Thursday, July 10, 2008

Tum-ta-Tum-Tum-TUUUUUMMMS!


So, I'm feeling a little silly right now. This morning I woke-up with a nasty taste in my mouth. No, not the typical morning breath as you're probably guessing although that's probably partly true too.

I came downstairs and got the kids some food and then decided that it would probably help to eat to get that taste out of my mouth. Only, it didn't help. That yogurt did nothing. So, I figured that perhaps maybe something like Twizzlers would do the trick? Don't give me the health food talk here, I'm pregnant and trying to get a nasty taste to go away.

Twizzlers, didn't do it either. I went for a handful of almonds--see, I don't always choose junk food as the answer. Nope, no luck with those either. I figured maybe it'd go away on its own if I was just patient.

For lunch, I had leftovers of the orzo pasta I made for dinner last night with some strawberry milk to drink figuring perhaps one of those two tastes would work for me.

No, no, no. Still there.

So, I don't know why I didn't think of this before; it happened with my last two pregnancies--it's heartburn! I just realized that's what that nasty taste is and why I can't get it to go away. I get incredibly bad heartburn when I'm pregnant because there is just no room in there for my stomach to do its thing properly with a baby jumping and kicking and pushing it around.

The first time I ever experienced heartburn I was pregnant with Ryanna and since heartburn and I had no history, I just thought I had reached yet another miserable pregnancy milestone--the inability to sleep without feeling a burning sensation in the back of my throat. I went to my OB and described my symptoms and he said, "That's heartburn." Oh, so I don't have to live this way? No, I didn't.

Tums were my best friends and favorite (read sarcasm here) treat. I honestly started to feel a bit like I imagine a drug addict feels. At first one or two were doing the trick, but shortly I needed 5-7 each go. I would honestly just grab the bottle, put it to my mouth and pour. Ryanna came out okay as far as we can tell.

Fast forward a few years to Owen--a much bigger baby. The heartburn started again. I bought Tums, but this time they did absolutely nothing. One night it was so bad that I slept for only a couple of hours and then made a mad dash to Wal-Mart at 6 in the morning to buy a bottle of Pepto Bismol. This was after having eaten ice cream and yogurt and drinking several glasses of milk. I told my OB that I thought I might have to give up food for the remainder of the pregnancy and he gave me Prilosec. Ahhh, blessed Prilosec, I almost named my first son after you.

So, here I am with baby number three on its way in a couple of months. How did I not recognize these symptoms? How did I go through this entire day not recognizing the nastiness of heartburn? Must be that pregnancy forgetful brain thing that everyone talks about. Good thing I see the doctor next week, I don't think there's any Prilosec in the house! And, I may just have figured out the name for our next child...

11 comments:

Lara Neves said...

Too funny. I never need Tums, except during pregnancy. And then, much like you, I go through bottles and bottles in very little time. :)

Hope you get your Prilosec fast!

Bethany said...

So So unpleasant! Pepcid and I were bffs!

JenW said...

yay for medicine! sorry you have to endure that!

Minharos said...

I totally feel your pain- literally. I always get the pregnancy heartburn. Once while I was pregnant with Macey someone told me that eating mustard helps. I got so desperate one night that I ate a tablespoon of the delicious stuff. It didn't help.

You gotta love the pills. Without them I'd have to give up on chocolate and bread. Can you imagine?

Lacey said...

I never got heartburn with either of my pregnancy..but then again, maybe I had it and didn't know the symptoms...

Missed you at the pool yesterday...just me and Yolanda..the pool was practically empty because of the cloudiness.. And surprisingly, it was a tad bit cold in the water! Still fun, Elodie started using the frog slide and LOVES it!!

Heather said...

You can get Prilosec over the counter and generic too! Call your doc and see if you can get it yourself. Destry has to take it for the rest of his life because of bad heartburn all the time. I had it sooo bad with both kids too. There is nothing worse, I feel your pain!!

Dori said...

Rad picture Aud! That is what it feels like! You are going to LOVE having that baby.I have experienced nothing more physically challenging than pregnancy!!! Try the tums smoothies, they are actually not disgusting. avoid the chocolate ones though, they are a cheap and dirty lie.

DKAZ said...

There is nothing like the craving for that chalky pasty little morsel is there! I get it too, but I get it early and then again late in my pregnancies. I feel for you.

Jessica Martiele said...

I weep for you...and I'm glad I'm not suffering the same thing. Been there, done that twice, and that fact that we can't have more kids is something I'm okay with when I think of living on Tums. Best of luck, and I second "heather": grab some prilosec otc stat! Hang in there!

Erica said...

Mmh, tums smoothies. My salvation with Linley. I had bottles everywhere. I learned what it would be like to be a crack addict. I could not go anywhere without my cirlces of chalk. Oh the instant relief. I kind of feel like chomping one down now actually.

Amelia Poll said...

Hmm...one more thing I can add to my list of "things that happen to you when you get pregnant..."

I'm available just about any Friday to come over. Let me know if that works, and I will come! :)