What can I do for heartburn relief during pregnancy?

Simple dietary and lifestyle changes may be enough to control mild symptoms. Eating healthily is always recommended and even though it’s tempting to eat more when you’re pregnant, try to avoid the temptation. Advice to help ease the condition includes: Eat small meals often. Avoid eating late or within three hours of going to bed. Cut down on caffeine and rich, spicy or fatty foods. Sit up straight when you eat to take pressure off your stomach.. Prop up your head and shoulders when you go to bed to help stop stomach acid coming up while you sleep. If you need help to manage your symptoms or changes to your diet and lifestyle aren’t working, speak to your midwife or GP - they may recommend medicines to ease your symptoms. Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets* contain omeprazole which helps reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes. Omeprazole is a widely used treatment for heartburn and acid reflux and can be taken by pregnant and breastfeeding women over 18 years of age. IMPORTANT: Medicines can affect the unborn baby. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine in pregnancy.

Pregnancy Heartburn Relief: How to Manage Heartburn and Acid Reflux in Pregnancy

Awaiting the arrival of your little one is an exciting time as you count down the months, weeks and days – but it can also be a time of little niggles and gripes, such as heartburn in pregnancy.

Be reassured though that heartburn – a burning feeling in the chest caused by stomach acid travelling towards the throat (acid reflux) – is common during pregnancy and there are ways to help ease the symptoms.

What causes heartburn during pregnancy?

Heartburn during pregnancy is very common and thought to affect up to 80% of women at some point during pregnancy. It happens when stomach acid travels back up into the oesophagus (food pipe), causing the familiar burning sensation in the chest known as acid reflux.

One of the reasons for pregnancy heartburn is the hormonal changes that support your growing baby.

During pregnancy, your body produces higher levels of the hormone progesterone. While progesterone plays an essential role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy, it can also relax the muscular valve that normally keeps stomach contents where they belong. When this valve relaxes, stomach acid can more easily escape into the oesophagus, leading to heartburn symptoms.

Your growing baby pressing against the stomach can make the problem worse.

As your pregnancy progresses, your growing baby and expanding uterus place increasing pressure on your stomach. This pressure can push stomach contents upwards, making heartburn during pregnancy more likely. For this reason, many women notice their symptoms become more common during the third trimester, when the baby is growing rapidly and taking up more space in the abdomen.

Thankfully, for most expectant mums, pregnancy heartburn is temporary and often improves or disappears soon after the baby is born, when hormone levels return to normal and the pressure on the stomach is relieved.1 Until then, however, it can be unpleasant and uncomfortable.

Thankfully for most expectant-mums pregnancy heartburn is temporary and often improves or disappears soon after the baby is born. But until then it can be unpleasant and uncomfortable.

What are the symptoms of heartburn during pregnancy?

Symptoms of heartburn include:

A burning sensation or pain in the chest
An unpleasant sour taste in the mouth caused by stomach acid
Burping
Feeling full, heavy or bloated
Feeling or being sick
Bringing up food

It usually occurs soon after eating or drinking – although there can be a delay in the symptoms appearing – and it can happen during any stage of pregnancy, however it tends to be more common from 28 weeks onwards as the baby starts to grow bigger.

Although it’s natural to be concerned, heartburn doesn’t usually harm you or the baby but if you are worried it’s best to speak to your midwife or GP.

Pregnancy heartburn relief

If you’re experiencing heartburn when pregnant, there are some simple lifestyle changes that may help to reduce your symptoms.

Advice to help ease the condition includes:

Instead of eating three large meals a day, try eating smaller meals more frequently.
Some foods and drinks can make heartburn worse. Although triggers vary from person to person, many people find it helps to cut down on spicy foods, fatty or rich meals, chocolate, citrus fruits, fizzy drinks and drinks containing caffeine, such as tea, coffee and cola. Keeping a food diary may help you identify any foods that seem to trigger your symptoms.
Sitting up straight during and just after meals allows gravity to help keep stomach contents where they belong. Avoid lying down immediately after eating and, where possible, wait at least three hours after eating before lying down for the night.
If heartburn when pregnant is disturbing your sleep, try propping up your head and shoulders. Sleeping in a slightly elevated position may help reduce acid reflux raining upwards during the night.
Wearing loose-fitting clothing around your waist may reduce pressure on your stomach.
If you smoke, stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for both your own health and your baby’s health, and it may also help reduce reflux symptoms. Your midwife or GP can provide advice and support to help you quit.

Managing heartburn during pregnancy

Heartburn during pregnancy is a common symptom and is usually caused by a combination of hormonal changes and the pressure your growing baby places on your stomach.Although it can be uncomfortable, symptoms often improve after your baby is born.

If lifestyle changes aren’t helping, your midwife, GP or pharmacist can advise on treatment options that are suitable during pregnancy.

If lifestyle changes aren’t helping to relieve your symptoms your midwife, GP or pharmacist may suggest taking omeprazole which helps reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes.

Pyrocalm Control, which contains omeprazole, can be taken during pregnancy for heartburn and acid reflux.

Medicines can affect the unborn baby. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine in pregnancy.

If you’d like further information, you can find out more about how Pyrocalm Control works here

Pyrocalm Control® 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets. For the short-term treatment of reflux symptoms in adults. Contains 20 mg Omeprazole. Medicines can affect the unborn baby.

Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine in pregnancy. Always read the label.

Frequently asked questions

What causes heartburn during pregnancy?

Heartburn during pregnancy is usually caused by a combination of hormonal changes and physical pressure from your growing baby. Higher levels of progesterone can relax the valve between the stomach and oesophagus, making it easier for stomach acid to travel upwards. As your baby grows, the uterus also presses against the stomach, which can make symptoms worse.

Is heartburn during pregnancy normal?

Yes. Heartburn is a common symptom during pregnancy and is thought to affect up to 80% of pregnant women. Although it can be uncomfortable, it does not usually harm you or your baby.

When does heartburn during pregnancy usually start?

Heartburn can develop at any stage of pregnancy, but it becomes more common during the second and third trimesters as hormone levels increase and your growing baby places more pressure on your stomach.

How can I get pregnancy heartburn relief?

Lifestyle changes such as eating smaller meals, avoiding foods that trigger symptoms, sitting up straight during and immediately after eating can help to reduce heartburn. If symptoms continue, speak to your midwife, GP or pharmacist for further advice.

How do I stop heartburn during pregnancy at night?

To help stop heartburn during pregnancy at night, avoid eating within three hours of going to bed and try sleeping with your head and shoulders raised. These simple measures may help reduce acid reflux while you’re lying down.

When should I seek medical advice for heartburn in pregnancy?

Speak to your midwife, GP or pharmacist if lifestyle changes aren’t helping and you’re struggling to manage your symptoms. Other symptoms to look out for include a hoarse voice, a recurring cough that doesn’t get better or difficulty swallowing.

Medicines can affect the unborn baby. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine in pregnancy.

If you’d like further information, you can find out more about how Pyrocalm Control works here

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Lansoprazole vs Omeprazole

If you suffer from acid reflux and heartburn you’ve probably heard of omeprazole and lansoprazole. But how do they differ and what exactly do they do?

Pyrocalm Control® 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets. For the short-term treatment of reflux symptoms in adults.
Contains 20 mg Omeprazole. Always read the label. Medicines can affect the unborn baby.
Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine in pregnancy.