Causes of indigestion during pregnancy

Pregnancy hormones can relax the muscle between the stomach and food pipe, allowing acid to move upward. They can also slow digestion. As the womb grows, it can increase pressure inside the abdomen, especially after a large meal or when lying down. This may cause burning, fullness, belching, nausea, or an unpleasant taste. Eating quickly, fatty or spicy foods, and lying down soon after eating may aggravate symptoms, although triggers differ between people.

Persistent or unusual symptoms may have another explanation. Acid reflux, gastritis, Helicobacter pylori infection, hiatus hernia, peptic ulcer, and gallstones can all cause upper-abdominal discomfort or indigestion-like symptoms. Indigestion does not by itself identify one of these conditions, so severity, timing, and associated symptoms guide assessment.

Try smaller meals, eat slowly, remain upright after eating, and notice which foods worsen symptoms. Avoid going to bed soon after a meal and ask your maternity clinician whether a raised sleeping position is suitable. Check before using antacids, acid reflux medication, herbal products, or painkillers, because pregnancy changes which options are appropriate. A clinician can recommend a pregnancy-compatible treatment if diet and positioning are not enough.

Contact your maternity team urgently for severe or persistent upper-abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, vomiting blood, black stools, yellow skin or eyes, fever, fainting, or inability to keep fluids down. Pain under the right ribs with headache, visual change, or sudden swelling also needs prompt pregnancy assessment rather than being assumed to be indigestion.

Ask whether your symptoms fit reflux or need testing, which foods or medicines may be contributing, which treatment is suitable at your stage of pregnancy, and which warning signs should lead you to contact the maternity team.