Acidity and heartburn in pregnancy

Pregnancy hormones can relax the muscular valve between the stomach and food pipe. As the uterus grows, pressure on the stomach can also push acidic contents upwards. This may cause burning behind the breastbone, a sour taste, burping or discomfort after eating or when lying down.

The word acidity is often used to describe this reflux. However, chest or upper-abdominal pain should not automatically be labelled heartburn, especially when it feels severe, unfamiliar or comes with other warning symptoms.

Try smaller meals, eat slowly and notice whether particular foods trigger symptoms. Remaining upright after meals and avoiding food close to bedtime may reduce backflow. When resting, raising the head and upper chest can help more than adding pillows beneath only the head. Loose clothing may reduce pressure around the abdomen.

Before taking an antacid, acid-reducing medicine or herbal remedy, check with your obstetric clinician or pharmacist. The suitable product depends on its ingredients, your stage of pregnancy, other medicines and health conditions. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without discussing it with the prescriber.

Seek urgent assessment for severe or persistent chest pain, breathing difficulty, faintness, sweating, pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back, vomiting blood, or black stools. Call your maternity unit promptly for strong or continuing pain beneath the ribs or in the upper abdomen, particularly with a severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling, nausea or feeling very unwell, because these features need assessment for pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia.

Arrange a routine review if reflux is frequent, disrupts sleep, makes swallowing difficult, causes repeated vomiting or continues despite self-care. A clinician can confirm the cause and choose a pregnancy-appropriate treatment.

Ask which antacid or acid-reducing medicine is suitable alongside your current medicines and supplements. You can also ask whether the location or pattern of your discomfort suggests another cause, which warning signs should prompt a call to your maternity unit, and when persistent symptoms should be reviewed again.