What is heartburn?

Heartburn is when you have a burning feeling in your chest. The uncomfortable sensation can move up your throat. You may also have a bitter or sour taste in the back of your throat.

Though it’s called “heartburn,” it’s not related to your heart. It happens because of acid reflux, which occurs when stomach acid moves from your stomach up to your esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that carries food, liquid, and saliva to your stomach.

A muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) sits between the esophagus and stomach. It opens to allow food to pass, then closes so acid doesn’t travel back up your esophagus. But if the LES doesn’t close properly, the acid can move into your esophagus, causing heartburn.

Why does heartburn happen during pregnancy?

Heartburn is a common symptom that women experience during pregnancy. Changing hormones and shifts in body shape can lead to heartburn.

What is acid reflux during pregnancy?

People use the terms “heartburn” and “acid reflux” to mean the same thing. But they have different definitions:

Acid reflux refers to the LES not tightening as it should. This allows the stomach acid to travel from your stomach up to your esophagus. (Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a severe form of acid reflux.)

Heartburn, the feeling of pain or burning in your chest, is a symptom of acid reflux.

Women may have acid reflux during pregnancy and experience heartburn due to changing hormone levels and the baby growing.

What does heartburn during pregnancy feel like?

If you have heartburn, you may:

• Feel burning or pain in your chest.
• Feel bloated or full.
• Burp frequently.
• Feel sick.
• Bring up food.

How common is heartburn during pregnancy?

More than half of all pregnant women report severe heartburn, especially during the third trimester. It’s more common in people who have been pregnant before and those who had heartburn before pregnancy.

What causes heartburn during pregnancy?

Causes of heartburn during pregnancy include:

• Hormone levels changing: Your hormone levels change during pregnancy, affecting how you tolerate and digest foods. The hormones often slow down your digestive system. Food moves slower, causing bloating and heartburn.
• Esophageal sphincter relaxing: Progesterone, known as the pregnancy hormone, can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax. When it relaxes, stomach acid can move up into the esophagus.
• Uterus enlarging: As your baby grows, your uterus gets bigger. It can crowd your stomach and push stomach acids upward, into your esophagus. That’s why heartburn is more common during the third trimester, the last few months of pregnancy. The baby and uterus are bigger then, crowding your other organs.

How can I get relief from pregnancy heartburn?

Try these natural remedies for pregnancy heartburn relief:

• Eat yogurt or drink some milk.
• Stir in a tablespoon of honey into warm milk and drink it.

Can I take over-the-counter antacids to relieve heartburn during pregnancy?

Talk to your healthcare provider before taking antacids. They may contain high sodium levels, which can cause you to retain water. Some also have aluminum in them, which isn’t safe to consume during pregnancy. Your provider can recommend an antacid that’s safe during pregnancy.

How can heartburn during pregnancy be prevented?

You can take steps to reduce heartburn symptoms without hurting your baby.

Dietary changes:

• Eat several small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones.
• Eat slowly.
• Drink between your meals, but not with meals.
• Avoid fried, spicy or fatty foods.
• Avoid citrus fruits and juices.
• Limit caffeine.
• Don’t smoke and avoid alcohol. Besides causing heartburn, smoking and drinking during pregnancy can cause health problems for the baby.

Other tips to avoid heartburn during pregnancy:

• Sit up straight when you eat.
• Don’t eat late at night.
• Don’t lie down right after eating.
• Keep the head of your bed higher than the foot of the bed. Or try placing pillows under your shoulders. Doing so helps prevent stomach acids from rising into your chest.

When should I call my healthcare provider about heartburn during pregnancy?

If heartburn isn’t going away, talk to your provider. They can prescribe medications that are safe to take while pregnant.

You should also call your provider if you:

• Have heartburn that wakes you up at night.
• Have trouble swallowing.
• Spit up blood.
• Have black poop.
• Are losing weight.

Heartburn can have similar symptoms to a heart attack. If you’ve never had heartburn before and you’re having chest pains, call your provider or head to the nearest ER.