Cures Of Heartburn

Q: Please help heartburn!!?? I just recently found out i am 5 weeks pregnant and today I woke up with the WORST heartburn! What can I do to dull it or cure it totally? I have classes today from 11am-6:15pm (and every tuesday and thursday) and Id like to find some way to make it calm, or stop before I go. can anyone in the group help me please?

A:I had terrible heartburn with my son, but it didn't start until later. The cause is a combination of increased metabolism, more acids gurgling around in your stomach, and the pregnancy hormones relax your intestinal muscles, which causes reflux and backup of the acids. I got heartburn even when I drank water at one point, because it stirred up the acids again. WHat I found that helped was tums or the generic version, or these "papaya enzyme" tablets you can find in a health food

store. The biggest help was smaller, more frequent, non-acidic or fried foods. If you keep your stomach full, it will stay busy digesting the food instead of bugging you for more. Carry healthy snacks with you to class and explain to your teachers your need to frequently munch, mine were all accomodating. Cereal bars, granola bars, trail mix, all helped me. Eat healthy and drink milk before you go, that may help. You'll have to try and figure what foods work for you, everybody is different, I can only share what worked for me Oh yeah, sip your drinks, don't gulp them. Carry a water bottle with you everywhere and slowly get your fluid intake rather than try to get it all at a few drinks.