Heartburn at 31 weeks pregnant

Hormonal relaxation of the valve above the stomach and pressure from the enlarging uterus both make reflux easier. The burning often sits behind the breastbone and may occur with burping, fullness, nausea or a sour taste.

A meal-related burn that worsens on bending or lying flat fits heartburn, especially when acid or food rises into the throat. The sensation comes from irritation of the oesophagus rather than the heart. Even so, a new chest symptom cannot be safely classified by location alone, and pressure, breathlessness or faintness calls for urgent evaluation.

Record when the burning starts, its relationship to meals and position, and whether you have trouble swallowing, vomiting, cough or upper abdominal tenderness. A concise symptom record can guide the choice between lifestyle measures, medication and further assessment.

Try smaller, more frequent meals and stop eating before you feel overly full. Sit upright while eating and remain upright afterward. Notice whether particular foods or caffeine trigger symptoms, and reduce only the items that clearly affect you. For night symptoms, support your head and shoulders and consider settling on your left side.

If these adjustments are insufficient, ask a pharmacist or maternity clinician about pregnancy-suitable treatment. Depending on your symptoms, they may suggest an antacid, an alginate that limits upward flow, or a prescribed acid-reducing medicine. Give them your complete medicine and supplement list because some products need spacing from iron or folic acid.

Speak with your midwife or doctor when heartburn is frequent despite self-care, prevents you eating, causes painful or difficult swallowing, or occurs with repeated vomiting, persistent cough, hoarseness or weight loss. Urgent help is needed for blood in vomit, dark sticky stools, or severe abdominal pain.

Call emergency services for crushing or tightening chest discomfort, pain travelling to your arm, neck, jaw or back, marked shortness of breath, collapse, confusion, sweating, or a rapid irregular heartbeat. Call your maternity unit without delay for reduced or altered baby movements, bleeding, fluid loss, regular painful tightenings, a severe headache, visual disturbance, or strong pain under the ribs.

Ask whether your pattern is consistent with uncomplicated heartburn, which treatment can be used with your current medicines, and how long to try it before review. Mention swallowing problems, night waking, vomiting or chest symptoms explicitly rather than describing everything as indigestion.