{"id":29800,"date":"2026-02-07T18:00:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-07T18:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/?p=29800"},"modified":"2026-02-09T15:50:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T15:50:17","slug":"heartburn-during-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/blog\/pregnancy\/heartburn-during-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"Heartburn during pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pregnancy is a major physical upheaval that can come with certain unpleasant side effects. Among them: heartburn! Very common in pregnant women, it\u2019s not very pleasant. What causes it? How can you relieve it?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Heartburn during pregnancy:<\/strong> we\u2019ll tell you everything.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What is heartburn, and why is it so common during pregnancy?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heartburn is also known as acid reflux or<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. GERD is the backflow of part of the stomach\u2019s contents into the esophagus. Heartburn can range from mild discomfort to pain <\/span><strong>that makes daily life very unpleasant<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This pain can sometimes be felt behind the breastbone<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. For some women, reflux can even affect sleep (insomnia, trouble falling asleep&#8230;).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>GERD symptoms include<\/strong>: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A burning sensation or pain in the upper abdominal (epigastric) area.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Acid reflux occurring without nausea or retching, usually after meals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digestive discomfort, such as hiccups or repeated burping.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In pregnant women, the origin of this phenomenon is both mechanical<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and hormonal<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>The size of the uterus<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which increases in proportion to your baby\u2019s growth, plays a role in the onset of heartburn. The more the uterus expands, the more <\/span><strong>it puts pressure on your stomach<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Progesterone, the \u201crelaxation\u201d hormone<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> whose production gradually increases during pregnancy, makes the lower esophageal sphincter (the muscle that closes the top of the stomach) <\/span><strong>less toned<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>.<\/strong> And if it is less toned, it will have trouble acting as an anti-reflux valve. Stomach acid then ends up rising into the esophagus and irritating the lining, creating a burning sensation (called pyrosis).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to progesterone, other hormones (such as relaxin) can <\/span><strong>disrupt the digestive system<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>.<\/strong> Digestion slows down and stomach acid lingers in the stomach, which contributes to the burning sensation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to learn more? Feel free to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/app.adjust.com\/1pblulz8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">download the May app<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where you&#8217;ll find plenty of resources to support and guide you throughout your pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>When does heartburn appear? Is it more common at certain stages of pregnancy?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with many<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pregnancy symptoms<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><strong>its onset and intensity vary<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and can be very different from one woman to another.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heartburn generally appears <\/span><strong>during the second trimester of pregnancy<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but for some women it may begin as early as the first trimester, or not appear at all (which is what we wish for you). Still, note that more than <\/span><strong>half of pregnant women may be affected<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>,<\/strong> especially during the last months of pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In late pregnancy, the uterus reaches its maximum size and compresses the stomach more. The baby\u2019s position, often higher in the abdomen, increases this pressure. The result: acid reflux becomes more frequent and more intense, especially when lying down.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/breathing-exercise-2026-01-11-11-01-56-utc.webp\" alt=\"Les br\u00fblures d\u2019estomac pendant la grossesse - May App Sant\u00e9\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/breathing-exercise-2026-01-11-11-01-56-utc.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/breathing-exercise-2026-01-11-11-01-56-utc-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/breathing-exercise-2026-01-11-11-01-56-utc-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>How can you adjust your diet if you have heartburn during pregnancy?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Did you know? To relieve heartburn, the first step is to<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pay attention to your diet<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Whether it\u2019s the choice of foods or the way you eat them, here are a few tips to try to reduce acid reflux.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Heartburn: f<\/b><b>oods to avoid<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certain foods can promote GERD during pregnancy. By <\/span><strong>limiting their consumption<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you can also reduce heartburn. Here are a few examples:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">very rich or spicy dishes, which are difficult to digest,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">simple sugars,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">certain dairy products, such as full-fat cheeses,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">coffee (which contains caffeine) because it promotes relaxation of the sphincter,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">citrus fruits,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">very sugary carbonated beverages <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(i.e., sodas),<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">alcohol <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(which should not be consumed at all during pregnancy).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Heartburn: f<\/b><b>oods to choose<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If there are foods to avoid, there are also foods <\/span><strong>that are great<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for reducing heartburn. Here are a few:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">blanched almonds,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pineapple (fresh or juice at room temperature),<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">apples,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">legumes or high-fiber foods,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">starches, preferably with a low glycemic index (flour, semi-whole\/whole pasta and rice),<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fresh parsley,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">boiled potatoes,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">raw carrots,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fish,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lean meats (chicken),<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eggs,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ginger,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cinnamon,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a yogurt or a glass of milk at the end of the meal.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Heartburn: s<\/b><b>plitting up meals<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to these ingredients to limit or favor, <\/span><strong>some eating habits<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can also help prevent heartburn:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eat smaller amounts (avoid heavy meals),<\/span> <strong>even if that means splitting up your meals<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014in other words, eating more often but less each time\u2014eat slowly (chew well), and save your glass of water for after the meal.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try <\/span><strong>not to lie down<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> right after eating. Stay upright for at least 1 hour (a post-meal walk is a great idea!).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the morning, on an empty stomach, drink<\/span> <strong>the juice of half a lemon<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> diluted in a little sparkling water, or in a little warm or hot water if you prefer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the day, drink <\/span><strong>sparkling waters<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or waters high in bicarbonates, preferably outside of meals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid drinking <\/span><strong>a large amount of liquid<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> all at once (especially in the evening).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29716\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/expectant-mother-touching-her-pregnant-belly-in-th-2026-01-08-22-53-42-utc.webp\" alt=\"Les br\u00fblures d\u2019estomac pendant la grossesse - May App Sant\u00e9\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/expectant-mother-touching-her-pregnant-belly-in-th-2026-01-08-22-53-42-utc.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/expectant-mother-touching-her-pregnant-belly-in-th-2026-01-08-22-53-42-utc-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/expectant-mother-touching-her-pregnant-belly-in-th-2026-01-08-22-53-42-utc-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>How can you effectively treat heartburn during pregnancy?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If, despite dietary changes, your heartburn continues, you can turn to <\/span><strong>other natural remedies<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>.<\/strong> When nothing works, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">your midwife<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or doctor can also prescribe certain medications. In all cases, starting a treatment should be discussed during a visit with the healthcare professional following your pregnancy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Heartburn: n<\/b><b>atural treatments<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we\u2019ve seen, heartburn treatment starts first with lifestyle and dietary measures. That said, certain natural remedies <\/span><strong>can calm acid reflux<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. We\u2019re thinking in particular of herbal teas (licorice, ginger&#8230;) used for their anti-inflammatory properties, or marshmallow root, since it forms a protective barrier on mucous membranes that limits irritation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Place <\/span><strong>a warm heating pad<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on your stomach.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Elevate your head<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while sleeping by adding extra pillows in your bed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do <\/span><strong>physical activity<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">prenatal yoga<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) or relaxation activities (acupuncture or sophrology).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certain <\/span><strong>essential oils<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can also be considered, provided you get medical advice beforehand, as some are contraindicated during pregnancy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Heartburn: a<\/b><b>pproved medications<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your heartburn persists despite lifestyle and dietary measures, <\/span><strong>taking certain medications<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may be considered to help calm it. When treatment is necessary, your doctor may prescribe one of the following: antacids such as Gaviscon (a stomach-coating agent that relieves heartburn), or PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) such as esomeprazole or omeprazole. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be careful <\/span><strong>not to self-medicate<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and consult your doctor, OB-GYN, or midwife for more information and the correct dosage!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-29720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/cropped-view-of-pregnant-woman-touching-belly-near-2026-01-06-00-08-42-utc.webp\" alt=\"Les br\u00fblures d\u2019estomac pendant la grossesse - May App Sant\u00e9\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/cropped-view-of-pregnant-woman-touching-belly-near-2026-01-06-00-08-42-utc.webp 1000w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/cropped-view-of-pregnant-woman-touching-belly-near-2026-01-06-00-08-42-utc-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.may.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/cropped-view-of-pregnant-woman-touching-belly-near-2026-01-06-00-08-42-utc-768x512.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Can heartburn be dangerous for the baby?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heartburn is not and <\/span><strong>cannot be dangerous for your baby<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It also reflects the progression of your pregnancy. In the vast majority of cases, heartburn is a benign symptom. It becomes concerning when it is accompanied by other symptoms, but it cannot be considered dangerous in and of itself.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Who should you see, and when, in case of persistent reflux?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When lifestyle and dietary measures and antacids fail to relieve you, or only provide temporary relief, we encourage you <\/span><strong>to consult your healthcare professional<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as a new medication treatment may be prescribed to improve your GERD.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See your midwife or doctor if your heartburn is accompanied by fever,<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nausea<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">regurgitation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or headaches in order to get a diagnosis!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heartburn is a benign but unpleasant gastric issue during pregnancy. Although <\/span><strong>it often ends up easing<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> after a few habit changes, it\u2019s important to consult a doctor or midwife as soon as it becomes too uncomfortable for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>**<\/p>\n<p>Photo credit: voronaman111 | micens | kjekol | LightFieldStudios<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This text was translated from French by an artificial intelligence. The information, advice, and sources it contains comply with French standards and may therefore not apply to your situation. Make sure to complement this reading by visiting the May US\/UK app and consulting the healthcare professionals who are supporting you.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pregnancy is a major physical upheaval that can come with certain unpleasant side effects. Among them: heartburn! Very common in pregnant women, it\u2019s not very pleasant. What causes it? How can you relieve it? Heartburn during pregnancy: we\u2019ll tell you everything. What is heartburn, and why is it so common during pregnancy? Heartburn is also [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":12143,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[186],"tags":[142,148],"class_list":["post-29800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pregnancy","tag-pregnancy-timeline","tag-early-pregnancy"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29800"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29804,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29800\/revisions\/29804"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}