Heartburn and throwing up blood while pregnant

Pregnancy can make acid reflux more noticeable as hormonal changes and pressure in the abdomen affect the food pipe. That may explain burning, sour taste, or nausea, but it does not explain away blood. Repeated retching can irritate or tear the lining near the food pipe, while gastritis or a peptic ulcer can also bleed. Blood may look bright red, dark, or like coffee grounds. A small streak after forceful vomiting still deserves medical advice because the source cannot be confirmed safely from appearance alone.

Contact your maternity team, obstetric clinician, or an urgent medical service now for advice. If you feel faint, have heavy bleeding, severe pain, black stools, breathing difficulty, or cannot keep fluids down, go to emergency care. Do not drive if you feel weak or dizzy. Until assessed, sit upright, avoid solid food if vomiting continues, and take only small sips if you can swallow safely. Do not start or stop medicines, including Acid Reflux Medication, without pregnancy-specific advice.

Emergency assessment is needed for ongoing or large-volume blood loss, coffee-ground vomit, fainting, confusion, fast or difficult breathing, severe abdominal or chest pain, or signs of dehydration such as very little urine. Seek same-day assessment even if the bleeding has stopped. Tell the clinician how far along you are, how often you vomited, and whether you have reduced fetal movement if that concern applies to your stage of pregnancy.

Ask where the blood may have come from, whether you need blood tests or another examination, and which treatments are suitable in pregnancy. Ask what fluid plan to follow and which symptoms should take you straight to emergency care.