Is Tums Okay During Pregnancy

Changing Your Eating Habits

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What Are Some Other Side Effects Of Tums

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Constipation.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

What Causes Heartburn During Pregnancy

When you’re pregnant, your bodys hormone levels experience changes. Some may act as a muscle relaxant that helps to prepare your body for childbirth. The downside? The increase of some hormones may also relax the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES. That’s the valve responsible for keeping stomach acid from moving up into the esophagus, where it doesn’t belong. If the acid moves into that area, it can irritate the esophagus and cause heartburn.2

As your pregnancy progresses and your baby grows, there may be more pressure on your stomach. This too can push the acid in your stomach past the LES and back into the esophagus, causing heartburn.

The good news is that heartburn will likely stop for most women after they give birth. If you have heartburn while pregnant, however, you may be at an increased risk of having heartburn later in life.

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Is It Safe To Take Antacids During Pregnancy

• Natural Alternatives To Antacids

Heartburn and acidity are common concerns during pregnancy. The digestive system is affected by the changes in hormones, increased blood flow and the pressure from the growing baby. This is when you would want to take an antacid to get relief from these symptoms.

But you are in a dilemma because you do not know whether or not antacids are safe during pregnancy. In this post, MomJunction tells you if it is safe to take antacids during pregnancy, the ones that you should avoid, and natural alternatives to antacids.

Focus On Liquid Foods

You should start implementing milkshakes, smoothies, soups, yogurts and puddings in your diet because these foods are a source of protein.

I hope you enjoy this guide I prepared for you so that in the future you would know when and how to take Tums while you are pregnant. Putting up this article is essential for me because I would like to ease your confusion and concerns regarding this medication. Remember all the points I made about Tums intake, how it is important and why you shouldnt take too much. Again, you can take Tums during your pregnancy but on moderation only.

If you like this article please let me know in the comment section below! If you have more questions, dont forget to write it down too!

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Can Pregnant Women Take Tums Are They Safe

Pregnancy and preparing to welcome a new addition into your life comes with many changes. For nearly half of all pregnant women, this includes heartburn and a newfound appreciation for antacids such as Tums.

Tums are only one brand name for fruity-yet-chalky calcium carbonate tablets that are available in a variety of strengths and versions.

Note: For the purposes of this article, I will refer to all of them simply as Tums. Other antacid brands with the same ingredients can be treated the same way, for the purposes of pregnancy safety.

The main ingredients in original-style Tums are corn starch, calcium carbonate, coloring, flavoring, mineral oil, sodium phosphate, sugar/sweetener, and talc. For those who dont enjoy the chalky sensation of traditional Tums, the brand does produce chews, too.

Chewy Tums have a few more ingredients to give them their signature texture . All of these ingredients are safe to use when pregnant, and Tums as a whole are no different .

The main difference between all of the different products? The amount of the active heartburn-relieving ingredient, calcium carbonate. Tums 750 contains 750 mg of calcium carbonate, Tums 1000 contains 1000 mg of calcium carbonate, and so on.

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Here are some things you need to be careful about, if you do take Tums when pregnant:

• While talking to your doctor about taking Tums, make sure you get the dosage right. There is a good chance that the dosage you need to take now is different from the dosage you would have taken when not pregnant. Try to keep track of how many tablets you should take in a day, and do not exceed the dosage under any circumstance. Always consult your doctor for any change that you might want to make, for example, if youre feeling like the medicine isnt really working.
• Now that you know these has a large amount of calcium in it, do not start thinking of it as a sort of calcium supplement, because it isnt. Upping the dosage of it during your pregnancy because your body requires more calcium will do more harm than good. Instead, focus on adding more calcium rich foods to your diet. If your body is still falling short on calcium, get your doctor to prescribe some calcium supplements.
• Tums is a serious no-no for anyone with kidney problems. Even if you dont have any kidney problems but have been placed on high risk for chances of developing them, you must stay away from Tums. This is because the calcium present in Tums could lead to stones forming in your kidneys.
• Tums could possibly lead to teratogenicity. If taken in the first trimester, it could potentially lead to a condition known as teratogenicity .

Additionally, Tums could also cause the following side effects during pregnancy:

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Do Not Take It As A Calcium Supplement

As what Ive discussed earlier, Tums has a fair amount of calcium that your fetus might need. You really need calcium for the fetuses bones to develop however, tums shouldnt be the supplement for calcium. To add more calcium in your body, dont just focus on taking Tums. Concentrate on adding foods which are rich in calcium in your daily diet. You can drink plenty of milk and eat foods with dairy products as ingredients.

Can I Take Tums While Pregnant

Heard of the GERD? Thats Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, a condition that goes hand in hand with pregnancy.

And its most common symptom? Heartburn.

Your expanding uterus is putting pressure on your stomach, and that sometimes causes acid to be pushed right up your esophagus.

While GERD during pregnancy is generally not dangerous, it can be very uncomfortable. Its no wonder youre seeking some sort of relief.

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Pregnancy Itself Ups Your Risk Of Heartburn

Normally, there are certain factors like your weight, whether you smoke, and your genes that can increase your likelihood of heartburn. But when you’re pregnant, it’s the pregnancy itself that makes you more susceptible.

“There are two main factors,” says Renee Wellenstein, DO, who is a double board-certified OB-GYN. One that’s hormonal and one that’s physical.

Heartburn is caused by acid reflux, when food and digestive fluids, which contain acids, back up in your esophagus and create that uncomfortable burn. That backup can happen when you’re pregnant because you have higher-than-usual progesterone levels, which can one slow digestion and two relax the muscle, called the esophageal sphincter, that separates your esophagus and stomach.

Combined, these two factors create the perfect storm for heartburn because the slow digestion can lead to more backup in your esophagus and the relaxed muscle makes it easier for acid to creep through.

“The other factor is the growing uterus that physically pushes up on the stomach as it grows,” says Wellenstein.

As a result, heartburn does tend to get worse throughout pregnancy. Fortunately, all those changes to your body that cause heartburn during pregnancy quickly disappear after you give birth. So, at least that’s something you can look forward to leaving behind at the hospital when you bring your newborn home.

Why Do I Feel Burning In My Stomach While Pregnant

Pregnancy Heartburn or Indigestion Heartburn is a burning feeling that starts in the stomach and seems to rise up to the throat. During pregnancy, changing hormone levels slow down your digestive system, weaken the stomach sphincter, and your uterus can crowd your stomach, pushing stomach acids upward.

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What To Drink For Heartburn During Pregnancy

If youre wondering what to drink when expecting a baby and plagued by indigestion, there are many beverages that you can sip on throughout the day for relief.

• Milk. The alkaline composition of milk including cows milk and nut milks can provide immediate relief from heartburn. Just stay away from milk that is high in fat, as fatty foods can cause even worse heartburn.
• Coconut water. Coconut water is very high in electrolytes which promote pH balance and help to neutralize stomach acid.
• Herbal tea. Ginger, fennel, peppermint, and marshmallow root are all heartburn remedies that can be found in tea form. Sip on herbal tea in between meals to prevent or relieve heartburn.
• Water. Thats right good old water. Sip on it throughout the day to make sure that you stay hydrated so that your digestive system can work as efficiently as possible without any hitches in the form of indigestion.

Avoid beverages that may exacerbate symptoms include caffeinated drinks such as coffee or green, white and black tea, carbonated drinks, and acidic drinks such as orange juice.

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Simethicone Safety During Pregnancy

Not every product you see on the shelves of your local pharmacy or drugstore has been evaluated by a professional medical association. Fortunately, simethicone and specifically its use during pregnancy has.

The American Gastroenterological Association released a statement in 2006 about pregnant people and the safety of certain drugs for gastrointestinal issues. It categorized simethicone as low risk, but with no human data. The final determination? Its probably compatible with pregnancy.

That said, the Gas-X FAQ page includes an important reminder about its product : Check with your OB-GYN first.

Interestingly, simethicone works by breaking up surface gas bubbles in the GI tract and isnt absorbed by the body.

For this reason, its considered safe to take postpartum while breastfeeding. Despite being taken orally,

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Can Too Many Tums Harm My Baby

High blood levels of calcium, known as hypercalcemia, are possible from taking an excessive amount of Tums. Maternal hypercalcemia can lead to restrictions in how much the fetus is able to grow in utero, as well as how the parathyroid gland is developed .

While these effects are possible, rest assured that this is most often seen when the mother has a diagnosed medical condition that affects her ability to regulate blood calcium levels. Currently, there have not been any reports of such complications from taking Tums.

What Medications Can I Take For Heartburn During Pregnancy

Its important to be extremely careful about the medications you take when pregnant.

For heartburn relief, over-the-counter antacids are all considered safe medications to use during pregnancy.

As always, consult with your provider about any medications youre taking even if theyre considered safe.

If you experience any unusual symptoms while taking an over-the-counter medication, call your doctor immediately.

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Learn What Causes Heartburn For Youthen Avoid It

Fat, caffeine, chocolate, citruspregnant women with heartburn have been advised to avoid all of the above at one time or another. But what causes reflux in one woman might not be a trigger for another.

Rather than tell his pregnant patients to avoid a specific food, Dr. Richter says he advises them to stay away from foods that specifically aggravate them. Everybody’s different, Dr. Richter says. Some pregnant women can chow down on spicy Mexican food or a plate of spaghetti and meatballs with no ill effects.

How Many Tums Can I Take When Pregnant

There is no question that calcium is an important nutrient for bone health, both in mom and baby. Since Tums is made from calcium, any Tums you take will count toward the 1,300 mg daily recommended amount of calcium .

There is an upper limit of how much calcium per day is safe, however. It is best not to exceed 2500 mg of calcium per day .

The maximum number of Tums that you can take per day depends on the strength of the product. Original-style Tums are 40% calcium. There is an easy way to figure out how much calcium is in each tablet.

For example, say you took 1 Tums 500 tablet. Take 500 x 0.4 = 200 mg calcium

Do keep in mind, you are likely also getting some calcium from your diet, so it is best not to meet the 2,500 mg upper limit from Tums alone. To help you dose Tums, the brand offers a helpful pregnancy dosage guide on their website. You can find it here.

While there is a maximum as to how many Tums are safe to take each day, the tablets are still safe to use on a regular basis. If you have specific questions regarding how many Tums are safe for you and your baby, be sure to reach out to your medical provider or pharmacist for individualized advice.

It is also worth mentioning that taking Tums right before eating can block the proper absorption of other essential nutrients, such as iron and phosphorus.

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Why Exactly Does Pregnancy Cause Heartburn

Heartburn during pregnancy will plague most moms-to-be at some point because progesterone, the hormone that relaxes muscles in pregnancy, also relaxes the stomach valve that keeps acid out of the esophagus. In addition, the growing uterus crowds the stomach, forcing acid into the esophagus.

But there are safe, effective ways to stop it. Pregnant women really dont need to suffer with heartburn anymore, says Adrienne Einarson, RN, assistant director of clinical services at Motherisk, a Toronto-based program that investigates the effects of prenatal exposures on maternal and fetal health. Here, experts recommend 12 different ways to soothe heartburn during pregnancy.

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Watch Your Weight Gain

Your growing belly is a sign of a normal, healthy pregnancy and although it may be one of the reasons for your heartburn, you dont want to exacerbate the problem further.

Extra pounds can put additional pressure on your abdomen and increase the chances of heartburn, so aim to keep your weight within the recommended guidelines.

Stick with a healthy diet, made up of mostly whole foods, and get enough exercise.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend women with normal, healthy pregnancies get between 20 and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise mostor all daysof the week.

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How Many Tums Can You Take In 24 Hours

Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are presently taking a prescription drug. Antacids may interact with certain prescription drugs. When using this product: Do not take more than 10 tablets in 24 hours. If pregnant, consult your physician before taking TUMS, and do not take more than 6 tablets in 24 hours.

Checklist Of Foods To Avoid In Your Daily Diet

I have mentioned earlier certain foods will alleviate the pregnancy symptoms indigestion and heartburn. The same sort of food which causes indigestion causes heartburn too.

Unfortunately, pregnancy heartburn is the worst in the last trimester. So, the best way is to completely staying away from those foods even if it is your favorite.

The list is as follows:

• Chocolates

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When Can I Expect Heartburn To End

Someday, scientists may very well invent a miracle medication that promises permanent pregnancy heartburn relief. Unfortunately, that hasnt happened yet.

So, if youre wondering how long you can expect to deal with heartburn while youre pregnant, it will probably be throughout your entire pregnancy.

However, just because theres no cure, that doesnt mean you cant find some relief in the meantime.