Nausea & Digestion

Heartburn & Acid Reflux in Pregnancy

A burning feeling behind the breastbone from acid reflux — very common from the second trimester on, and usually eased by small meals and staying upright.

⏱️ 6 min read🗓️ Updated 6 July 2026🤰 2nd · 3rd trimester✅ 5 sources🩺 Medical review pending

Written and fact-checked by the ParentVibes editorial team against WHO, NHS, ACOG and peer-reviewed guidance. Not yet reviewed by a named clinician.

Quick facts

Most common in: 2nd and 3rd trimesters
How common: Up to 8 in 10 pregnancies
Main cause: Hormones relaxing the valve to your stomach
Usually eases: After birth
See a doctor if: Upper tummy pain with headache or swelling

That burning feeling creeping up behind your breastbone after a meal — or when you lie down at night — is heartburn, and it's one of the most common complaints of later pregnancy. It happens because pregnancy changes both your hormones and your anatomy in ways that make it easier for stomach acid to travel where it shouldn't.

For most people it's uncomfortable rather than serious, and simple changes to what, how and when you eat can make a real difference. This guide covers why it happens, what genuinely helps, and the rarer warning signs — including a type of upper tummy pain that can signal something more serious — that mean you should get checked.

What is heartburn in pregnancy?

Heartburn is a burning sensation that rises from your lower chest up towards your throat, caused by stomach acid flowing back up into the oesophagus (the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach) — a process called acid reflux. You may also notice a sour or bitter taste in your mouth, an uncomfortable fullness, or a burning feeling that gets worse when you bend over or lie flat.

It's very common from around the second trimester and tends to become more frequent and more noticeable as pregnancy progresses, often at its worst in the third trimester when your bump is largest. It usually settles quickly after your baby is born, once hormone levels fall and there's no longer pressure on your stomach.

Heartburn vs indigestion

Heartburn is a burning sensation caused specifically by acid reflux. Indigestion is a broader term for general upper-tummy discomfort, fullness or bloating after eating, which may or may not involve acid. The two often overlap and the self-care is similar.

What causes heartburn in pregnancy?

Heartburn results from a combination of hormonal and physical changes that make reflux more likely as pregnancy progresses.

Relaxed valve muscle

The hormone progesterone relaxes smooth muscle throughout your body, including the valve (lower oesophageal sphincter) that normally keeps stomach acid where it belongs. A relaxed valve lets acid slip back upwards more easily.

Your growing womb

As your uterus grows, it pushes upwards on your stomach, which can force acid up into the oesophagus — this is part of why heartburn tends to appear or worsen in the second and third trimesters.

Slower digestion

Pregnancy hormones also slow down how quickly food moves through your gut, so food and acid sit in your stomach for longer, increasing the chance of reflux.

Certain foods and drinks

Fatty or fried food, spicy food, citrus, tomatoes, chocolate, caffeine and fizzy drinks can all relax the valve further or increase acid production, making symptoms worse.

Large meals or lying down soon after eating

A very full stomach has more pressure pushing up against the valve, and lying flat removes the help gravity normally gives in keeping acid down.

You may be more prone to heartburn if…

You've had heartburn before pregnancy
This isn't your first pregnancy
You're carrying twins or more
You're further along in the third trimester

When heartburn is normal

Heartburn on its own, without other symptoms, is one of the most expected discomforts of later pregnancy. The following are reassuring:

A burning feeling behind the breastbone after meals, or when lying down, that eases with antacids, sitting upright or time.
Symptoms that come and go through the day rather than one constant, unrelenting pain.
A sour taste in the mouth or mild regurgitation, without difficulty swallowing.
Symptoms that are worse after large, fatty or spicy meals and better with smaller ones.

	Usually normal heartburn	Needs medical attention
Location	Burning behind the breastbone, rising to the throat	Pain in the upper tummy, especially under the ribs on the right
Other symptoms	Sour taste, mild regurgitation	Headache, vision changes, swelling of the face/hands, or vomiting
Response to antacids	Eases with antacids or sitting upright	Doesn't ease, or pain is severe and persistent
Swallowing	Normal swallowing	Pain or difficulty swallowing food or liquids

It tends to build, then lift

Heartburn often gets gradually worse as your bump grows and usually resolves within days of giving birth. That pattern of gradual, food-related discomfort is reassuring in itself.

Warning signs — get medical help now

Rarely, what feels like heartburn or indigestion is actually a sign of something else — including pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy condition involving high blood pressure. Contact your doctor or midwife urgently, or go to your nearest emergency department, if you have any of the following:

Seek urgent medical care if you have

Pain in your upper tummy, especially just below the ribs on the right side — particularly if it's severe or won't go away.
That upper tummy pain together with a bad headache, vision changes (blurring, flashing lights), sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet, or vomiting, especially in the second half of pregnancy.
Difficulty or pain swallowing food or liquids.
Vomiting blood, or vomit that looks like coffee grounds; black or tarry stools.
Chest pain that spreads to your arm, jaw or back, or comes with shortness of breath, sweating or feeling faint.
Heartburn that is unusually severe, sudden, or completely unlike your normal pattern.

If your baby's movements feel reduced, have stopped, or have changed from their usual pattern at any point, contact your maternity unit the same day — don't wait to see if it improves.

Upper tummy pain is not always heartburn

Pain just below the ribs — especially on the right — combined with a headache, vision changes or swelling can be pre-eclampsia, not indigestion. This needs urgent blood pressure and urine checks, so always get it assessed rather than assuming it's 'just' heartburn.

Self-care & home remedies

Simple changes to what, when and how you eat ease heartburn for most people. Try a few of these together rather than one in isolation.

Eat smaller, more often

Have five or six small meals rather than three large ones.
Eat slowly and avoid rushing meals.
Stop eating a couple of hours before bed.
Avoid very large portions, especially in the evening.

Mind your posture and timing

Stay upright, or go for a gentle walk, for a while after eating rather than lying down.
Prop yourself up with extra pillows, or raise the head of your bed, so you're not lying flat at night.
Avoid bending or stooping straight after meals.

Watch your triggers

Cut back on fatty, fried and spicy foods, citrus, chocolate, caffeine and fizzy drinks if they set you off.
Keep a simple note of what seems to trigger symptoms — triggers vary a lot from person to person.
Loose, comfortable clothing around your middle can help reduce pressure on your stomach.

Everyday habits

Avoid smoking and alcohol, both of which relax the valve and worsen reflux.
Try not to drink large amounts of fluid with meals — sip between meals instead.
Stress and tiredness can make symptoms feel worse, so rest where you can.

Ask your pharmacist or midwife about antacids

Several antacids and acid-reducing medicines are considered safe in pregnancy, but always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before taking anything — including over-the-counter remedies — to make sure it suits you.

When to consult a doctor

Book a non-urgent appointment with your doctor or midwife if:

Heartburn is frequent, severe, or disturbing your sleep most nights.
Self-care and over-the-counter antacids aren't giving enough relief.
You're finding it hard to eat enough because of the discomfort.
Symptoms started very suddenly or feel different from your usual pattern.
You want to check that a remedy or medicine is safe to use in pregnancy.

Track how you're feeling

Logging when heartburn flares and what seems to trigger it helps you spot patterns and gives your midwife useful detail at your next appointment.

Open the Pregnancy Tracker

Frequently asked questions

Why does heartburn get worse in the third trimester?

As your baby and uterus grow, there's more pressure pushing up on your stomach, and pregnancy hormones keep the valve between your stomach and gullet relaxed. Together these make acid reflux more likely and often more noticeable as you get closer to your due date.

Is it safe to take antacids for heartburn in pregnancy?

Many antacids are considered safe to use in pregnancy, but it's best to check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist first so you choose one that suits you and use it correctly, rather than buying and combining remedies on your own.

Can heartburn harm my baby?

No — heartburn itself doesn't harm your baby. It's uncomfortable for you, but it's a very common, generally harmless part of later pregnancy. The exception is if what feels like heartburn is actually a symptom of something else, like pre-eclampsia, which is why the warning signs matter.

How is heartburn different from pre-eclampsia pain?

Ordinary heartburn is a burning feeling behind the breastbone that eases with antacids or sitting up. Pre-eclampsia pain is typically felt lower, in the upper tummy under the ribs (especially the right side), and tends to come with other signs like a bad headache, vision changes or swelling. If in doubt, get it checked — it's always worth ruling out.

Will heartburn go away after I give birth?

For most people, yes — heartburn usually eases quickly in the days after birth once hormone levels fall and there's no longer pressure on your stomach from your uterus.

Does what I eat really make a difference?

Yes, for most people. Smaller, more frequent meals, avoiding known trigger foods (fatty, spicy, citrus, caffeine), and not lying down soon after eating all reduce how often and how badly heartburn strikes.

Your next steps

Track your pregnancy

Log symptoms week by week, get personalised tips, and see how your pregnancy is progressing.

Open Pregnancy Tracker

Pregnancy week-by-week

Follow your baby's growth and your body's changes from week 1 to 40 in plain language.

Explore the guide

Find a gynaecologist

Have a personal concern? Book with a trusted obstetrician or gynaecologist near you.

Find a doctor

Related pregnancy symptoms

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→ See all pregnancy symptoms A–Z

Helpful resources

Sources

Next review due: 6 January 2027.

Medical disclaimer

This page is general information about a common pregnancy symptom and does not replace personal medical advice. Every pregnancy is different. If you have severe pain, heavy bleeding, a bad headache with vision changes, reduced or absent baby movements, breathing difficulty, fever, or you feel something is seriously wrong, contact your doctor or midwife or go to your nearest emergency department straight away. When in doubt, always get checked — it is never a waste of anyone's time.

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