How to relieve heartburn during pregnancy

Heartburn is a burning feeling behind the breastbone caused when stomach contents move upwards into the oesophagus. Pregnancy hormones can relax the muscle that normally helps keep stomach contents down, while the growing womb can increase pressure on the stomach. Symptoms may include a sour taste, burping, or discomfort after meals, especially when lying down. Heartburn is often related to acid reflux; persistent or unusual symptoms may have another cause.

Try eating smaller portions more frequently and avoid foods or drinks that reliably trigger symptoms, such as spicy, fatty, or acidic items. Eat slowly, remain upright after meals, and avoid bending or lying down soon after eating. Raising the head of the bed can help symptoms that appear at night. Wear comfortable clothing around the abdomen. Before taking an antacid, alginate, or acid-reducing medicine, check its suitability with your obstetric clinician or pharmacist; pregnancy affects which products and timings are appropriate. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without advice.

Contact your maternity team or doctor if symptoms are frequent, severe, disturb sleep, or do not improve with practical measures. Seek urgent help for chest pressure or pain with breathlessness, sweating, faintness, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw. Prompt assessment is also needed for vomiting blood, black stools, repeated vomiting, trouble swallowing, painful swallowing, or unexplained weight loss. These features need assessment rather than self-treatment, particularly during pregnancy.

Ask which over-the-counter product is suitable for your stage of pregnancy and whether it should be separated from other medicines or supplements. Tell them how often symptoms occur, what triggers them, whether they happen at night, and whether you have used any remedy already. You can also ask whether ongoing symptoms should be assessed for another digestive condition.