Acid reflux at 36 weeks pregnant

Hormonal relaxation of the valve above the stomach and pressure from the uterus can both contribute. Symptoms that are intense, different from your usual reflux, or accompanied by chest, breathing, abdominal, or pregnancy warning signs need assessment.

Reflux can produce a hot sensation behind the breastbone, sour fluid in the mouth, frequent burping, throat irritation, or a cough after meals or at night. It may flare when the stomach is full, when you bend forward, or when you lie down.

Chest symptoms deserve careful description because tightness, pressure, breathlessness, or pain on exertion are not features to label as reflux without medical review. Upper abdominal pain also needs consideration in the context of late pregnancy.

Eat modest portions, take time over meals, and leave a comfortable gap before lying down. Choose looser clothing around the abdomen and keep your torso supported when resting. A food-and-symptom note can reveal personal triggers without removing nutritious foods unnecessarily.

If these adjustments are insufficient, ask a pharmacist, GP, or maternity clinician about pregnancy-suitable reflux treatment. Tell them about supplements and prescriptions because some antacids need to be separated from other medicines. Avoid starting herbal products on the assumption that natural means suitable for pregnancy.

Call emergency services for crushing or severe chest discomfort, difficulty breathing, collapse, coughing or vomiting blood, or pain extending into the jaw, arm, shoulder, or back. Prompt review is also needed if you cannot swallow, cannot keep fluids down, have black stools, or develop worsening abdominal pain.

Contact your maternity unit urgently for severe headache, visual disturbance, sudden swelling, persistent pain beneath the ribs, reduced fetal movement, bleeding, regular painful contractions, or suspected waters breaking. Mention reflux at an antenatal appointment if it repeatedly interrupts sleep or continues despite recommended measures.

You could ask which treatment matches the frequency and timing of your symptoms, how to coordinate it with prenatal supplements, and what change would require reassessment. Bring details about night waking, cough, swallowing, vomiting, bowel colour, and whether discomfort relates to meals or activity.