Heartburn and sodium bicarbonate-based tablets

[no_touching]

I'm suffering from heartburn a bit again, but I recently realized that the sodium bicarbonate-based tablets I was taking (and which were successfully providing relief) were not recommended during pregnancy. So I went looking for magnesium or calcium based alternatives. The problem is, I live in Germany, and ALL of the magnesium or calcium based

Comments

[nickelshoe]

I agree that it looks like only issue is the sodium causing water retention. I'd check the label to see how the sodium content compares to things in your diet and ideally run it by your doctor or nurse. In your position, I'd take the tablets and try to cut some sodium out of my diet until I got the alternative antacid.

Oh, I've also heard that sometimes heartburn is caused by your body thinking you need more acid, and that drinking something acidic can actually help.

[skate97]

I think when it's NOT pregnancy related that's true about heartburn (the acid thing), but I just talked to my midwife about this yesterday and pregnancy heartburn, especially in the third trimester, isn't much diet related at all. It's that the pregnancy hormones, they relax the smooth muscles so there's literally no barrier between stomach and esophagus :(

[nickelshoe]

That's a good point. It might be worth a shot until the Tums arrive, but you're probably right.

[skate97]

I take zantac twice a day, that helps too! Sadly, nothing stops it all together except, well, giving birth.

[no_touching]

Thanks. If anything, I probably don't get enough sodium in my diet, so probably taking one or two of these as required won't hurt at all!