What to know about heartburn at 36 weeks pregnant

Heartburn is a burning feeling behind the breastbone that may rise toward the throat, sometimes with a sour taste or food coming back up. Pregnancy hormones can relax the valve between the stomach and oesophagus, while the enlarged uterus can increase pressure on the stomach. Symptoms may be more noticeable after eating, when bending, or when lying down.

This pattern is consistent with acid reflux, but chest or upper-abdominal discomfort is not always heartburn. Pay attention to the exact location, timing, triggers, and any symptoms that occur with it.

Try smaller meals, eat slowly, and remain upright after eating. Leave time between your evening meal and lying down. Raising your head and shoulders for sleep may reduce backflow; resting on your left side may also feel more comfortable. Notice whether spicy, fatty, acidic, or caffeinated foods trigger symptoms for you, then limit the specific triggers rather than cutting out broad food groups unnecessarily.

Before using an antacid, alginate, herbal remedy, or other reflux medicine, check with your maternity clinician or pharmacist that the product is suitable during pregnancy and compatible with your other medicines. Some antacids can interfere with iron or folic acid absorption, so ask how to space the doses. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without discussing it with the prescriber.

Contact your maternity team if symptoms are frequent, worsening, waking you despite self-care, making it difficult to eat or drink, or accompanied by repeated vomiting or trouble swallowing. They can check whether reflux treatment needs adjusting and whether another cause should be considered.

Seek urgent medical assessment for severe or persistent chest pain, breathing difficulty, faintness, vomiting blood, or black stools. Also contact maternity services urgently for severe pain under the ribs or in the upper abdomen, especially with a strong headache, vision changes, sudden swelling, or feeling very unwell. If your baby's movements are reduced or changed, follow your maternity unit's instructions for immediate assessment rather than waiting for the heartburn to settle.

Ask which reflux products fit your pregnancy and current medicines, how to separate them from supplements, and what to do if the first option does not help. Mention where the discomfort sits, whether it follows meals, what brings it on, and whether you have vomiting, swallowing difficulty, headache, vision changes, swelling, or altered fetal movement.