Why does pre-eclampsia cause heartburn in pregnancy?

Pre-eclampsia can affect blood vessels and organs, including the liver. Discomfort high in the abdomen, beneath the ribs, may feel like indigestion, burning or heartburn. Pregnancy itself can also relax the muscle between the stomach and food pipe and allow acid to move upward, especially after meals or when lying down. These causes can feel similar, so the sensation alone cannot identify the cause.

Warning features include pain that is persistent or strong, particularly on the right side, nausea or vomiting that is new, severe headache, vision changes, sudden swelling, or feeling unusually unwell. A midwife or obstetric clinician can check blood pressure, urine and blood tests when pre-eclampsia is a concern.

Contact your maternity team promptly if heartburn is new, unusually severe, does not settle with your usual measures, or comes with upper-abdominal pain. Keep track of when it starts, where it is felt, and whether food or lying down changes it. Do not start an antacid or other medicine in pregnancy without checking that it is suitable for you.

Until you receive advice, sit upright after eating, choose smaller meals, and avoid foods that clearly trigger reflux. These steps may ease ordinary heartburn, but improvement does not rule out a pregnancy complication.

Seek urgent maternity assessment now for severe or continuing upper-abdominal pain, severe headache, blurred vision or flashing lights, breathlessness, fainting, heavy bleeding, reduced fetal movement, or a strong sense that something is wrong. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint or your vision is affected.

Ask: Could this discomfort be reflux, liver-related pain, or another cause? What blood pressure and urine results would concern you? Which symptom-relief medicines are appropriate for my pregnancy? When should I return or call overnight?