Heartburn at 25 weeks pregnant: what to know

It may feel like burning behind the breastbone, a sour taste, burping, or fluid rising into the throat. Symptoms commonly become more noticeable after eating, when bending, or while lying down.

Pregnancy hormones can relax the muscular valve between the food pipe and stomach. Stomach contents can then travel upwards and irritate the food pipe. As the uterus grows, added pressure in the abdomen can contribute, especially after a large meal.

Heartburn describes the symptom, while acid reflux describes the movement of stomach contents upwards. Burning that repeatedly disturbs sleep, causes trouble swallowing, or does not improve with sensible changes deserves assessment rather than being assumed to be routine pregnancy discomfort.

Try smaller meals, eat slowly, and remain upright after food. Leave time between the evening meal and lying down. Notice whether spicy, fatty, acidic, caffeinated, or fizzy items trigger your symptoms and reduce only the foods that clearly affect you. Raising the head and upper chest during sleep may reduce night-time reflux; extra pillows alone can bend the abdomen and be less helpful.

Check any antacid, alginate, herbal product, or acid-reducing medicine with a pharmacist, midwife, or doctor who knows you are pregnant. Some products are unsuitable in pregnancy or can interfere with iron and other medicines, so ask how to separate doses.

Seek urgent medical help for severe or persistent chest pain, pain with breathlessness, fainting, sweating, or pain spreading to the arm, back, neck, or jaw. Do not treat those features as ordinary heartburn.

Contact your maternity team promptly for severe upper abdominal pain, especially with a strong headache, vision changes, sudden swelling, vomiting that prevents fluids staying down, blood in vomit, black stools, painful swallowing, or reduced fetal movement. Arrange a routine review if symptoms are frequent, worsening, or affecting food and sleep.

Ask which treatment fits your pregnancy and other medicines, when to take it, and which changes would mean you should stop self-treatment and be examined. Mention swallowing difficulty, vomiting, altered stools, night waking, and every prescription, supplement, or non-prescription product you use.