Why do you get heartburn in pregnancy
Indigestion and heartburn in pregnancy
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
Symptoms of indigestion and heartburn include:
- a burning sensation or pain in the chest
- feeling full, heavy or bloated
- burping or belching
- feeling or being sick
- bringing up food
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.
Things you can do to help with indigestion and heartburn
Changes to your diet and lifestyle may be enough to control your symptoms, particularly if they are mild.
Eat healthily
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.
Change your eating and drinking habits
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.
Keep upright
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.
Stop smoking
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:
- your baby being born prematurely (before week 37 of your pregnancy)
- your baby being born with a low birthweight
- sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or "cot death"
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.
Avoid alcohol
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
When to get medical help
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:
- difficulty eating or keeping food down
- weight loss
- stomach pains
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 medicines
Speak 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
Medicines for indigestion and heartburn during pregnancy include:
- antacids – to neutralise the acid in your stomach (some are available over the counter from a pharmacist)
- alginates – to relieve indigestion caused by acid reflux by stopping the acid in your stomach coming back up your gullet
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:
- ranitidine – a tablet you take twice a day
- omeprazole – a tablet you take once a day
Causes of indigestion in pregnancy
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:
- hormonal changes
- the growing baby pressing on your stomach
- the muscles between your stomach and gullet relaxing, allowing stomach acid to come back up
You may be more likely to get indigestion in pregnancy if:
- you had indigestion before you were pregnant
- you've been pregnant before
- you're in the later stages of pregnancy
Video: Eating well on a budget
In this video, a dietitian gives advice on how to eat healthily on a budget.
Media last reviewed: 13 January 2021
Media review due: 13 January 2024
Indigestion and heartburn in pregnancy
Indigestion and heartburn in pregnancy | Pregnancy Birth and Baby beginning of content6-minute read
Listen
Key facts
- Indigestion (dyspepsia) is a feeling of pain or discomfort in your stomach, while heartburn is a burning pain in your stomach and chest caused by stomach acid.
- Heartburn is very common in pregnancy because of hormonal changes and your uterus pressing up against your stomach as your baby grows.
- Heartburn is often triggered by fatty or spicy foods, caffeine, chocolate or citrus fruit juice.
- You can try to avoid heartburn by eating small meals more often, eating slowly, not lying down or exercising after meals and sleeping on several pillows.
- There are medicines you can use to control indigestion and heartburn, so see your doctor if your symptoms don’t settle down on their own.
What are indigestion and heartburn?
Indigestion and heartburn are symptoms that are very common in pregnancy. If you’re pregnant, you have an 8 in 10 chance you will experience these symptoms at some point in your pregnancy.
Indigestion, also called 'dyspepsia', is a feeling of pain or discomfort in your stomach . This mostly occurs after eating or drinking.
Heartburn, also known as reflux, is a burning pain in your stomach or chest going up towards your throat. It’s caused by stomach acid coming up your oesophagus (the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach). The acid irritates the lining of your oesophagus.
Sometimes food might come back up from your stomach into your mouth. You might also notice a bitter taste in your mouth.
Why might I get heartburn when I’m pregnant?
Heartburn may be caused by changes in your hormone levels.
One of the pregnancy hormones, called progesterone, can relax the muscle that usually holds your oesophagus closed where it meets your stomach. This allows food and acid from your stomach to go back up your oesophagus.
Heartburn becomes more common as your pregnancy progresses. This can happen when your uterus (womb) pushes up against your stomach as your baby grows. This also pushes the contents of your stomach up into your oesophagus.
You’re more likely to get heartburn during pregnancy if you’ve had a baby before or if you get heartburn when you’re not pregnant.
What kinds of things will give me heartburn?
Heartburn can be triggered by what you eat and drink, such as:
- a big meal
- high-fat foods
- spicy foods
- chocolate
- citrus fruit juices
- drinks containing caffeine, including coffee, tea and cola
- alcohol (which is not recommended in pregnancy)
Other things that may trigger heartburn include:
- doing exercise soon after eating
- lying down after eating
- feeling anxious
Because everyone is different, it's a good idea to take note of the particular foods, drinks or activities that give you heartburn while you are pregnant.
Can heartburn hurt my baby?
Heartburn usually won’t cause any problems for your baby, but it’s uncomfortable for you.
A healthy diet is important for both your and your baby’s health. If heartburn is making it hard to eat healthy food, it’s best to treat it.
How can I avoid getting heartburn?
If your symptoms are mild, changing how you eat may help prevent heartburn. You could try:
- eating smaller meals more often and eating slowly
- avoiding eating for 2 or 3 hours before exercise or going to bed
- avoiding foods and drinks that give you heartburn
- avoiding eating and drinking at the same time, which can make your stomach more full
- sitting up straight while eating and not lying down after a meal
- raising the head of your bed or sleeping on at least 2 pillows
- sleeping on your left side
You might find it helpful to chew gum, which makes you produce more saliva to help neutralise the acid from your stomach.
Drinking milk can also help neutralise acid.
Is there any medicine I can take?
If your heartburn doesn’t improve by changing how you eat, your doctor or midwife may suggest that you take medicine for it.
Antacids are the first type of medicine to try. They can relieve your symptoms quickly. Antacids are safe in pregnancy as long as you don’t take more than the recommended dose. There are many different types — talk to your pharmacist to find one that’s most suitable for you.
If antacids don’t control your symptoms, speak to your doctor about other medicines you can take.
When should I see a doctor?
If your heartburn symptoms don't go away with medicine, it's important to see your doctor. A serious pregnancy condition called pre-eclampsia can cause pain under your ribs and a feeling of heartburn.
You should also see your doctor immediately if:
- you are vomiting up blood
- you are losing weight
- swallowing is painful or difficult
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
Speak to a maternal child health nurse
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.
Sources:
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (Pregnancy care guidelines – reflux (heartburn)), NSW Health (Heartburn in pregnancy and breastfeeding), NSW Government (Having a baby), King Edward Memorial Hospital (Minor symptoms or disorders in pregnancy), Mater Mothers (Managing pregnancy discomforts), Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (Heartburn and indigestion), MSD Manual (Dyspepsia), RANZCOG (Pre-eclampsia and high blood pressure during pregnancy)Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: September 2022
Back To Top
Related pages
- Common discomforts during pregnancy
- Pre-eclampsia
Need more information?
Heartburn in pregnancy | Parenthub
Pregnancy might be a beautiful miracle but it can also be an uncomfortable one, especially when you are experiencing the worst heartburn of your life. And though we may not be able to help you with arguments over baby names or even 'cankles', we can help you with ins and outs of heartburn ... pun intended.
Read more on Parenthub website
Heartburn in Pregnancy | HealthEngine Blog
Heartburn is a symptom commonly experienced by pregnant women such that some women and obstetricians even consider it to be a normal occurrence in a healthy pregnancy.
Read more on HealthEngine website
5 weeks pregnant: Changes for mum
Week 5 of pregnancy is probably when you’ll know that you’re pregnant because your period is missing. There are also subtle changes in your body which are symptoms of pregnancy such as changes to your breasts, and pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness and pregnancy heartburn. These changes are caused by pregnancy hormones, like hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin, produced by the placenta) which is the hormone detected by a pregnancy test.
Read more on Parenthub website
Pregnancy at week 28
You are now in the third trimester and you'll probably be feeling many of the common discomforts of pregnancy, like a sore back, swelling, heartburn or cramps.
Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website
Pregnancy at week 21
At week 21, you should consider whether to do any travel since you may not be able to for much longer in your pregnancy.
Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website
Pregnancy at week 13
At week 13 of pregnancy, you officially enter your second trimester and hopefully any morning sickness has eased off.
Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website
Pregnancy nausea and morning sickness remedies
Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy are common and affect women differently. Dr Joe discusses the causes and morning sickness remedies in this video.
Read more on Parenthub website
Pregnancy at week 25
As you are approaching the end of the second trimester, you might be starting to feel a bit uncomfortable as your baby continues to grow.
Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website
Pre-eclampsia and High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, very high blood pressure (severe hypertension) can cause complications for both you and your baby
Read more on RANZCOG - Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists website
Pregnancy - signs and symptoms - Better Health Channel
All women experience pregnancy differently, and you will experience different symptoms at different stages of your pregnancy.
Read more on Better Health Channel website
Disclaimer
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering.
Need further advice or guidance from our maternal child health nurses?
1800 882 436
Video call
- Contact us
- About us
- A-Z topics
- Symptom Checker
- Service Finder
- Subscribe to newsletters
- Linking to us
- Information partners
- Terms of use
- Privacy
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is funded by the Australian Government and operated by Healthdirect Australia.
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby’s information and advice are developed and managed within a rigorous clinical governance framework.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.
This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.
The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.
Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, this publication or any part of it may not be reproduced, altered, adapted, stored and/or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Healthdirect Australia.
Support this browser is being discontinued for Pregnancy, Birth and Baby
Support for this browser is being discontinued for this site
- Internet Explorer 11 and lower
We currently support Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox and Safari. For more information, please visit the links below:
- Chrome by Google
- Firefox by Mozilla
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari by Apple
You are welcome to continue browsing this site with this browser. Some features, tools or interaction may not work correctly.
How to get rid of heartburn during pregnancy
Boltovsky Vladimir Anatolievich
Pediatrician, Nephrologist
Children's clinic "Mother and Child" Samara
If, after some time after eating, the expectant mother has a feeling of warmth or burning behind the sternum, then this is heartburn.
Not all antacids can be used during pregnancy. For example, preparations containing bismuth nitrate ( Vikalin , etc.), should not be taken by expectant mothers due to the fact that the effect of bismuth on the development of the child is unknown.
Heartburn usually appears after the 20th week of pregnancy and torments the expectant mother until the birth of the child.
what she looks like
If, after some time after eating, the expectant mother has a feeling of warmth or burning behind the sternum, then this is heartburn. And most often these unpleasant sensations occur in the evening. Heartburn usually appears after the 20th week of pregnancy and torments the expectant mother until the birth of the child. According to popular belief, she worries the expectant mother when the baby's hair grows. In fact, heartburn occurs due to the fact that the acidic contents of the stomach are thrown into the lower esophagus. This happens because during pregnancy, the muscular sphincter, located between the esophagus and stomach, relaxes under the influence of the hormone progesterone.
Another cause of heartburn is an enlarged uterus (and it just increases greatly after the 20th week) presses on neighboring organs: the stomach, intestines. As a result, the volume of the stomach decreases and even the usual amount of food leads to its overflow and the reflux of food back into the esophagus.
what will help
If heartburn occurs infrequently and does not bother you much, then in order to reduce its symptoms, you just need to eat right and change your lifestyle. The simplest thing that helps with heartburn:
- Fractional meals: eat often 5-6 times a day at intervals of 1.5-2 hours and in small portions. Eat slowly, chewing your food thoroughly.
- Healthy food: Avoid fatty and fried foods and chocolate. All these products provoke additional relaxation of the esophageal sphincter.
- Heartburn usually occurs within the first two hours after eating, so do not lie down immediately after eating.
- Sleep with the head of the bed raised by adding another pillow.
simple remedies
The simplest thing that helps with heartburn is some foods. For example, a burning sensation behind the sternum perfectly removes low-fat milk, just a few sips - and heartburn goes away or is significantly reduced. Ice cream works the same way, as well as grapefruit and carrot juices. You can get rid of heartburn by eating nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds), but they are more likely to prevent heartburn than to eliminate an existing one. And ordinary seeds help someone cope with heartburn. In general, the expectant mother can only choose the right product for herself, but here, as with food in general, one must observe the measure. No need to eat a block of ice cream or a package of seeds every day, drink glasses of juice or endlessly eat nuts. Of course, they will help, but ice cream and nuts are high in fat and calories, and juices in large quantities hit the pancreas and increase sugar levels. A small amount of one of some product will completely cope with an attack of heartburn.
be careful
Some medications, especially antispasmodics (drugs that relieve spasms of the smooth muscles of the internal organs), such as No-shpa , Papaverine , relax the esophageal sphincter and thus contribute to heartburn. Some herbs, such as mint, also work. Tight clothing under the chest (elastic bands, belts), a change in body position (tilts, turns) can also cause heartburn.
In general, every expectant mother can carefully observe herself and identify her personal cause of heartburn, then it will be much easier to deal with it.
old remedy
Baking soda is often used to treat heartburn. It really helps to relieve the unpleasant burning sensation very quickly, but at the same time it does not last long. In addition, when soda interacts with gastric juice, carbon dioxide is formed, which irritates the stomach - as a result, new portions of hydrochloric acid are produced and heartburn resumes. It turns out that a teaspoon of soda in a glass of water instantly relieves heartburn, but in response to taking soda, the next time the heartburn attack will be even stronger.
safe drugs
During pregnancy you can use the so-called antacids (Maalox, Almagel, Rennie, Gaviscon) . They contain salts of magnesium and aluminum, they neutralize the acid of gastric juice, form a protective film on the wall of the stomach, increase the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter. True, sometimes some antacids cause constipation (due to calcium or aluminum salts), and magnesium, on the contrary, has a laxative effect. Therefore, long-term use of these drugs is not worth it. Antacids can absorb other medications, so there should be some time between taking antacids and other medications.
Despite the fact that heartburn is quite unpleasant for the mother, it does not affect the child in any way. Start the fight against heartburn with proper nutrition, and you may not need medication.
Make an appointment
to the doctor - Boltovsky Vladimir Anatolyevich
Children's Clinic "Mother and Child" Samara
Children's First Aid KitChildren's NephrologyFor ChildrenVaccination CalendarComprehensive examination before kindergartenComprehensive examination before schoolNeprologyPediatricsInformation for childrenUrology
By clicking on the send button, I consent to the processing of personal data
why it occurs and how to get rid of it
The prevalence of heartburn increases from the 20th week of pregnancy and covers the vast majority of women by the time of delivery.
Usually, the symptom is provoked by the "heavy" food eaten the day before, so it can be repeated many times throughout the day, and one episode of heartburn lasts minutes or even hours. In addition to heartburn itself, there may be belching of air, pain behind the sternum, and swallowing is disturbed 1 .
Causes of heartburn in pregnant women
There are a number of factors that predispose to heartburn during pregnancy. These include2:
episodes of heartburn
before pregnancy
multiple pregnancy
overweight before or
significant weight gain
during pregnancy
The main causes of heartburn in pregnant women are divided into: mechanical (physical) and hormonal 2 .
The mechanical cause of is an increase in the size of the pregnant uterus.
The growing uterus displaces and compresses other organs in the abdomen, which increases intra-abdominal pressure. At the same time, the stomach is “squeezed” to the diaphragm, the locking mechanism that separates the esophagus from the stomach is weakened, which predisposes to the development of hiatal hernia. In general, the described mechanisms often lead to acid reflux - the backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus, accompanied by heartburn 2 .
Hormonal causes include an increase in progesterone production. Progesterone reduces the tone of the smooth muscles of the uterus, protecting the pregnancy from the threat of termination. In the same way, progesterone acts on other smooth muscle organs. Under the influence of hormones during pregnancy, there may be a decrease in the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter and a weakening of intestinal motility, including due to a violation of the sensitivity of intestinal receptors to biologically active substances - serotonin and histamine.
As a result, food can linger in the stomach, increasing the likelihood of acid reflux. Due to the weakening of peristalsis, there is also a risk of constipation and changes in the intestinal microflora 2 .
First trimester
A complaint in pregnant women at an early stage appears due to toxicosis with repeated vomiting, when the esophageal mucosa is constantly irritated by vomit 1 .
First trimester
A complaint in pregnant women at an early stage appears due to toxicosis with repeated vomiting, when the esophageal mucosa is constantly irritated by vomit 1 .
Second and third trimesters
In the second and third trimesters, symptoms may occur due to reduced pressure in the esophagogastric sphincter and functional failure of the upper stomach 1 . Also, in late pregnancy, the factors provoking heartburn may include an increase in intra-abdominal pressure due to an increase in the volume of the uterus and an increase in the level of gastrin in the blood of pregnant women 1 .
Second and third trimesters
In the second and third trimesters, symptoms may occur due to decreased pressure in the esophagogastric sphincter and functional insufficiency of the upper stomach 1 . Also, in late pregnancy, the factors provoking heartburn may include an increase in intra-abdominal pressure due to an increase in the volume of the uterus and an increase in the level of gastrin in the blood of pregnant women 1 .
postpartum period
Unfortunately, heartburn symptoms do not always disappear completely after childbirth: about 20% of women who experience heartburn during pregnancy also experience it in the postpartum period 2 . It is possible that the development of heartburn in the postpartum period may be associated with the lactation period, this relationship has yet to be established.
According to the instructions for the medical use of the drug Maalox®, the absorption of combinations of aluminum hydroxide and magnesium salts in the mother is limited, therefore, Maalox® can be used during lactation after consulting a doctor. For occasional heartburn, use 15 ml or 1-2 tablets of Maalox® once . 4-6
Unfortunately, the symptoms of heartburn do not always disappear without a trace after childbirth: about 20% of women who experience heartburn during pregnancy also notice it in the postpartum period 2 . It is possible that the development of heartburn in the postpartum period may be associated with the lactation period, this relationship has yet to be established. According to the instructions for the medical use of the drug Maalox®, the absorption of combinations of aluminum hydroxide and magnesium salts in the mother is limited, therefore, Maalox® can be used during lactation after consulting a doctor.
For occasional heartburn, use 15 ml or 1-2 tablets of Maalox® once . 4-6
Symptoms of heartburn in pregnant women
Heartburn is an unpleasant burning sensation, warmth behind the sternum, which can spread to the neck area 3 . The symptom may appear about an hour after eating. Often entails heartburn eating fried, spicy, fatty, sour foods, as well as overeating. Physical activity and changes in body position, such as leaning forward or lying down, may increase heartburn symptoms 3 . In pregnant women, heartburn is often accompanied by belching and difficulty swallowing 1 .
Heartburn is an unpleasant sensation of burning, warmth behind the sternum, which can spread to the neck area 3 . The symptom may appear about an hour after eating. Often entails heartburn eating fried, spicy, fatty, sour foods, as well as overeating.
Physical activity and changes in body position, such as leaning forward or lying down, may increase heartburn symptoms 3 . In pregnant women, heartburn is often accompanied by belching and difficulty swallowing 1 .
Why is heartburn dangerous in pregnant women?
Heartburn that occurs during pregnancy may increase the chance of developing GERD after childbirth. Moreover, the risk of developing the disease is proportional to the number of births. It was noted that in the presence of heartburn in the 1st pregnancy, GERD subsequently develops in 17.7% of women , and two pregnancies with heartburn increase this figure to 36% 2 .
It is important to note that if heartburn occurs during pregnancy, it is imperative to consult a doctor, since other diseases of the digestive system can manifest as heartburn, including a severe pathology of the gestation period - acute fatty liver of pregnant women.
In this case, heartburn is short-lived at first, then its intensity and duration increase, accompanied by painful swallowing of not only food, but also liquids. Heartburn in this case is often accompanied by vomiting of the color of "coffee grounds", weakness, lethargy. Such a dangerous condition requires close medical attention and control 1 .
Heartburn that occurs during pregnancy may increase the chance of developing GERD after childbirth. Moreover, the risk of developing the disease is proportional to the number of births. It has been noted that in the presence of heartburn in the 1st pregnancy, GERD subsequently develops in 17.7% of women , and two pregnancies with heartburn increase this figure to 36% 2 .
It is important to note that if heartburn occurs during pregnancy, it is imperative to consult a doctor, since other diseases of the digestive system can manifest as heartburn, including a severe pathology of the gestation period - acute fatty liver of pregnant women.
