Dealing with heartburn during pregnancy

Heartburn is a burning feeling behind the breastbone, sometimes with a sour taste or fluid rising into the throat. Pregnancy hormones can relax the muscle between the stomach and oesophagus, while the growing uterus can increase pressure on the stomach. Acid reflux is a common explanation, but gastritis, a hiatus hernia, or a peptic ulcer can also cause upper abdominal or chest discomfort. Heartburn does not by itself show that a serious condition is present.

Try smaller meals more often and eat slowly. Notice whether rich, spicy, acidic, or caffeinated foods trigger symptoms, then reduce those triggers if needed. Avoid lying down soon after eating; sit upright and ask your maternity clinician about a comfortable sleeping position. Wear loose clothing around the waist. Do not start, stop, or borrow an acid reflux medicine during pregnancy without checking the product and dose with a pharmacist, midwife, or doctor.

Tell your maternity team if symptoms are frequent, severe, disturb sleep, or do not improve with basic measures. Seek urgent help for crushing or persistent chest pain, severe breathlessness, fainting, vomiting blood, black stools, or trouble swallowing. During pregnancy, contact your maternity service promptly for severe upper abdominal pain with headache, visual changes, sudden swelling, or feeling very unwell, because those symptoms need assessment rather than self-treatment.

Which foods or medicines should I avoid? Is an acid reflux medicine appropriate at my stage of pregnancy? Could these symptoms be something other than heartburn, and what warning signs should prompt immediate contact?