Pregnancy-safe heartburn relief: what to know

Hormonal changes can relax the muscle between the food pipe and stomach. As pregnancy progresses, pressure from the growing uterus can also encourage stomach contents to move upward. This may cause a burning feeling behind the breastbone, a sour taste, or discomfort after eating. Heartburn is often related to acid reflux, but persistent symptoms can have other explanations, including gastritis or a hiatus hernia.

Try eating smaller portions more often and remain upright after meals. Avoid lying down soon after eating, and notice whether rich, spicy, acidic, or caffeinated foods trigger symptoms. Raising the head of the bed can help night-time symptoms; use a stable arrangement rather than sleeping flat. Ask your maternity clinician or pharmacist before taking an antacid, alginate, or acid-reducing medicine, because pregnancy, other medicines, and the timing of doses affect the suitable choice. See Acid Reflux Medication for treatment context.

Contact a clinician if symptoms are frequent, interfere with sleep, or continue despite these changes. Seek urgent help for chest pressure, trouble breathing, fainting, vomiting blood, black stools, severe or persistent abdominal pain, or difficulty swallowing. During pregnancy, report severe upper abdominal pain, marked headache, vision changes, or sudden swelling promptly because these symptoms need assessment rather than self-treatment.

Ask which non-prescription products fit your pregnancy, whether an existing medicine should be changed, and how long to try lifestyle measures. Bring a list of medicines and supplements, and describe when symptoms occur.