Youll be happy to know that calcium carbonate (Tums) antacids are safe to take while youre pregnant. The extra calcium from calcium carbonate antacids can cause gas, bloating, or constipation in some people. But avoid using antacids that contain aluminum. 
You can also try mixing about a tablespoon of honey with a glass of warm milk. When you're pregnant, you're more likely to have indigestion because of: You may be more likely to get indigestion in pregnancy if: In this video, a dietitian gives advice on how to eat healthily on a budget. (2003). Some contain antacids that you should steer clear of until you talk with a healthcare provider, which we discuss below. Food and Drug Administration. Indigestion, also called heartburn or acid reflux,is common in pregnancy. 2 that arewidely used in pregnancy and not known to be harmful to an unborn baby are: Symptoms of indigestioncome when the acid in your stomach irritates your stomach lining or your gullet. TUMS [OTC monograph]. (2012). See your midwife or GP if you need help managing your symptoms or if changes to your diet and lifestyle do not work. Speak to your GP if you're taking medicine for another condition, such as antidepressants,andyou think it may be making your indigestion worse. Antacids should usually be tried first before moving on to stronger medications. There are also some natural ways to treat heartburn symptoms. Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc.
Because of this, some providers may advise avoiding any OTC antacid that contains magnesium, especially during the third trimester. Get prescription saving tips and more from GoodRx Health. They can also help you meet your daily calcium requirements. No need to shy away from using aluminum cans or foil. And talk to your provider if your heartburn symptoms are severe or last longer than 2 weeks. Let us text you a link to download our free Android or iPhone app! Next review due: 2 December 2023, Swollen ankles, feet and fingers in pregnancy, your baby being born prematurely (before week 37 of your pregnancy), your baby being born with a low birthweight, alginates torelieve indigestion caused by acid reflux by stopping the acid in your stomach coming back up your gullet, the growing baby pressing on your stomach, the muscles between your stomach and gullet relaxing, allowing stomach acid to come back up, you had indigestion before you were pregnant. It can be caused by hormonal changes and the growing baby pressing against your stomach. Back to Ask your healthcare provider before trying other types of antacids. GoodRx works to make its website accessible to all, including those with disabilities.
During pregnancy, it can also lead to long-term harm to the baby. BMJ Clinical Evidence. 2021 All rights reserved. And well look into it. The downside? OTC Medications: Are You Taking Too Much? All thatheartburn, acid reflux, gastritis, and ulcersis painful. If you see ingredients other than calcium carbonate listed on the bottle of an antacid, you should talk to your healthcare provider before taking it. Medicines for indigestion and heartburn during pregnancy include: You may only need to take antacids and alginates when you start getting symptoms. Antacids work by neutralizing stomach acid. Because of the variability in the number of grams of calcium carbonate it takes to lead to certain conditions like milk-alkali syndrome, its impossible to say how many Tums are too many Tums. Search results for: Alka-Seltzer. prevention of a low amount of calcium in the blood, renal osteodystrophy with hyperphosphatemia.
Other medications dont have as many studies backing up their safety in pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any of these other symptoms with your heartburn: Pain or cramps in your lower belly, side, or back, Blood in your stool or stools that are very dark. ScienceDaily. Those with impaired kidney function are at a higher risk, but sometimes, they note, its not easy to tell who is most susceptible. Antacids can also affect how well you absorb other medications, like iron supplements. American Family Physician. Some OTC options can go through the placenta and reach the baby. It was originally published on 5/28/2018. You can repeat the dose as needed, but pay attention to the maximum daily dose for pregnancy listed on the products package. They may be able to prescribe an alternative medicine. This causes pain and a burning feeling. By providing your email address, you agree to receive emails containing coupons, refill reminders and promotional messages from GoodRx. Does Tums Smoothies interact with other medications? (2020). Medicine and pregnancy. FDA recommends avoiding use of NSAIDs in pregnancy at 20 weeks or later because they can result in low amniotic fluid. GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. reflux heartburn gestational pregnancyexercise 2005 - 2022 WebMD LLC. But its also true that acid plays a key role in heartburn, caused by acid reflux. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. That leads to the main potential downside to the question of how many Tums can I take: a decent amount of readily absorbable calcium. In fact, up to 45% of pregnant women have reported experiencing heartburn3. So how many Tums can you take and how often can you take Tums? If you have questions about whats safe to take during pregnancy, youre not alone. The reason Tums work so well is because their main ingredient, calcium carbonate is basic and when exposed to the hydrochloric acid in your stomach, the carbonate group binds to the hydrogen. Enter your email to sign up. You can unsubscribe at any time. The good news is that heartburn will likely stop for most women after giving birth. It's safest to not drink alcohol at all in pregnancy. What do Tums do? Common symptoms in pregnancy. Sorry, we have no data available. Heartburn during pregnancy. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. They may recommend medicine to ease your symptoms. Calcium in pregnancy. As a bonus, calcium carbonate antacids also add extra calcium to your diet. [Related: Is it safe to take expired medication?]. When you smoke, the chemicals you inhale can contribute to your indigestion. There are differing opinions among healthcare providers about how much of some antacids are OK to take during pregnancy. Other over-the-counter (OTC) antacids can be harmful to your unborn baby. Check in with your healthcare provider if calcium carbonate antacids dont seem to be working, or if you need to take them for longer than 2 weeks. Aspirin can reduce the amount of amniotic fluid (the fluid that surrounds your baby inside the uterus). That same case report of milk-alkali syndrome found instances of the syndrome in people taking calcium carbonate daily to supplement their calcium intake. There's lots of help available to stop smoking. When you're pregnant there are many surprises along the road to motherhood including heartburn. Law, R., et al. But what if you have like really, really bad heartburn, and you want to just nip it in the bud? Thats where good old Tums antacids come in. Should I avoid certain foods while taking Tums Smoothies?
According to one report on recent cases of milk-alkali syndrome, the question is almost impossible to answer for the general population. Sometimes this can push the acid in your stomach, past the LES and back into the esophagus, causing heartburn. management or monitoring precaution: Gastrointestinal-Use caution in patients with chronic constipation. In the reports, doctors note that certain individuals are far more susceptible to this syndrome than others. Vazquez, J. C. (2015). As your baby grows, its size can put pressure on your stomach. Smoking when pregnant can cause indigestion, and canseriously affectthe healthofyou and your unborn baby. This gets rid of the free floating acid, but in the process frees up calcium ions, allowing them to be absorbed by the body. Black, R. A., et al. The mineral is vital to bone and overall good health, but too much can be toxic to the body, particularly the heart and kidneys. Once we invented newer drugs, like Pepcid, Nexium, and Prilosec, that block acid from being excreted into the stomach rather than neutralize it when its already there, the cases of milk-alkali syndrome plummeted. And there are some antacids that should be avoided altogether. CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. It can cause constipation, and at high doses it can lower the amount of calcium in your body. Have a science question you want answered? But, that doesnt make it any less painful. Yes, magnesium is a prenatal vitamin.
The over-the-counter medicine label: Take a look. Some may act as a muscle relaxant that helps to prepare your body for childbirth. National Institutes of Health. Body changes and discomforts. (2017). Cutting down ondrinkscontaining caffeine, and foods that arerich, spicy or fatty, can also ease symptoms. When calcium carbonate was used to treat peptic ulcers, doctors often gave patients 20 to 60 grams of the neutralizing agent per day, and they noted, on average, that up to 35 percent of patients developed toxic symptoms. Back in the day, the only method we had to treat peptic ulcer disease (in which an ulcer forms in the stomach lining) was with a combination of milk and sodium bicarbonate, and then later calcium bicarbonate.
Dont confuse this with the baking soda that you use for cooking, which is fine to ingest. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over-the-counter medications in pregnancy. Treatment of heartburn and acid reflux associated with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. (n.d.). Never stop taking a prescribed medicine unless you're advised to do so by your GP or another qualified healthcare professional who's responsible for your care. This condition occurs when the valve that covers the bottom of the esophagus (the tube of muscle that connects your mouth to your stomach) relaxes when it shouldnt, allowing acid to flow back up the esophagus and cause that burning feeling in your chest.
Check in with your healthcare provider if calcium carbonate antacids dont seem to be helping. Treating for two: Medicine and pregnancy. (n.d.). But what about other OTC antacids? More information is needed to determine whether it is safe during pregnancy, so its best to avoid it unless your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Get fast, effective care for an unexpected problem. You can get symptoms at any point during your pregnancy, but theyare more common from 27 weeks onwards. List Tums Smoothies side effects by likelihood and severity. American Pregnancy Association. Now, youll enjoy a streamlined experience created specifically for healthcare providers. When it comes to treating heartburn during pregnancy, calcium carbonate antacids are the most preferred medication option. The high amount of sodium can lead to fluid retention and swelling, which is already a common discomfort in pregnancy. Antacids can stop iron from being absorbed by your body. You may be able to control your indigestion with changes to your eating habits. (2019). (n.d.). But if you do need something stronger, your healthcare provider can help you weigh the risks and benefits. Though you should always check with your healthcare provider to determine the best individual remedy, an antacid like TUMS can be effective in the fight against heartburn during pregnancy. And if you find yourself taking that recommended maximum on a frequent basis, it could be a good idea to see a doctor to discuss how to improve your digestive ailment. Canadian Family Physician. It can also lead to serious kidney damage in unborn babies. American Pregnancy Association. The increase of some hormones may also relax the lower esophageal sphincter [LES]. Antacids with sodium bicarbonate should be avoided in pregnancy. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. You should also reach out to them if you need to use them frequently for more than 2 weeks. Can you just take the whole bottle? (2019). This information is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It can sometimes be found in OTC heartburn treatments (looking at you, Alka-Seltzer).
From weddings to birthdays, and backyard summer barbecues (when safe from a public health standing, of course), good cooking is at the center of so many celebrations. Please seek medical advice before starting, changing or terminating any medical treatment. The best way to treat pregnancy heartburn is to prevent it. However incidental case reports show that milk-alkali syndrome still pops up from time-to-time, and often it stems from taking far too much calcium carbonate, or Tums.
If the acid moves into that area it can irritate the esophagus causing heartburn. These chemicals can cause the ring of muscle at the lower end of your gullet to relax, which allows stomach acid to come back up more easily. Aluminum isnt considered safe during pregnancy. Aspirin isnt an antacid, but its worth mentioning. Tums (calcium carbonate) antacids are safe to take during pregnancy. (2010). Without it, we wouldnt be able to break down food and therefore wouldnt be able to absorb nutrients from it.
Calcium. Studies suggest that histamine-2 antagonists (like famotidine) and proton pump inhibitors (like lansoprazole) can be used safely with guidance from a healthcare provider. Office on Womens Health. It can help to eat small meals often, rather than larger meals 3 times a day, and to not eat within 3 hours of going to bed at night. Tums and its generics are a safe option for both you and your unborn baby. When you're pregnant your body has changes in its hormone levels. Find out more about a healthy diet in pregnancy and foods to avoid. This is known as acid reflux. American Pregnancy Association. Nugent, C. C., et al. Magnesium hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia): This is usually used for constipation, but some people take it for heartburn, too. TUMS during pregnancy. (n.d.). Theres enough going on with your body when youre pregnant without having to add heartburn to the mix. The active ingredient, bismuth subsalicylate, is closely related to aspirin. Here are some tips to help you avoid it: Avoid common triggers like caffeine, spicy foods, and greasy foods, Eat several small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones, Avoid acidic foods like citrus juices and tomatoes, Wait at least 3 hours after eating before you go to bed, Wear clothing that fits loosely to help relieve pressure on your stomach, Raise the head of your bed by about 4 to 6 inches to help acid better stay in your stomach. This means fast relief for symptoms like heartburn, indigestion, and upset stomach. The content of this website is intended for Canadian audiences only. Find out more about stopping smoking in pregnancy. StatPearls. Symptoms of indigestion and heartburn include: Symptoms usually come on soon after eating or drinking, but there can sometimes be a delay between eating and developing indigestion. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our. Heartburn in pregnancy. What conditions does Tums Smoothies treat? It was not uncommon for this to lead to something doctors dubbed milk-alkali syndrome, which causes high blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia), which can cause irregular heartbeat, metabolic alkalosis (too basic of a pH in the blood), and acute kidney injury. If three work, the entire box will probably work even better, right? In addition toPopular Science, her work has appeared inThe New York Times,Scientific American,and ScholasticsScience WorldandSuper Sciencemagazines, among others. Claire Maldarelli You're more likely to get indigestion if you're very full. More commonly known as Pepto-Bismol, this iconic pink medicine shouldnt be used during pregnancy. In other words, can you overdose on Tums? This post has been updated. Changes to your diet and lifestyle may be enough to control your symptoms, particularly if they are mild. Gerson, L. B. If you're pregnant, it may be tempting to eat more than you would normally, but this may not be good for you or your baby. Carefully check the active ingredients listed on OTC heartburn treatments. If antacids and alginates do not improve your symptoms, your GP may prescribe a medicine to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach. (2007). You can help ease indigestion and heartburn by making changes to your diet and lifestyle, and there are medicines that are safe to take in pregnancy. Written by Stephanie R. McGuire, MD, FASA. (2022). H2 blockers. The reason we have so much acid in our stomachs in the first place is because its a key component to digestion. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Holdings (U.S.) LLC. (2021). Heartburn is an unwelcome part of up to 45% of the 6 million pregnancies that happen every year in the U.S. Heartburn is most common later in pregnancy when your growing baby puts pressure on your stomach. pregnancy tums is the Science Editor at Popular Science. Researchers think the kidney problems result from too much calcium and neutralizing agents building up in the kidneys, which prevents them from being able to filter these compounds out. | While death by Tums overdose is exceedingly rare, downing a bottles worth of Tums is ill-advised. As such, erring on the side of caution is best, taking only the recommended amount, and only supplementing for extra calcium if recommended by a doctor, is best. Propping your head and shoulders up when you go to bed can stop stomach acid coming up while you sleep. (2021). The good news is that its usually harmless. She has a particular interest in brain science, the microbiome, and human physiology. Magnesium sulfate: Other magnesium compounds added to OTC antacids sometimes contain magnesium sulfate.
Email us at ask@popsci.com, tweet at us with #AskPopSci, or tell us on Facebook. Ask your healthcare provider before taking other types of OTC heartburn medications. Treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease during pregnancy. She has a bachelors degree in neurobiology from the University of California, Davis and a masters in science journalism from New York University's Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program. That's the valve responsible for keeping stomach acid from moving up into the esophagus where it doesn't belong. Select a condition to view a list of medication options. At high doses, this kind of magnesium can suppress labor contractions. Things to remember when you fill your prescription. Eating yogurt or drinking milk can help relieve the burning sensation. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Published Dec 5, 2021 1:00 PM. DailyMed. Ask your pharmacist to check for interactions and space calcium carbonate antacids 1 to 2 hours apart from other medications when needed. Sign up to receive Popular Science's emails and get the highlights. Its estimated that 9 out of 10 women will need to take medication while theyre pregnant whether it be for heartburn or for another medical condition. If you see magnesium being used as an antacid, it warrants a closer look. The Tums label advises taking only a few in one sitting, not exceeding 7,500 milligrams, which depending on the dosage (it comes in 500, 750, and 1,000 mg doses) can range anywhere from 7 to 15 tablets. Monitor for new onset or worsening constipation.
Other case reports show that people who took just 4 to 12 grams a day (thats even less than the recommended maximum for Tums) went on to develop the syndrome. If you're taking iron supplements as well asantacids, do not take them at the same time.
Find out more about alcohol and pregnancy. However, if you have heartburn while pregnant, you may be at an increased risk of having heartburn later in life. Contact the author here. Drinking alcohol can cause indigestion. In this article, well discuss which over-the-counter (OTC) antacids are safe for you and your baby. Food and Drug Administration. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Latest Facts on COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters, History Does Repeat: Vaccine Resistance Is Not New, Synthetic Chemical in Many Products Linked to Early Death, New Drug for Early Breast Cancer: First Advance in 20 Years, Love Horror? However,your GP may recommend taking them before symptoms come on for example, before a meal or before bed. Sign up for PopScis newsletter and receive the latest science and tech updates to your inbox. This survey is being conducted by the WebMD marketing sciences department. You should also see your midwife or GP if you have any of the following: Your midwife or GP may ask about your symptoms and examine you by pressing gently on different areas of your chest and stomach to see whether it's painful. Food is an excellent way to celebrate lifes adventures. TUMS is a registered trademark owned by or licensed to the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies. Gastroenterology & Hepatology. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Three different types of magnesium you may come across in antacids include: Magnesium trisilicate: Long-term use of this kind of magnesium at high doses can harm your unborn baby, and it isnt recommended during pregnancy. American College of Gastroenterology. If you are having difficulty accessing this website, please call or email us at (855) 268-2822 or ada@goodrx.com so that we can provide you with the services you require through alternative means. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use. Severe Precaution: Not recommended as an antacid age < 2 years. Page last reviewed: 2 December 2020
Still, in the presence of such abundant deliciousness, we humans tend toon occasionoverdo it. Avoid taking aspirin while pregnant unless instructed to do so by your healthcare provider. This willtake the pressure off your stomach. Too much fatty, rich, or fried food can lead to that dreaded indigestion and heartburn that sidelines you from the merriment and keeps you up at night. This may help you meet your higher calcium goal of about 1,000 mg to 1,300 mg per day. GoodRx is not offering advice, recommending or endorsing any specific prescription drug, pharmacy or other information on the site. Talk with your healthcare provider before taking other types of OTC medications to treat heartburn. telegraph mums tums pregnant keep axel dunsdon victoria son months while clara molden credit 