Heartburn is commonly noted toward the end of the second and extending through the third trimester. 

Recommendations:       

 

1.       Avoid highly seasoned foods, fried foods

 

2.       Eat smaller more frequent meals of solid food, taking in liquids between meals

 

3.       Do not lie down immediately after meals (for at least 30 min)

 

4.       While lying down, elevate the head on two pillows

 

5.       For persistent heartburn, one of the following antacids may be                 recommended:(Note: Avoid antacids containing sodium)

 

a.               Tums (have the advantage of increasing calcium  intake)

b.               Rolaids

c.        Maalox

d.       Gelusil

e.       Amphojel

f.        Mylanta

 

6.               Persistent heartburn may indicate esophageal reflux.

 

7.       Consult with a health care provider if Rx e.g. for Zantac is required

 

8.       Severe unrelenting heartburn requires evaluation as it may indicate severe preeclampsia

                                       

Prepared in conjunction with the

Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Duke University Medical Center

 

                                                            ____________________________

                                                            Director

 

                                                            ____________________________

                                                            Date

1/16/07                       

 

 

 

1.       Brunclik V, Privrel T. Double-blind comparison of an oxetacain-antacid combination against the antacid alone in the treatment of heartburn in pregnancy. Praxis. 1988; 16:357-362.

 

 

 

The Clinical Care Guidelines Development Committee of the Perinatal Improvement Board of Duke University Health System has developed a series of multi-disciplinary protocols to offer guidance to health care providers who are caring for pregnant women with high risk conditions.

 

These protocols are designed to assist health care providers in the management of a variety of problems that occur in pregnancy and the time of delivery. They should not be interpreted as standard of care, but instead represent only general guidelines for the care of pregnant women with high risk conditions.  We recognize that services offered by individual providers depend not only on their training, experience and institutional resources, but on the medical facts and circumstances of the specific care situation.

The protocols remain the intellectual property of the Duke University Health System.  They cannot be reproduced in whole or part without the expressed permission of the Health System.

 

These protocols are reviewed by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the Department of Pediatrics Division of Neonatology and the Department of Anesthesiology Division of Women’s Anesthesia.  Please contact Andra H. James (andra.james@duke.edu), Chair, Clinical Care Guidelines Development Committee of the Perinatal Improvement Board with ideas for additional protocols.