Acid reflux and burping during pregnancy

Try smaller meals, eat slowly and remain upright afterwards. Before using an antacid, herbal product or acid-reducing medicine, ask a pharmacist, GP or maternity clinician whether it is suitable during pregnancy.

Hormonal changes can relax the muscular valve between the stomach and food pipe and slow movement through the digestive system. As pregnancy progresses, the growing uterus can add pressure around the stomach. Air swallowed while eating or drinking may then escape as a burp, sometimes together with a sour taste or chest burning.

Burping alone is not a reliable sign of reflux. Fizzy drinks, rapid eating, chewing gum and drinking through a straw can increase swallowed air, while upper abdominal discomfort may have a separate cause.

Choose smaller portions more often and pause between bites. Limit only foods or drinks that repeatedly provoke your symptoms; possible triggers include rich meals, spicy food, caffeine and carbonated drinks. Avoid lying down or bending from the waist soon after eating.

For night symptoms, leave time between the evening meal and bed and elevate the head end of the bed. Wear clothing that does not compress the abdomen. A pharmacist can check whether a reflux remedy fits your stage of pregnancy, medical history and supplements, including iron.

Speak with your maternity team or GP if symptoms are frequent, interfere with eating or sleep, do not respond to simple measures, or occur with difficulty swallowing, repeated vomiting, dehydration, a persistent cough or weight loss.

Get urgent maternity advice for severe or persistent pain high in the abdomen, especially with a severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling or feeling very unwell. Seek emergency help for chest pressure, breathing difficulty, fainting, vomiting blood or black stools.

Ask which non-prescription product is compatible with pregnancy and how to separate it from other medicines or supplements. Mention exactly where discomfort occurs, its relationship to meals and whether you have vomiting, bowel changes or swallowing trouble so other causes can be considered.