How to ease acid reflux during pregnancy

Acid reflux occurs when stomach contents move upwards into the food pipe, causing burning behind the breastbone, a sour taste, belching, or nausea. Pregnancy hormones can relax the muscle that normally helps keep stomach contents down, while pressure from the growing uterus can encourage reflux. Symptoms may be worse after meals or when lying down. Hiatus hernia and other conditions can also produce similar discomfort.

Try smaller meals, eat slowly, and remain upright after eating. Avoid lying down soon after a meal; raising the upper body at night may help. Notice personal triggers such as fatty foods, caffeine, chocolate, or spicy meals rather than removing foods unnecessarily. Wear comfortable clothing around the abdomen. Ask a pharmacist or maternity clinician about an antacid or other treatment that is suitable for pregnancy, and do not start a remedy based only on its being sold without prescription.

Contact your maternity clinician if reflux is frequent, disturbs sleep, affects eating, or does not improve with these measures. Seek urgent help for chest tightness with breathlessness, sweating, fainting, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw; severe abdominal pain; repeated vomiting; vomit containing blood; or black stools. A persistent cough or swallowing difficulty also deserves assessment.

Could my symptoms be acid reflux or something else? Which antacid or reflux treatment is suitable with my pregnancy and medicines? What should I do if heartburn causes difficulty sleeping or swallowing?