Acid reflux in the first trimester

The result may be burning behind the breastbone, a sour taste, belching or fluid rising towards the throat. Nausea and changes in appetite can overlap with these symptoms during early pregnancy. Reflux can be uncomfortable, but severe chest or abdominal symptoms should not automatically be attributed to it.

Reflux is more suggestive when burning or regurgitation follows food, bending or lying down. A cough or disturbed sleep can accompany reflux, although both have many other causes. Pain centred low in the abdomen, one-sided pain, vaginal bleeding or shoulder-tip pain does not fit simple heartburn and needs prompt pregnancy assessment.

A hiatus hernia may contribute to reflux in some people, but symptoms cannot establish that diagnosis. Your pregnancy team can consider other causes when the pattern is unusual or treatment does not help.

Eat small portions more often if nausea makes larger meals difficult, and stop before feeling very full. Stay upright after eating and avoid bending from the waist. Notice whether particular foods or drinks trigger burning; changing your own triggers is more useful than cutting out many foods without a pattern.

For symptoms at night, leave time between the evening meal and lying down, elevate the head and shoulders, and consider resting on the left side. Before taking an antacid, alginate or acid-reducing medicine, ask a pharmacist, midwife or doctor to check the ingredient, dose, other medicines and prenatal supplements.

Contact your pregnancy care team promptly for abdominal pain with vaginal bleeding, one-sided pelvic pain, shoulder-tip pain, fainting or severe dizziness. Seek urgent care for heavy bleeding, collapse, breathing difficulty or severe and worsening pain.

Urgent assessment is also needed for chest pressure with sweating or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back, vomiting blood, black stools, inability to keep fluids down, very little urine or marked weakness. Arrange routine review when reflux is frequent, disrupts sleep or continues despite appropriate self-care.

Ask which reflux treatments fit your medical history and stage of pregnancy, how to separate them from iron or other supplements, and whether vomiting or abdominal pain changes the assessment. Mention every prescribed, pharmacy and herbal product you use.