Pregnancy heartburn how long does it last

Ask your doctor for the best option. If you find yourself downing bottles of antacids, your heartburn may have progressed to gastroesophageal acid reflux disease GERD. In that case, you may need a stronger treatment.

If you have heartburn that often wakes you up at night, returns as soon as your antacid wears off, or creates other symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, coughing, weight loss, or black stools , you may have a more serious problem that requires attention. Your doctor may diagnose you with GERD. This means that your heartburn needs to be controlled to protect you from complications such as damage to the esophagus.

Your doctor may prescribe certain acid-reducing medications to reduce your symptoms. Research indicates that medications called H2 blockers , which help block the production of acid, appear to be safe.

Doctors can help you control your symptoms while keeping your unborn child safe. Heartburn during pregnancy is a common complaint, and sometimes it's hard to prevent. But fortunately, there are proven ways to get relief. Pregnancy increases your risk of heartburn and other reflux conditions.

You may wonder why it happens, what you can do to prevent it, and what…. You may experience digestive issues, such as constipation or gas, during the second trimester of pregnancy. Learn techniques that can help. 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. 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. There's lots of help available to stop smoking. Talk to your midwife or call the NHS Smokefree helpline on Find out more about stopping smoking in pregnancy. 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. So, eating large meals or overeating in general can also increase the risk for heartburn.

Eating right before bedtime can cause problems, too. Smoking makes heartburn worse and is another reason to quit, especially while pregnant. Here are tips that may help:. Avoid classic spicy foods, as well as those with lots of fat or grease. Many people recommend avoiding citrus and chocolate, as well. Try elevating the head of your bed by several inches, and wait a while after eating before going to bed or lying down.

Cleveland Clinic. Updated January 22, Harvard Health. What does heartburn feel like? Updated May Houston Heartburn and Reflux Center. Taking antacids. April 2, The safety of long-term daily usage of a proton pump inhibitor: a literature review. Published online September 4, Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Symptoms of Heartburn. Antacid Warning Avoid taking antacids if you have any symptoms of appendicitis or inflammatory bowel disease IBD.