Help! Killer heartburn and acid reflux : (

[mercheval]

I am about 35 weeks pregnant now and I am having trouble sleeping and eating because of the killer heartburn/acid reflux that I've been getting. I'm starting to feel like I am about to become a fire breathing dragon.

I've already tried the basics. Smaller meals, stay away from fatty and acidic foods, and try munching on tums. No luck. Heartburn conquers all.

Any suggestions or weird remedies I could try to help get me through the next few weeks I have left? I'm getting desperate here.

[etsdtm99]

i've heard apple cider vinegar ? never tried it though... i take zantac (75mg) once a day.. around 4pm then it lasts through the worst of it as my HB seems to go by the clock and nothing to do with what i eat etc. i didn't even realize how bad i really felt till i started taking the zantac - tums were dulling the burning but i still felt gross and full and nauseas.. once i started taking the zantac i felt normal in the evening.. which is amazing.. i took it towards the end of my last pregnancy too ..

[peainthepod]

Almonds. Raw work best, I think, but dry roasted unsalted almonds should be good too. They act as a natural antacid and the effects seem to last for quite awhile, at least compared to eating chalk (Tums, Rolaids, etc.).

I keep a small bag of them on my nightstand.

[samstress]

i wish i had some advice, but all i can say is "i feel your pain".

i had the worst heartburn when i was pregnant with my dd (pretty much all through the third trimester). nothing worked. i had to sleep sitting up. the heartburn was the absolute worst during labor (sometimes worse than the contractions), but as soon as dd was born, NO MORE HEARTBURN! hooray!

hope someone has some suggestions for you that work.

[mercheval]

My midwife just prescribed me the equivalent of zantac. It worked almost immediately. I was so happy! I'll have to try the almonds and see if that helps too.

[nova22]

I avoid Tums because it inhibits your body's ability to absorb iron, which is a problem if you have any issues with anemia (I normally do in pregnancy).

I've had nasty reflux lately and my regimen has been:
Papaya extract - 4 chewable tablets after each meal
Crystallized ginger - I rip off a piece and chew it to alleviate morning sickness, an upset stomach, and sometimes heartburn
Right before bed I have a glass of milk
If I can tell it's going to be bad at night I prop myself up on pillows and sleep in a semi-reclined position