Show Medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH — Written by Zawn Villines on April 29, 2020
Heartburn, or acid reflux, is very common among pregnant women, and its intensity tends to increase as pregnancy progresses. Heartburn itself is not dangerous, though it can cause significant discomfort and lead to a loss of sleep. Also, it is worth noting that the pain of heartburn can resemble that of HELLP syndrome, a severe form of the pregnancy complication preeclampsia. With the right strategies and treatments, heartburn is manageable during pregnancy, and it usually goes away after delivery. Below, learn about the link between pregnancy and heartburn and what to try to find relief.
Various factors can cause heartburn during pregnancy, including hormonal shifts. For example, a rise in the hormone progesterone can relax smooth muscle in the body. As a result, the body may digest food more slowly, and the food may flow upward, leading to heartburn. Also, the pressure that the growing uterus places on the stomach and other parts of the digestive tract can cause stomach acid to flow in reverse, causing heartburn. This helps explain why, most researchers find, heartburn tends to get worse as pregnancy progresses. Meanwhile, some antinausea medication may also cause or worsen heartburn during pregnancy. Women who experienced heartburn before conceiving may be more likely to experience it during pregnancy. It is important to note that a severe pregnancy complication called HELLP syndrome can cause symptoms that feel like heartburn, including pain or burning in the chest or pressure or pain in the upper stomach. Learn more about HELLP syndrome here. Some symptoms of heartburn include:
Some women find that heartburn begins in the first trimester, improves in the second, and gets worse in the third. Others report that the issue steadily worsens throughout pregnancy. According to a 2015 review, it is unclear whether lifestyle adjustments can help treat heartburn during pregnancy. However, many doctors recommend the following strategies:
Many medications can help with pregnancy-related heartburn. Over-the-counter treatments containing calcium carbonate, such as Tums, provide many women with temporary relief. Various heartburn medications are available for purchase online. Always check that a medication is suitable for use during pregnancy. Anyone who is unsure should ask a doctor or pharmacist before making a purchase. When heartburn is severe, a doctor may prescribe acid-reducing drugs, such as sucralfate (Carafate), an H2-receptor agonist, or a proton pump inhibitor. Another review from 2015 included a trial that compared the effects of sucralfate and lifestyle changes on heartburn. Most participants who used sucralfate experienced complete symptom relief, but the researchers caution that the potential side effects are unclear. Also, this review looked into a trial that compared acupuncture to no treatment. While the effects on heartburn were mixed, the team found that the participants who had undergone acupuncture reported better sleep. The review’s authors emphasize that no large randomized controlled trials have assessed the effectiveness of most heartburn remedies. This makes it difficult for doctors to make universal recommendations. In addition, a 2017 systematic review found a higher rate of asthma among infants born to women who used acid-suppressing medication during pregnancy. The study’s authors caution that more research is needed to confirm the link. It is possible that heartburn, not its treatment, increases the risk of asthma in babies. A pregnant woman should see a doctor or midwife regularly and describe any symptom, no matter how minor. This is because some serious conditions can mimic less urgent issues, such as heartburn. It is especially important to notify a doctor of heartburn if:
Heartburn is not an emergency, but the pain can resemble that of a severe pregnancy complication. Also, some conditions that cause heartburn can require urgent care. It is best for each woman to talk to a healthcare provider about when they should seek emergency medical attention. However, always seek urgent care for severe pain or if the baby stops moving. If it is after hours, call 911 or go to the emergency room. Heartburn during pregnancy can range from a minor annoyance to a source of severe pain. Intense heartburn can also make it difficult to sleep. Most women find that the issue goes away shortly after delivery. In the meantime, various treatments can ease the discomfort. Ask a doctor about lifestyle adjustments, medication, and other ways to reduce heartburn and increase overall comfort during pregnancy. Last medically reviewed on April 29, 2020
Indigestion, also called heartburn or acid reflux, is common in pregnancy. It can be caused by hormonal changes and the growing baby pressing against your stomach. You can help ease indigestion and heartburn by making changes to your diet and lifestyle, and there are medicines that are safe to take in pregnancy. Symptoms of indigestion and heartburn include: Symptoms usually come on soon after eating or drinking, but there can sometimes be a delay between eating and developing indigestion. You can get symptoms at any point during your pregnancy, but they are more common from 27 weeks onwards. Changes to your diet and lifestyle may be enough to control your symptoms, particularly if they are mild. You're more likely to get indigestion if you're very full. If you're pregnant, it may be tempting to eat more than you would normally, but this may not be good for you or your baby. Find out more about a healthy diet in pregnancy and foods to avoid. You may be able to control your indigestion with changes to your eating habits. It can help to eat small meals often, rather than larger meals 3 times a day, and to not eat within 3 hours of going to bed at night. Cutting down on drinks containing caffeine, and foods that are rich, spicy or fatty, can also ease symptoms. Sit up straight when you eat. This will take the pressure off your stomach. Propping your head and shoulders up when you go to bed can stop stomach acid coming up while you sleep. Smoking when pregnant can cause indigestion, and can seriously affect the health of you and your unborn baby. When you smoke, the chemicals you inhale can contribute to your indigestion. These chemicals can cause the ring of muscle at the lower end of your gullet to relax, which allows stomach acid to come back up more easily. This is known as acid reflux. Smoking also increases the risk of: There's lots of help available to stop smoking. Talk to your midwife or call the NHS Smokefree helpline on 0300 123 1044. Find out more about stopping smoking in pregnancy. Drinking alcohol can cause indigestion. During pregnancy, it can also lead to long-term harm to the baby. It's safest to not drink alcohol at all in pregnancy. Find out more about alcohol and pregnancy See your midwife or GP if you need help managing your symptoms or if changes to your diet and lifestyle do not work. They may recommend medicine to ease your symptoms. You should also see your midwife or GP if you have any of the following:
Your midwife or GP may ask about your symptoms and examine you by pressing gently on different areas of your chest and stomach to see whether it's painful. If you're taking prescription medicinesSpeak to your GP if you're taking medicine for another condition, such as antidepressants, and you think it may be making your indigestion worse. They may be able to prescribe an alternative medicine. Never stop taking a prescribed medicine unless you're advised to do so by your GP or another qualified healthcare professional who's responsible for your care. Medicines for indigestion and heartburn during pregnancy include:
You may only need to take antacids and alginates when you start getting symptoms. However, your GP may recommend taking them before symptoms come on – for example, before a meal or before bed. If you're taking iron supplements as well as antacids, do not take them at the same time. Antacids can stop iron from being absorbed by your body. If antacids and alginates do not improve your symptoms, your GP may prescribe a medicine to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach. 2 that are widely used in pregnancy and not known to be harmful to an unborn baby are: Symptoms of indigestion come when the acid in your stomach irritates your stomach lining or your gullet. This causes pain and a burning feeling. When you're pregnant, you're more likely to have indigestion because of:
You may be more likely to get indigestion in pregnancy if:
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