sodium bicarbonate

[laurainri]

please help me understand this. I have a pt that is 7 months pregnant and she has been expierencing heartburn after meals especially at night. i understand why she is having the heartburn with the opening of the cardiac sphincter. But can she take sodium bicarb for it? All of the material that I see states that you do not take unless you talk to the Dr first. The Dr never came in while I was there so I never got to know if she can or not. any help would be great

[ukstudent]

She doesn't need sodium bicarb, see needs teaching. Teach her to eat frequent small meals, sit up right after eating and to not eat within 2-3 hours of going to bed. Sodium bicarb can be abused and too much will change the blood pH.

[laurainri]

She doesn't need sodium bicarb, see needs teaching. Teach her to eat frequent small meals, sit up right after eating and to not eat within 2-3 hours of going to bed. Sodium bicarb can be abused and too much will change the blood pH.

there has to be more to this than changing the Ph of the body. I looked in my maternity book and found nothing. too much sodium bicarb is not good for anybody. but why is really not good for a woman who is pregnant? This is what I really need to know. Thank you :-)

[ready4crna?]

Yes, but yuck! tastes terrible.

Under guidance from her physician, a PPI or routine antacids may be beneficial and tolerated better.

[ukstudent]

Sodium bicarb is a salt. It increases water retention (edema) and increases blood pressure. Can cause a pregnant women to get eclampsia and have seizures. Tell her not to use anti-acids and eat small meals and sit up-right after eating.