Heartburn...a pain in the...neck

[daniturtle]

So last night I had this killer killer killer heartburn. Now, I've had heartburn on and off during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters but this felt different. Everytime I shifted my head or torso or neck it's like the stomach acid just splashed all over my esophagus and throat and it was incredibly painful!!! Then in my half-asleep state I thought maybe I was having some surges and lower back aches. (Now in the light of the day and without any other surges, etc. I think it might have just been gas/general uncomfortablness...who knows) At two in the morning, I told my husband I was fine with the pain of labor but the heartburn might kill me! I was breathing & relaxing through the sensation of tightness in my belly but that was so not working for the heartburn!!! ha!

But I was wondering...since this heartburn was so different-feeling...could it be because I'm getting closer to giving birth? I'm 36 weeks. Is there something hormonal going on that would mean that the sphincter valve between my stomach and esophagus is softer than ever???? It all made sense in the middle of the night and now I am trying to figure out if that's (middle-of-the-night logic which is not so much logic as fantasy!) all it was! Any ideas?

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

I just started getting heart burn over the past week. I'm 38+2 weeks today. If i lay on my right side the HB is exactly like you described. It's a miserable feeling to have. Just this morning i was half lying on my back nursing my DS and i started to get it. It's almost a scarry feeling...i want it to go away. Im not sure why all of a sudden we get it. I'd like to know if it's hormonal or what. I've always been told...wifes tale...that when you have HB the baby is growing hair...at this rate my babe will have more than enough hair.

[amitymama]

I've never heard that it means you're getting ready to go into labor. I think it's just because at 36 weeks your stomach is pretty much squished by the baby and your stomach bile flows back into your throat when you lay down. Try sleeping semi-propped and chewing on some Tums before bed, or drinking a glass of milk.

[aurora_skys]

we have heartburn because the hormone that relaxes our pelvic bones etc has the unfortunate side effect of relaxing that valve that keeps all the stomache acid down. It really sucks :< Mine gets so bad it gives me back/shoulder/neck pain its ridiculous. Plus i used to smoke so im kindof prone to heartburn anyways.. pepto is my friend lately!

[misraloeb]

Remedy

I'm 38 weeks, and experiencing reflux every night. The homeopathic remedy, colubrina 30 works instantly. I just took it a few minutes ago, and the discomfort is gone. Dissolve 4 pellets under tongue on empty stomach. Colubrina is also known as Nux Vomica. I only need 1 dose daily, if required.

[daniturtle]

Thanks, everyone! It helps to know I am not alone! Yesterday I had another bad episode (it doesn't seem to matter if I am not lying down!!! this was during the day). I was in the car, in traffic, of course, so no access to anything to take. I walked in the house, moaned and my husband said, "maybe I should go get you some tums" I said, "yeah, maybe." (I'd been trying to avoid tums & the like) And then I threw up EVERYEWHERE. I never throw up...such a bummer. Called the mid-wife on-call and she told me it could be a sign of labor (but sadly, no) or yeah, just consequence of the heartburn (although she didn't seem too sure of that). Personally, I think it was- I do this weird gagging thing sometimes when grossed out or feeling icky about something. And I think what with the valve all softened that led to the throwing up reflex. TMI????? Sorrry!!! Kinda gross. Anyway, now mainlining the Tums whenever the slightest bit of heartburn rears its head. Seems to work. Sigh.

I kinda wish it had been a sign of labor starting...