Late-night heartburn in pregnancy

Pregnancy hormones can relax the valve between the stomach and food pipe, while the growing uterus can increase pressure on the stomach. Reflux may feel like burning behind the breastbone, a sour taste, or fluid rising into the throat. It can be more noticeable after a large or spicy meal, when bending over, or when lying flat. Read more about [Heartburn](/symptoms/heartburn/) and [Acid Reflux](/conditions/acid-reflux/).

Heartburn itself does not establish another diagnosis. Persistent or unusual symptoms may need assessment for problems such as gastritis, a hiatus hernia, or a peptic ulcer.

Try smaller meals, leave time between eating and going to bed, and sit upright after food. Raise the upper part of your sleeping position if this is comfortable, and notice whether fatty, spicy, acidic, or caffeinated foods trigger symptoms. Avoid taking medicines or herbal products without checking their suitability in pregnancy.

A clinician or pharmacist can recommend an appropriate option; see [Acid Reflux Medication](/treatments/medical-management/acid-reflux-medication/) for the treatment topic. Keep a short record of timing, foods, severity, and any medicine used.

Contact your maternity team or clinician if symptoms are frequent, disturb sleep despite simple measures, make swallowing difficult, or come with repeated vomiting, poor intake, or unexplained weight loss. Seek urgent help for severe or crushing chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, vomiting blood, or black stools, because these symptoms need prompt evaluation rather than being assumed to be reflux.

Ask which antacid or reflux medicine is suitable at your stage of pregnancy, whether it should be separated from prenatal supplements, and whether another cause should be checked if the pattern has changed.