Home remedies for reflux during pregnancy

Pregnancy hormones can relax the barrier between the stomach and food pipe, and the growing uterus can increase pressure on the stomach. This may cause a sour taste, burning, regurgitation, belching or a cough after meals. A hiatus hernia or another digestive condition can produce similar symptoms. Reflux can also disturb sleep, but chest tightness or severe abdominal pain should not be attributed to reflux without advice.

Eat smaller portions at regular intervals and remain upright after meals. Avoid lying down soon after eating, and consider an earlier evening meal if night symptoms follow late food. Identify personal triggers rather than removing large groups of foods unnecessarily. Loose clothing may reduce pressure around the abdomen. Ask your maternity team how to position yourself comfortably at night. Check any antacid, supplement, herbal preparation or medicine with a pharmacist, midwife or doctor before taking it.

Contact your maternity team when reflux repeatedly interrupts sleep, limits eating, causes frequent vomiting, or does not improve with these measures. Seek urgent care for persistent chest tightness, breathing difficulty, faintness, vomiting blood, black stools, severe abdominal pain or trouble swallowing. A cough that continues after reflux measures should also be assessed, since chronic cough has several possible causes.

Which reflux medicine is appropriate during my pregnancy? Could another medicine be contributing? Should my cough or chest symptoms be checked? What sleeping position is suitable for me, and when should I seek urgent help?