Heartburn in the second trimester of pregnancy

Hormones can relax the muscle that normally keeps stomach contents below the food pipe. Growing pressure in the abdomen can add to reflux as pregnancy develops. Symptoms may include burning behind the breastbone, a sour taste, belching, or discomfort after meals and when lying down. The timing in the second trimester does not by itself identify the cause; acid reflux, gastritis, or a hiatus hernia can also produce similar symptoms.

Eat modest portions and remain upright after meals. Leave time between eating and lying down, and consider raising the head of the bed if your maternity team agrees. Keep a brief symptom diary to identify personal triggers such as spicy foods, large evening meals, or drinks that worsen burning. Choose pregnancy medicines only after advice from your obstetric clinician, doctor, midwife, or pharmacist. Tell them about prenatal vitamins and every prescription or supplement because spacing or product selection may matter.

Contact your maternity or primary-care team if heartburn is persistent, interferes with food or sleep, or needs frequent medicine. Get urgent help for severe chest pain, breathing difficulty, fainting, vomiting blood, black stools, repeated vomiting, or trouble swallowing. Severe upper-abdominal pain with headache, visual disturbance, or sudden swelling also needs prompt pregnancy assessment and should not be assumed to be reflux.

Ask which treatments are suitable now, whether your prenatal supplement needs separating from them, and which symptoms should prompt a same-day call to your maternity service.