Quick heartburn relief in pregnancy

Pregnancy hormones can relax the valve between the food pipe and stomach, while the growing womb can increase pressure inside the abdomen. Stomach acid may then move upwards, causing a burning feeling behind the breastbone, a sour taste, or discomfort after meals. Heartburn can occur without a serious underlying problem, but persistent symptoms may overlap with acid reflux, gastritis, or a hiatus hernia. Read more about [Heartburn](/symptoms/heartburn/) and [Acid Reflux](/conditions/acid-reflux/).

Eat modest portions and take time over meals. Notice whether rich, spicy, acidic, or caffeinated foods bring symptoms on, then reduce those triggers if needed. Avoid lying down soon after eating; sit upright and raise your upper body for sleep rather than adding pressure to your abdomen. Loose clothing may feel more comfortable. Ask a pharmacist, midwife, or doctor before using an antacid or other [Acid Reflux Medication](/treatments/medical-management/acid-reflux-medication/), because pregnancy, other medicines, and medical conditions affect what is suitable. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without advice.

Arrange medical advice if heartburn is frequent, is stopping you from eating or sleeping, or does not settle with simple changes. Seek urgent help for severe chest pain, trouble breathing, faintness, vomiting blood, black stools, or difficulty swallowing. During pregnancy, contact your maternity team promptly for severe upper-abdominal pain with a severe headache, visual changes, or sudden swelling, because those symptoms need assessment rather than self-treatment.

Ask which medicines are suitable at your stage of pregnancy, whether any supplement or prescription could be worsening symptoms, and what pattern would warrant a review. Mention nighttime symptoms, vomiting, swallowing difficulty, or pain that feels different from usual heartburn.