Key points
- Seek urgent care for severe chest pain, trouble breathing, vomiting blood, or black tarry stools.
- Contact Davie ObGyn if symptoms disrupt sleep, limit eating, or continue despite treatment.
Why it happens
Pregnancy hormones relax the muscle that normally helps keep stomach acid down. As the uterus grows, added pressure can also push stomach contents upward. This may cause burning after meals, a sour taste, or discomfort when lying down.
Start with daily habits
Eat smaller meals and stay upright afterward. Try finishing food at least three hours before bedtime. A wedge that raises your upper body or sleeping on your left side may help. Reduce foods that trigger your own symptoms, often fried foods, spicy meals, chocolate, coffee, or acidic foods. You do not need to remove every possible trigger if it does not bother you.
Medicines your OB may recommend
Calcium carbonate antacids are commonly used for occasional symptoms. Persistent reflux may need an acid-reducing medicine such as famotidine or omeprazole. Available pregnancy data are reassuring when these medicines are used appropriately. Ask about the right product, dose, and duration for you. Separate antacids from iron or folic acid supplements by at least two hours. Famotidine information
Avoid self-treating with bismuth subsalicylate, such as Pepto-Bismol, or aspirin-containing stomach remedies. Do not use baking soda as a home antacid. Check combination products with your pharmacist; brand names alone do not identify all ingredients. Prescribed low-dose aspirin should be managed separately with your OB. MotherToBaby stomach medicine guidance · AAFP medication guidance
When burning may be something else
Seek urgent care for severe chest pain, trouble breathing, vomiting blood, or black tarry stools. Severe upper abdominal pain, especially with headache or vision changes, also needs prompt evaluation. Do not assume these symptoms are reflux.
Questions about your pregnancy? Contact Davie ObGyn in Davie, Florida, at 954-880-1010. New and established patients are welcome. This information supports your prenatal care and does not replace an individual medical assessment. For urgent symptoms, call your care team promptly; for an emergency, call 911. Do not use a routine online message for urgent symptoms.
Medically reviewed by Rahil Malik, MD, FACOG, board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist. Last reviewed: September 26, 2026. This page is general information and does not replace a visit with your doctor.