Heartburn

[Melzo]

Hi all!

I have two quick questions. I am currently 19 weeks pregnant and having some "issues."

First, I have terrible, terrible heartburn. I was wondering what I am able to take to relieve the symptoms - since I can't take tums (which are approved for pregnancy but not gluten-free)?

Second, this is not related to the first question at all but.....I am going to be breastfeeding when the baby is born. I am concerned that I might not be able to or will have to supplement my breastmilk with formula. What type of formula is gluten-free?

Thanks for those who can help!

[Ursa Major]

Have you considered finding out what is causing the heartburn? You may have intolerances other than gluten that could be causing heartburn.

As for breastfeeding, I don't believe there is any reason why you shouldn't have enough milk for your baby, as it is a very rare thing for a woman not to have enough milk. The gluten-free diet is a healthy diet, that should supply the baby with everything it needs through your breast milk. So, I wouldn't worry about it at this point.

[Guest cassidy]

You might try taking digestive enzymes. Obviously, talk to your doctor, but my doctor said they are completely safe during pregnancy and she highly recommends taking them when you are pregnant. They help your body break down food so it is more easily digested. If the digestion process is faster and easier, the heartbun may go away.

I'm sure you have read that heartburn is a common pregnancy issue, so if you were fine before now, unless you started eating something completely different, I think you can assume it is just because of the pregnancy and not a new found intolerance or problem.

Hope you feel better.

[jerseyangel]

I agree with Ursula on the heartburn. While it could just be a pregnancy symptom--did you get it before, also? When I eliminated all of the foods that I am intolerant to, all of my heartburn/reflux problems went away. If you think you may have additional food intolerances, doing an elimination diet can be very helpful. Let us know how we can help

[wolfie]

Heartburn was always my first pregnancy symptom. It was miserable the whole pregnancy with DD. My dr finally prescribed something (I think it was Zantac, but I am not positive). For me it wasn't an issue of what I was eating, it was just a pregnancy symptom. Tums didn't work for very long anyway, so it doesn't matter that you can't take them now. Maybe you can speak with your dr at your next appt? I hope you feel better soon!

Now, looking back, maybe it was all of my food intolerances.....as I first noticed all of my gluten intolerance issues after my c-section with DD. Hmmmmm?

[Melzo]

Well, I know for a fact that it's a pregnancy issue. I could be drinking water and my heartburn act up. I just found out that the tums I was taking (and it was working) has gluten in it apparently. I read up on it last night and am going to try to eat smaller meals, stay away from the high acid type foods, etc... I'll try to beat this naturally! Thanks for your help though.

Cassidy: What are digestive enzymes? Is it like a pill? Never heard of it. That might do the trick!

I am concerned about the breastfeeding issue because my sister-in-law just had a baby three weeks ago and cannot supply enough breastmilk for her baby. I was just trying to do the research just incase I ran into the same situation. So if anyone knows of a gluten free formula (just for reference), it would be appreciated. I haven't really found anything on this site that pointed me in any direction. I don't want to get to the point where I'm in the hospital and "having" to feed my baby formula but not knowing what type is safe. THANKS!

[lindalee]

Hi all!

I have two quick questions. I am currently 19 weeks pregnant and having some "issues."

First, I have terrible, terrible heartburn. I was wondering what I am able to take to relieve the symptoms - since I can't take tums (which are approved for pregnancy but not gluten-free)?

Second, this is not related to the first question at all but.....I am going to be breastfeeding when the baby is born. I am concerned that I might not be able to or will have to supplement my breastmilk with formula. What type of formula is gluten-free?

Thanks for those who can help!

Try a couple of drops of unpasturized apple cider vinegar in your water. It also flushes out toxins. I drink it . LindaLee (don't have heartburn but heard it helps that) mine is bragg.

[key]

I have been taking ORange Peal Extract for heartburn. You take it for 21 days every other day and then when you have symptoms. I think it has helped me. It is supposed to cure heartburn and not just treat it. THere is apparently only one brand, because they have a patent on it. It is expensive. IT is worth it to me though. It is a natural product. Also I have been taking digestive enzymes and thing this helps. Also stay away from high fat foods. This is supposed to be one of the worst culprits.

You may be fine breastfeeding. Try not to supplement with formula unless you have to. Also it would be good to have a lactation consultant. They can be very helpful. As far as formulas go, most of them are probably gluten free. You would have to call the company for sure on whichever brand you choose to use. I used an organic soy formula for my son once I weaned him at 13 months. I think it is Baby's Only brand and I got it at our healthfood store. It is gluten free.

Monica

[CarlaB]

You won't have to feed the baby formula in the hospital, your milk probably won't come in until after you leave ... I breastfed 5 kids and mine never did! Do not be alarmed when it takes a few days for the milk to come in, the colostrum that is there first is exactly what the baby needs. Some nurses might make you feel like you are not going to be able to feed the baby, just wait a couple days!

Do not give the baby the water they give you in the hospital, he/she does not need it and you will need that stimulation on your breasts to get the milk to come in. With one of my kids, they gave her the water while I was sleeping, then she didn't breastfeed for hours because her tummy was full. I had them put a note on the basinet after that that said no water for the rest of the kids.

If you supplement your own milk, your supply will diminish or never get established. The baby will choose a bottle over the breast if you offer the bottle because it comes out faster. I never gave the babies that choice

Sorry I don't know the answer to your question ... I didn't use formula.

[Guest cassidy]

Cassidy: What are digestive enzymes? Is it like a pill? Never heard of it. That might do the trick!

Digestive enzymes are pills. They are a mix of enzymes that your body normally has to break down food. If you don't have enough enzymes then it takes longer to digest your food and there is a better chance for having reflux. Since it is something that you body naturally makes, that is why it is considered safe during pregnancy. Any health food store could help you with them. I only take plant derived, not the ones from animals because I think that is gross. They also have some probiotics in them which helps replenish the good bacteria in your intestines. Again, those are things that we naturally have so they should be safe to take. Enzymedia or something like that has a good one.

The orange peel extract has a huge pregnancy warning on it. To be in the safe side, I wouldn't take that although I don't see why orange peel would be bad.

[Melzo]

Thanks guys. That helps out! I really don't want to feed my baby formula at all. I would much rather breastfeed. I guess I'm just worried that it won't work out. I should just wait til' I cross that bridge. I never heard of the nurses feeding baby water! I will put that in my birth plan that I don't want them to give them water. Wow. So much stuff that I don't know.

Vinegar. Interesting. I will have to try that or the digestive enzymes. Sounds like a plan!

THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYONE! You don't know how bad this is right now!

[Guhlia]

Melzo, I feel your pain. When I first got pregnant, I didn't even know what heartburn was. I'd never had it before in my life. Man, was that a pain in the rear. I had horrible heartburn from about the first month until I gave birth. Ugh... I wasn't gluten free back then though, so I can't help you on antacids. I would ask your doctor for suggestions. If you have a good doctor that's willing to go the extra mile, he/she may look something up for you to verify that it's gluten-free and safe for the baby.

I believe that most formulas are gluten free. Here's a list I found in someone's blog. I have not verified any of the information, so please take it for what it's worth. The only thing I'm sure of is Similac being gluten-free and Neocate was last time I checked (but that's a specialty prescription formula). Here's a link to the blog also: Open Original Shared Link

Baby Magic

All lotions and powder

Beech Nut

Naturals Baby Food

Stage 1 - Starter Size

FRUITS: Golden Delicious Applesauce; Chiquita Bananas; Peaches; Bartlett Pears

VEGGIES: Tender Sweet Carrots; Tender Sweet Peas; Butternut Squash; Tender Golden Sweet Potatoes

Stage 1

INSTANT CEREAL: Rice Cereal

JUICES: Apple Juice from concentrate w/Vit.C; Pear Juice from concentrate w/Vit.C; White Grape from concentrate w/Vit.C

FRUITS: Golden Delicious Applesauce; Chiquita Bananas; Peaches; Bartlett Pears

VEGGIES: Tender Sweet Carrots, Tender Young Green Beans; Tender Sweet Peas; Butternut Squash; Tender Golden Sweet Potatoes

MEATS: Beef and Beef Broth; Chicken and Chicken Broth; Lamb and Lamb Broth; Turkey and Turkey Broth; Veal and Veal Broth

Stage 2

INSTANT CEREAL: Rice and Golden Delicious Apples Cereal; Rice and Chiquita Bananas Cereal

JAR CEREAL: Rice Cereal with Apples and Cinnamon

FRUIT YOGURTS: Banana Apple Yogurt; Mixed Fruit Yogurt

JUICES: Apple Banana Juice from concentrate w/Vit. C; Apple Cherry Juice from concentrate w/Vit. C; Apple Cranberry Juice from concentrate w/Vit. C; Apple Pear Juice from concentrate

w/Vit. C; Apple White Grape Juice from concentrate w/Vit. C; Mixed Fruit Juice from concentrate w/Vit. C

FRUITS: Apples & Bananas; Apples & Blueberries; Apples & Cherries; Apples, Mango, & Kiwi; Apples & Pears; Apples, Pears & Bananas; Apples & Strawberries; Apricots w/ Pears and Apples;

Chiquita Bananas & Strawberries; Chiquita Bananas With Pears and Apples; Peaches and Bananas; Pears & Pineapple; Pears & Raspberries; Plums with Apples and Pears; Sunsweet Prunes With Pears

VEGGIES: Carrots & Peas; Corn & Sweet Potatoes; Country Garden Vegetables; Mixed Vegetables; Sweet Potatoes and Apples

SIMPLE DINNERS: Apples & Beef; Apples & Chicken; Broccoli & Turkey; Sweet Potatoes & Chicken

DINNERS: Chicken & Rice Dinner; Homestyle Chicken Soup; Macaroni & Beef w/ vegetables (States they are rice noodles!); Turkey Rice Dinner; Vegetables & Beef; Vegetables & Chicken;

Vegetables & Ham; Vegetables & Turkey

DESSERTS: Banana Pineapple Dessert; Dutch Apple Dessert; Fruit Dessert; Tutti-Frutti Dessert; Vanilla Custard Pudding w/ Apples; Guava Dessert; Island Fruit Dessert; Mango Dessert; Papaya

Dessert

Stage 3

JAR CEREAL: Rice Cereal & Pears

FRUITS: Fruits; Apples & Bananas; Apples & Cherries; Apricots w/ Pears and Apples; Chiquita Bananas; Chiquita Bananas and Berries; Peaches; Bartlett Pears; Pears & Raspberries

VEGGIES: Carrots & Peas; Sweet Potatoes

DINNERS: Turkey Rice Dinner; Country Vegetables and Chicken; Vegetables and Turkey

DESSERTS: Banana Pudding; Fruit Dessert

TABLE TIME FOODS (Microwavable Meals): Turkey Stew with Rice; Vegetable Stew w/ Beef

Carnation (Very Best Baby) (1.800.284.9488) (ve:4/24/02)

Nestle Carnation Good Start Infant Formula, Follow-up Formula, Alsoy Infant Formula, Follow-up Soy Formula

FORMULA:

Ross Products (Abbott Laboratories) (800.227.5767) (ve:5/9/02)

Isomil Soy Formula; Isomil Soy Formula for Diarrhea; Isomil 2 Toddler Formula; Similac; Similac Lactose Free; Similac 2; Alimentum; NeoSure Infant Formula; PediaLyte; PediaSure

Next Step Soy Toddler Formula; Next Step Toddler Formula Regular; Nutramigen Formula

Pregestimil Formula

Prosobee Formula

Johnson & Johnson Products

BATH:

Head to Toe Gentle Cleansing Cloths; Moisturizing Gentle Cleansing Cloths; Soothing Skin Baby Bath; Head to Toe Baby Wash; Baby Bath; Bedtime Bath; Moisturizing Baby Bath; Soothing Vapor

Bath; Baby Bar

SHAMPOO:

Shampoo w/Natural Lavender; Baby Shampoo (Detangling Formula); Moisturizing w/Honey and Vitamin E; Herbal w/Chamomile (Gentle Detangler)

LOTION:

Soothing Skin Baby Lotion; Baby Lotion; Lotion with Aloe and Vitamin E; Bedtime Lotion

OINTMENTS/CREAM:

Soothing Vapor Cream (for colds like Vicks Vaporub); Diaper Rash Ointment

BABY OILS:

Baby Oil; Baby Oil (and Gel) with Aloe and E, Baby Oil (and Gel) with Chamomile and Multivitamin Complex; Creamy Baby Oil

BABY POWDER:

Baby Powder; Baby Powder w/Aloe and Vitamin E (Pure Corn Starch); Baby Powder w/Lavender and Chamomile; Baby Powder w/Aloe and Vitamin E (medicated)

Advil (Wyeth)

Children's Infant Drops (Fruit, Grape)

Anbesol-Baby (Wyeth)

Grape Teething Gel

Anbesol-Baby (Wyeth)

Maximum Strength Anbesol Gel (Alcohol Free); Maximum Strength Anbesol Liquid (Alcohol Free)

Baby Magic All lotions and powder

Banana Boat Baby Block Titanium Dioxide Formula SPF 50

Barriere AH cream-found in the baby section -chapped hands and lips

Beech Nut

Baby Water (Spring water w/fluoride); Pediatric Electrolyte

Dimetapp

Decongestant Infant Drops; Decongestant Plus Cough Infant Drops

Eckerd Brand

Children's Aceteminophine (Tablets and Elixer); Children's Night Time Cold and Cough

Equate (Walmart brand)

After dialing the toll free number, press 3 for medications and 1 for Vitamins, key in the lot # of the product to find out if certain vitamins are gluten-free

Fer-In-Sol (MeadJohnson)

Drops and Syrup

Gerber Products

Company says each and every ingredient will be listed on the label.

Gerber Finger Foods

Gerber Finger Foods Fruit and Veggie Puffs do contain gluten. However, our Finger Foods Fruit and Veggie Wagon Wheels are gluten-free.

Huggies Wipes (Kimberly-Clark)

Luvs Wipes

Mead Johnson

Casec; Enfamil/Enfamil w/Iron; EnfaCare; Enfamil AR; Enfamil Premature Formula; Enfamil Human Milk Fortifier; Enfalyte; Kindercal; LactoFree; MCT Oil; Moducal; Next Step Soy Toddler

Formula; Next Step Milk-Based Toddler Formula; Nutramigen; Portagen; Pregestimil; Prosobee

Mennen

Baby Magic Baby Lotion and all other Baby Magic Products

Motrin Products (McNeil)

Children's Motrin Non-Staining Dye-free Oral Suspension -- Children's Motrin COLD Non-Staining Dye-free Oral Suspension -- Infants' Motrin Non-Staining Dye-free Concentrated Drops

Orajel (Del Labs)

All Baby Orajel Products are gluten-free: Toddler toothpaste; baby tooth and gum cleanser; teething pain reliever, etc.)

Pampers Wipes

Poly-Vi-Flor (MeadJohnson)

Drops and Tablets

Poly-Vi-Sol (MeadJohnson)

Drops and Tablets

Robitussin

DM Infant Drops; Pediatric Cough; Pediatric Cough & Cold; Pediatric Night Relief

Seventh Generation Products

All products are gluten free.

Triaminic Syrup

Tylenol Products (McNeil)

Children's Cold Plus Cough Chewable Tablets -- Children's Suspension Grape Flavored Liquid -- Infants' Cherry Concentrated Drops

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly

Vaseline, Intensive Care Lotion Advanced Healing

Tri-Vi-Flor (MeadJohnson)

Drops and Tablets

Tri-Vi-Sol (MeadJohnson)

Drops and Tablets

WalMart (See "Equate")

I hope this helps. Please remember that companies change formulations all the time, so you'll be best off checking with the company before making your actual purchases.

Good luck!

[lindalee]

Thanks guys. That helps out! I really don't want to feed my baby formula at all. I would much rather breastfeed. I guess I'm just worried that it won't work out. I should just wait til' I cross that bridge. I never heard of the nurses feeding baby water! I will put that in my birth plan that I don't want them to give them water. Wow. So much stuff that I don't know.

Vinegar. Interesting. I will have to try that or the digestive enzymes. Sounds like a plan!

THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYONE! You don't know how bad this is right now!

I just had a salad with salmon, broccoli and fresh herbs with a tad of vinegar on top. Yum! I use it alot. LindaLee

[teankerbell]

It's the pregnancy that is causing the heartburn. Try 1/4 tsp of Baking Soda w/ 1/2 cup of water. The recipe is on the box and it is safe. Tastes like salt water.

[Melzo]

Well....I have tried the apple cider vinegar - didn't help.

Sent my husband to the store to pick me up "digestive enzymes" and the lady at the pharmacy yelled at him that I shouldn't be taking "herbal remedies" when I'm pregnant and I should first speak to my doctor. Well, I guess I will have to call her tomorrow! Geez, I didn't think it would be this difficult.

I will be trying the baking soda and water here in two seconds. Let you know how that goes. I'm hopeful.

[key]

Papaya extract is supposed to be an all natural product to use when pregnant for heartburn. I am pretty sure that is it. I haven't tried it though. Find out about the digestive enzymes. They may be ok during pregnancy. Check of course, but everything carries a warning during pregnancy. Just to cover their butts.

Monica

[jerseyangel]

That reminds me, my local health food store carries a digestive enzyme that is just pineapple and papaya--nothing else. It is their own brand, but I'm sure that someone else makes the same thing. Sorry you're still having this problem!

[Fiddle-Faddle]

Hi, Melzo,

I was on Zantac and TINY amounts of Phenergan for my second and third pregnancies, and was actually able to gain 12 pounds with each of them. With my first pregnancy, I tried to avoid meds, and ended up with uncontrolled nausea and vomiting for the whole pregnancy, developed preeclampsia and left the hospital 10 pounds under my starting weight and a baby with multiple health problems. Not good. 2nd time around, my OBGYN, who specialized in high-risk pregnancies, convinced me that both baby and I would be healthier if I took meds, and she worked with me to use the samallest amounts possible. For example, the recommended dosage of phenergan (for nausea and vomiting, which I had with all 3 pregnancies, so badly with #2 that I needed to be IV-ed) was 25 milligrams 2-4 times/day, but I would cut the pills in 4, and take 1/4 once a day--and it was just enough to help me keep things down.

As far as producing enough milk, with knowledgable support, you will be able to!

First of all, many (if not most) women can't produce milk on the "Nurse the baby every 2-3 hours" schedule. The first few days, if the baby is awake, let him nurse every 20 minutes if he's willing. I'm serious. That's actually what my second baby WANTED to do, and the nurse came in and scolded me and said I was only to nurse every 2-3 hours.

I told her that she could teach my baby how to tell time if she wanted to, and then asked for the lactation consultant to come in.

The lactation consultant came in, told the nurse that she was WRONG (!!!!) and said that nursing every 20-30 minutes the first week or so makes 3 things happen:

1) Your milk comes in the second day (in large amounts!)

2) You don't get engorged when it does, or at least, not nearly as badly as with the 2-3 hour schedule, and

3) The baby sleeps a lot longer at night from the very beginning,presumably because he's been tanking up all day.

See if you can hook up with the hospital's lactation consultant before the baby is born, so that she knows all your allergy issues, and so she'll be ready to work with you before there's a problem so that you won't have any problems!

If I were you, I would do everything possible to avoid formula of any kind. Get your support system in place now, though--there are so many well-meaning people in the health care field who know NOTHING about nursing, and they do so much to screw it up, it's amazing.

The OBGYN's think that it's a feeding issue, so they know nothing, but the pediatricians think that it's the mother's body, so they're just as clueless as the OBGYNs. Probelm is, the pediatricians don't seem to KNOW that they are clueless--that can be dangerous.

I had 2 different pediatricians tell me that it would be impossible for me to nurse, as I hadn't produced a drop in 4 days of pumping every 3 hours around the clock (and I had been on magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures, which apparently inhibits milk production, too). (And yes, I did give the baby formula while I wasn't producing anything )

On the 5th day, I started producing colostrum, and the baby latched on that night when millk finally appeared. At that point, I threw out the formula.

The doctors were wrong (again).

Anywya, good luck, and let us know if you need support, we're all good at that around here!

[lindalee]

Thanks guys. That helps out! I really don't want to feed my baby formula at all. I would much rather breastfeed. I guess I'm just worried that it won't work out. I should just wait til' I cross that bridge. I never heard of the nurses feeding baby water! I will put that in my birth plan that I don't want them to give them water. Wow. So much stuff that I don't know.

Vinegar. Interesting. I will have to try that or the digestive enzymes. Sounds like a plan!

THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYONE! You don't know how bad this is right now!

Get the unfiltered vinegar-it's called the mother. I get it in the health food section at the grocery. It's good and I use it alot. Vinegar is good for you. LindaLee

[Melzo]

Hello all!

I finally called the mid-wife to make sure that the items that you suggested were safe for me to take. Between the papaya enzymes and the baking soda - the papaya enzymes won! So I ran to GNC and bought a small bottle. They are absolutely wonderful!!!! I haven't had heartburn since I started taking them (last night)! I just can't believe it!

Fiddle-Faddle, thanks for the story. You have really reassured me that I will be able to breastfeed. I am now feeling more optimistic! THANK YOU!

[jerseyangel]

Melzo--that's great! I'm happy you're feeling better

[key]

That is awesome! So happy it is working for you. Heartburn is miserable!

Monica