It’s easy to swallow, and you’ll be able to get the immediate, temporary relief.
But isn’t ice cream full of sugar? Well, yes and no. You could make your own at home from mashed banana, milk, and cream. That will help to keep the calories to a minimum, and you’ll get more nutrients.
Try to avoid chocolate flavored ice cream. If buying it from the store, plain vanilla or banana are the best options.
Drink Some Lukewarm Ginger Tea
Hot tea is going to make your heartburn worse. One of the most popular herbal remedies for heartburn is lukewarm ginger tea. The ginger will help to settle the acid and re-balance the body, while the lukewarm water helps to counter against the heat of the heartburn. Get some GingerTea from here best for pregnancy.
You’ll also find that the ginger tea balances an upset stomach. It’s perfect throughout pregnancy, but do avoid drinking too much. There are concerns that too much can cause a miscarriage, but there are still studies looking into this.
Try Chamomile Tea Instead
If the ginger tea isn’t working or you want something else to work with it, chamomile tea is the option to go for. Again, opt for lukewarm water if the hot water is making your heartburn worse.
Chamomile is excellent for calming your whole system. If you’re struggling to sleep because of the pregnancy symptoms, chamomile tea is highly recommended. You’ll also find that it can settle your upset stomach if you suffer from morning sickness.
Consider Maalox for Your Immediate Heartburn Relief
If you’re still struggling to find something that will help to relieve your heartburn, you could consider Maalox. This is very similar to TUMs and offers immediate relief. It’s commonly suggested to patients who have too much stomach acid or are commonly bloated or have issues with belching.
The medication works by breaking up bubbles in the body. It also neutralizes the existing stomach acid. The downside is that it doesn’t prevent the problem from occurring again.
This is one of the most debated options when it comes to heartburn relief. There is some aluminum in the medication, which can be harmful to the baby in large amounts. You need to follow the instructions given by your doctor or pharmacist to keep your unborn baby safe.
Try Out Tagamet for Longer Term Relief
Another option for longer term relief is a medication called Tagamet. This works in the same way as Zantac 75 and Pepcid, by blocking some acid production but mostly neutralizing the acid that is in the stomach. It is a longer term relief than the likes of TUMS and Maalox.
The benefit is that Tagamet as a category B rating. This is important for doctors as it means that it hasn’t shown any signs of causing an unborn baby problems. It is more favorable than Prilosec, which has a category C rating.
Talk to Your Doctor About Alginates
Antacids are the most commonly bought heartburn medicine/ medications, but you can get some that also have alginates. These medications help to line the esophagus to eliminate the pain and discomfort that you feel, giving you immediate relief.
At the same time, they create a barrier over the top of your stomach acid. This foamy barrier stops the acid from getting through, preventing the reason for the heartburn in the first place. It’s a long-term option.
If you suffer from bad acid reflux during the night, you will want to discuss these as an option during pregnancy with your doctor. They can give the lining throughout the night to help you sleep and then you stick to immediate or other options during the day.
Take Serious Action with Ranitidine
Doctors will be able to prescribe Ranitidine if your acid reflux doesn’t give up. This is important if you constantly feel like you need the help of the medications mentioned above to help settle the heartburn. It is possible that rather than being acid reflux that it has become GERD, which is far more serious.
Ranitidine reduces the amount of acid that your body is able to make. The downside is that this can lead to some problems with digestion. Therefore, it’s given when GERD is a problem because this means too much acid is being produced.
Your doctor will want to keep the amount of the heartburn medicine you take to a minimum. It is usually given in tablet form and is a long term option.
Move onto Omeprazole
When Ranitidine doesn’t work, your doctor will consider other options to tackle your GERD. Omeprazole is the next commonly prescribed medication, and you will usually have a five-day course at first. If your symptoms haven’ t improved, your doctor will increase your dose slowly.
Like with Ranitidine, the medication works by blocking the amount of acid your stomach is able to produce. There are some symptoms of nausea and loose stools, so doctors try to stay away from it more for your comfort than because it causes problems for a baby.
Ask Your Doctor About Prevacid
Prevacid is one of the recommended longer term options for heartburn/ heartburn medicine. It blocks the production of acid, but it doesn’t offer the immediate relief. This is often recommended for those who suffer heartburn regularly, such as more than two days a week.
It is a category B heartburn medicine / medication, which means there are no known risks to a baby. Your doctor may not recommend it if you have liver disease or are deficient in magnesium. You will be recommended some of the above options.
Navigate Your Way Around Pregnancy Medications
It’s difficult to know what you can and can’t take during pregnancy. Not all medications are completely off limits, but there are a few that are questionable. When it comes to antacids and other heartburn relief remedies, you want to watch out for anything that includes aspirin or baking soda. They can be dangerous to your baby.
Natural remedies are by far the best types of “medications” you can take. They are safe and can be used with each other. If you are still struggling, look for those that give you immediate relief and always follow the directions. However, your doctor will be able to prescribe or recommend longer term options if your heartburn has manifested into GERD due to your pregnancy.
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You already are certain that you have to have a strong and healthy heartburn medicine. Of course, if your heart isn’t healthy then the rest of you isn’t going to be healthy too with heartburn medicine. You already know that getting regular exercise and leading a healthy lifestyle both factor to a great extent into the overall health of your heart. Are you aware, though, that a number of specific foods are great for improving the health of your heartburn medicine? Keep reading to discover which foods are great for your heartburn medicine.
Believe it or not, beans are so effective for your heartburn medicine health. The after effects of eating them might not have a pleasant smell, but they’re good for your body. This doesn’t mean that just consuming beans will neutralize the effects of other bad foods you might be ingesting. What is true, though, is that having beans on your salad instead of chicken or eating soy burgers instead of beef hamburgers is a good course of action to take. Thankfully, beans are very tasty and who knows…you might not even miss consuming real chicken or beef or heartburn medicine.
Your heartburn medicine will be healthy if you consume blueberries as a heartburn medicine. You’ll be happy to know that blueberries are full of heartburn medicine antioxidants, especially pterostilbene for heartburn medicine. Pterostilbene performs very much like the resveratrol that is found in grapes. This heartburn medicine antioxidant could be able to help your body improve its ability to break down the fat and cholesterol you eat. When your body is great at breaking down these heartburn medicine things, they aren’t going to build up in your system and or cause heartburn medicine problems. This heartburn medicine, essentially, makes your heart as healthy as possible.
Fish is possibly the healthiest food you can consume as heartburn medicine. You’re probably already aware of this as your healthcare provider has advised you to eat some heartburn medicine fish at least two or three times each week. This is particularly true if you’ve got heartburn medicine problems or if your heartburn medicine is in not too good a shape. Be aware that fish contains lots of Omega 3′s which are elements that process heartburn medicine cholesterol and transform it into heartburn medicine . Include heartburn medicine fish in a couple of meals and heartburn medicine each week.
Can you remember being told “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”? In reality, apples have many minerals heartburn medicine and elements that promote a healthy heartburn medicine .Heartburn medicine have high soluble fiber content and this soluble fiber acts as a scrubber on your artery walls, keeping the cholesterol from amassing and causing blockages on heartburn medicine . One Red Delicious apple daily can make your LDL cholesterol levels fall by as much as 8 percent! This is a fantastic number for someone who wishes his or her heart to be healthier with heartburn medicine .
There are many heartburn medicine foods that you can consume that will be great for your body. It’s true that everything mentioned in this article can help your heartburn medicine body in a variety of ways. They are essentially beneficial for the heartburn medicine, hough. Try to begin consuming these hearty foods each day. Your heartburn medicine will be much healthier if you do!
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