If mealtime causes pain, discomfort, or just a bad case of burning in your chest and throat, you are not alone. Heartburn might be your first time experiencing it while being pregnant, just like the other symptoms of pregnancy. We are here to tell you that it is a normal occurrence, and your first thought will be to reach out for tums.
This popular chalky remedy for non-pregnancy heartburn might raise a few questions in your mind if you are pregnant: can you take tums while pregnant? Does it lead to any side effects? What is the maximum dosage you can take? Read on to know the answers to these questions, so you know you made the right choice by choosing tums for your heartburn.
What are Tums?
Tums is the marketing name for calcium carbonate that is used to treat indigestion, upset stomach, or heartburn. It is an antacid that works its magic by lowering the amount of acid in your stomach. Remember that too many tums (too much calcium) might be dangerous for your body. it can cause side effects such as gas and constipation, so watch out for these signs of overdose:
- Dry mouth
- Gas
- Vomiting and nausea
- Loss of appetite
What is Pregnancy Heartburn?
Heartburn is the most common symptom of pregnancy experienced by half of all expectant mothers. Thank your hormones for causing you this discomforting pain right after you eat. Relaxin and progesterone are both hard at work when you are pregnant, slowing the muscles of your digestive tract down.
When this happens, the food you just consumed moves slowly down the tract and makes your digestive system sluggish. This leads to post-meal bloat but did you know the worst feeling of all this digestive traffic? The burning sensation of acids and foods coming back up to the esophagus from the stomach because of the relaxed valve between them (ugh, right?)
No wonder most pregnant women (and non-pregnant folks, too) run for the nearest antacid to curb this unpleasant experience. But when you are pregnant, you stop right before popping the pill in because what if they cause side effects on your baby? What if the normal dose is too much for your pregnant body? And the elephant in the room is the most worrisome: Can you take tums while pregnant?
So, Can You Take Tums While Pregnant?
Yes, you can use it while pregnant, as it has been prescribed by OB-GYNs for years. The OTC medication can manage two things in a pregnant body:
- Treat pregnancy heartburn
- Provides additional calcium for both the baby and the mother
When taken in the recommended dosage and frequency, tums are safe to use while pregnant.
What is The Frequency and Dosage of Tums?
Ideally, the frequency and dodge of tums should come from your doctor. Having said that, there are general guidelines for consuming it while pregnant. it works best when taken every 4 hours. The maximum dosage for pregnancy heartburn is 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours.
Can You Take Tums While Pregnant: Things to Remember
Before you pop in that pill for heartburn, here’s a list of things to keep in mind considering that you have a little human inside you:
- All OTC medications must be taken only after consulting your doctor if you are pregnant.
- The lowest dose of tums is 500 mg.
- According to the manufacturer of tums, pregnant women should not exceed 10 tablets in a 24-hour timeframe for a maximum of 2 weeks.
- Antacids can decrease the absorptions of iron so if you are taking iron supplements do so with a gap of 2 hours between tums and iron.
- Separate thyroid medications with it by at least a time gap of 4 hours.
The Bottom Line: Can You Take Tums While Pregnant?
Tums are medically safe to consume when you are pregnant. Its dosage must be recommended by a medical professional. Even though it is considered safe for pregnant folks, here are three alternatives to it that you may want to discuss with your doctor:
- Sucralfate (Carafate) is a prescription drug and a coating agent that helps with heartburn.
- H2 blockers are safe to take while pregnant to prevent heartburn (the commonly used one is Pepcid AC).
- Magnesium hydroxide is an OTC medication that can be used while pregnant but not in your 3rd trimester.
FAQs
Can you take tums while pregnant?
Yes, they are pregnancy-safe. it should be your first line of defense for heartburn. These are chewable antacids, labeled just “calcium, ” made from calcium carbonate.
What antacids are safe during pregnancy?
Pregnancy requires you to think twice about every pill you might otherwise pop. here are some antacids that are considered for a pregnant body:
- Tums
- Rolaids
- Mylanta
- Tagamet
- Prevacid
- Prilosec
- Pepcid
What happens if you take too many tums while pregnant?
Calcium is the most needed mineral while pregnant, and it contains precisely that. However, too much calcium in your body can lead to side effects such as
- Irregular heartbeat
- Increased risk of developing kidney stones
- Constipation
How many tums are safe while pregnant?
Moderation is the key when it comes to medications. Pregnant folks are advised to limit themselves to a maximum of 15 tums in 24 hours.
Can antacids cause miscarriage?
Proton pump inhibitors, histamine-2 receptor antagonists, and antacids are safe to use while pregnant. Studies have shown that they cause no adverse effects on the fetus.