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Who took medicine for heartburn during pregnancy?

I had really bad heartburn with my first pregnancy.  The doctor wound up having me take Prilosec OTC.  It was the only thing that worked for me.  My daughter suffered from horrible acid reflux from birth until she outgrew it at 18 months.  I know genetics play a huge role in acid reflux...but I always wondered if having to use Prilosec during pregnancy caused part of my daughter's reflux?

I am only 12 weeks and already have heartburn...I'm suffering but scared to even use Tums!

Did anyone use heartburn medication during their pregnancy and have HEALTHY NON-REFLUX babies?
10 Responses
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980575 tn?1250029307
I started having reflux problems after my second child. It wasnt til about 4 yrs ago my doc put me on prilosec once daily. Now pregnant with my third child and i have heart burn daily and my stomach gets so hard and full from one small meal im barely eating 2 meals a day. I still take my daily prilosec. Now im wondering if 2 a day is ok? My oldest daughter has gerd. And she takes 4 prilosec daily. And i never had heart burn with her.
Helpful - 0
304970 tn?1331425994
I took Prilosec my entire pregnancy, I always have reflux..

My son has reflux as well, however, if something is hereditary, a safe prescription drug is not going to make your child more or less likely to inherit something such as acid reflux. i would talk to your Dr., but I would recommend you take the Prilosec OTC.. I dont think it has any effect on your unborn child whatsoever.
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Avatar universal
I had acid reflux everyday all day during my pregnancy.  I took Zantac but that didn't help.  My daughter didn't have any issues with acid reflux either.  My doctor said it was ok and woulnd't harm the baby, so maybe it was just coincidence she had it too?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks everyone!!  I have a feeling we'll probably have another reflux baby regardless...so why should I suffer during my pregnancy?  :)  Hopefully it won't get to the point of needing Prilosec again...but I won't be so scared of tums anymore.  :)
Helpful - 0
363110 tn?1340920419
I used it with TJ. He was fine... he had a LITTLE reflux recently and thickened formula took care of that...
I'm 8 1/2 weeks with #2 and have heartburn pretty bad... I had to take prilosec already 1x... usually I can take it every 2 or 3 days and it'll work well... but when It gets bad I have to take it everyday.

It won't really hurt baby. :) I'm eating tums like candy... at least I'm getting my calcium!
Helpful - 0
691102 tn?1252876375
I took quick eze chewy tablets with both my daughter and son but this time my midwife prescripted me with Titralac tablets. They feel like your eating chalk but seemed to work for me last night.
Good luck.
Helpful - 0
676912 tn?1332812551
OMG!!! I had heartburn like you wouldn't believe, and acid reflux while I was pg. The doc finally told me it was ok to take zantac but I was already 30+ weeks, I ate tums like candy!~~~BUT only the number you were allowed in a 24 hour period. It had no affect on DS after he was born.
Helpful - 0
568659 tn?1256139982
I ate Tums like it was going out of style with my first and he didn't have any issues. With this pregnancy, I take Prilosec OTC cause it's the only thing that works.
Helpful - 0
470885 tn?1326329037
I popped a lot of the no name version of Tums when I was pg. with DS - my heartburn started in my second trimester and got worse as my belly grew.  DS never had any acid reflux issues from this.

Good luck!! :-)
Helpful - 0
171768 tn?1324230099
yup-
my first pregnancy i had horrible heart burn from day 1. I suffered through the first trimester on tums. I can't stand the thought of tums since then. After I was out of the first trimester, i was given a script for Pepcid. I was allowed to take OTC zantac, pepcid, etc... but it was cheaper to get a prescription. My daughter did not have any problems at all with reflux.
I am now pregnant with #2. I was surprised that the first trimester wasn't too bad with the heart burn. It came back full force in the second trimester, and I am on pepcid again.
My OB is very cautious with meds, and my DH is a pharmacist. He is extrememly cautious with what I take, and does not let me take many things that other people take all the time. He wouldn't even let me take benadryl during the first trimester. Anyways, he lets me take antacids.
Tums are completely harmless, and you can take them with confidence all throughout pregnancy. For other meds, you weigh risk/benefit. My heartburn is miserable, so for me medication is the way to go. Ask your doctor which antacid you should take.
Helpful - 0
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