Acid reflux at night during pregnancy

Burning behind the breastbone, a sour taste, burping, or fluid rising into the throat may become more noticeable after lying down. A maternity clinician or pharmacist can help select medicines suitable for your stage of pregnancy.

Pregnancy-related hormonal changes can relax the muscular valve between the stomach and oesophagus. As the uterus grows, pressure on the stomach may also encourage its contents to move upwards. Lying flat removes gravity's help in keeping stomach contents down, so symptoms can interrupt sleep or provoke a cough.

Reflux causes burning or regurgitation, but new chest pressure, breathlessness, or pain that feels unlike your usual heartburn should not be assumed to come from digestion.

Choose smaller evening meals and leave a gap between eating and lying down. Notice whether rich, spicy, acidic, or caffeinated items trigger your symptoms and limit only the foods that clearly do. Sleeping on your left side may reduce reflux. Raising the head and upper chest with a wedge or by elevating the bed is more useful than stacking pillows under the head alone.

Check before using an antacid, alginate, acid-suppressing medicine, herbal product, or bicarbonate remedy. Bring the product name and your other medicines to a pharmacist, GP, or maternity appointment so interactions and pregnancy suitability can be considered.

Get urgent help for severe or persistent chest pain, trouble breathing, faintness, vomiting blood, black tarry stool, or severe upper abdominal pain. Contact your maternity team promptly if upper abdominal pain occurs with a severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling, or feeling markedly unwell.

Arrange a routine assessment when reflux is frequent, wakes you repeatedly, makes swallowing difficult, causes ongoing vomiting, or continues despite sensible changes. A clinician can distinguish reflux from other causes and recommend an appropriate treatment plan.

Ask which non-prescription products fit your stage of pregnancy, when to take them relative to prenatal vitamins or other medicines, and whether recurring night symptoms warrant a prescribed acid suppressant. Mention difficulty swallowing, cough, vomiting, chest discomfort, and every remedy already tried.