Acid reflux during pregnancy: how to relieve it
Up to 8 in 10 pregnant women experience it, especially in the third trimester — here's why, and how to make it more manageable.
Acid reflux during pregnancy comes from two combined mechanisms: progesterone relaxes the valve between the stomach and esophagus, making it easier for stomach acid to rise up, and the growing uterus puts increasing physical pressure on the stomach, especially from the third trimester on.
Eating smaller portions more often, rather than large meals, reduces pressure on the stomach. Avoiding lying down within two to three hours of eating, and slightly raising the head of the bed with pillows or bed risers, also helps limit nighttime reflux.
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Certain foods often make symptoms worse — spicy, fatty, citrus, chocolate, coffee, carbonated drinks — and it can help to notice which ones affect you most so you can cut back on those specifically, without necessarily eliminating everything at once.
If dietary measures aren't enough, calcium-based antacids are generally considered safe during pregnancy, and stronger medications (such as certain proton pump inhibitors) can be prescribed if symptoms are significant and persistent. Don't hesitate to bring it up with your healthcare provider rather than putting up with uncomfortable reflux in silence.
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This information is general and does not replace advice from your healthcare professional (doctor, midwife, nurse, pharmacist). Every situation is unique: always check with them before making a decision. In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency services.
