WHAT IS THIS?

[Mis]

I AM CURRENTLY 7 1/2 MONTHS PREGNANT AND EVERYONE FEW DAYS I GET THIS BURNING SENSATION THATS MAINLY IN THE BASE OF MY THROAT. I KNOW PEOPLE SAY PREGNANT WOMEN GET HEART BURN QUITE FREQUENTLY, BUT I DONT KNOW THAT I'VE EVER HAD HEART BURN. IT DOSENT SEEM TO GO DOWN INTO MY CHEST JUST MAINLY IN MY THROAT. I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT GET HEART BURN AND THEY SAY THAT THIS DOSENT SOUND LIKE IT. ANY SUGGESTIONS

[JV]

You may also have post-nasal drip.  I have had a full GI work up and the burning in my throat is believed to be allergies.
No heartburn meds worked for me.

[JV]

You may also have post-nasal drip.  I have had a full GI work up and the burning in my throat is believed to be allergies.
No heartburn meds worked for me.

[Question to Nicole]

Missy,
Here's my two cents worth. My OBGYN allowed me to have either tums or maalox while pregnant. I have a hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux disease. It was really severe during pregnancy and I would get terrible pain. Of course always check with your doctor before trying anything at home, but I found it helpful to prop up on several pillows instead of lying more flat on the bed. Try to eat your last meal or snack at least 2-3 hrs. before bedtime, and stay away from caffeine. Sometimes ginger-ale and/or a saltine cracker would help me. Contrary to popular belief milk does not help heartburn, it actually increases acid production in the stomach. Of course you and your baby need adequate milk, calcium and magnesium but if your doctor allows it
skim milk is less likely to affect you. If you are worried about the aluminum, ex strength Tums does not list it in their ingredients. I am fairly certain though that Maalox does have it.
Hope this helps but do check it out with your doctor. Good luck and hope you have a healthy baby!

[Sharon]

I've experienced this and thought I was helping by drinking more coffee to wash down the feeling.  However, that was the WRONG thing to do.  My mother alerted me to stop drinking coffee -- at least stop drinking cup after cup.  Water would be better.  Hope this helps.

[Lee]

i agree with all of the above except for LARGE bottle of
tums.  tums have aluminum in them, and i'd be concerned
for the baby as well as myself.  it is believed aluminum and
alzhiemers are related.  crackers work for heartburn and
you can ask your doctor about chewable calcium (i believe
from shaklee products).  best wishes to you and baby.

[TSM]

Tums is usually recommended by my ob/gyn. If I remember correctly, Tums does not have the aluminum while Rolaids does. The dr. also said Tums was good as a Ca suppliment.

[Elisa]

i agree with all of the above except for LARGE bottle of
tums.  tums have aluminum.  it has been reported that
aluminum and alzhiemers are related.  crackers or saltines
work as i recall and you can ask you doctor about chewable
calicium (by shaklee i believe).  best wishes to you and your
baby.

[dozerscritch]

I am not pregnant, but I, too get this "heart" burn feeling in my throat.  I do suffer from GERD and am sure that this is what is causing mine.  Sometimes it is so bad that even drinking water will bring it about.

One thing I have heard -- if you get a lot of "heart" burn while you are pregnant, then your baby will have lots of hair!!!  Let me know if this is true!!  One of my good friends had tons of heartburn while she was pregnant and her baby was born with so much hair they thought about giving her a haircut shortly after she was born!!!!

Best of luck to you.

[TSM]

That sounds like the heart burn I had when I was pregnant.
I've had 3 kids  and only had heart burn when I was pregnant.It only gets worse the bigger you get. Buy a LARGE bottle of Tums.

[Carol55]

Dear Missy,
Unless your doctor found some cardiac abnormalities, do not worry.  That is most definitely heartburn.  Maybe you have a hiatual hernia (sp?) and don't know it.  I had the identical symptom when I was pregnant and it went away.  You are 7 months along, and it's probably pressure from the baby getting larger.
Unless your doctor is concerned, I'd relax.  And yes, it can burn like you wouldn't believe.  But it will pass.  Try to enjoy your pregnancy, the best is yet to come!
carol

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

It sounds like heartburn to me.  Heartburn is really misnamed because the burning may be anywhere between the stomach and the mouth.  I would mention it to your OB.  She may have recommendations as to medications you could try to use to relieve it.