Acupuncture for Heartburn in Pregnancy

Heartburn often arrives just as the rest of pregnancy is getting harder: a burning feeling behind the breastbone, an acid taste, and nights spent propped up on pillows. Many women simply put up with it until the birth. It is worth knowing there is more you can do.

Book an initial consultation or call 0207 935 2030 for a free 15-minute chat.

Why it happens

The hormone progesterone relaxes the valve at the top of your stomach, which normally keeps acid where it belongs. Later in pregnancy, your growing baby pushes up on the stomach too. Large meals, eating late, lying down soon after food, and rich, spicy, fatty or acidic foods, coffee and chocolate all tend to make it worse.

How we treat it

In Chinese medicine, not all heartburn is the same. A burning heartburn with thirst and a bitter taste is treated differently from a heavy, full feeling with belching and tiredness, and that guides our choice of points. Treatment usually includes:

• Acupuncture: on the arms, legs and back, with points adapted for pregnancy. We never needle the bump.
• Practical advice: smaller, more frequent meals, eating earlier in the evening, sitting upright after food, and raising the head of your bed.
• Food triggers: identifying the foods that set your heartburn off. These are different for everyone.

Most women come weekly, and many notice they are sleeping and eating better within a few sessions.

What the research shows

• Silva et al., 2009 (Acupuncture in Medicine) — a randomised trial comparing acupuncture plus usual care with usual care alone in pregnant women with heartburn and indigestion. Heartburn intensity at least halved in 75% of the acupuncture group, compared with 44% of the usual care group. The acupuncture group also reported better eating and sleeping.

The trial was small and not blinded, so we see it as promising rather than conclusive, but it matches what we see in clinic. Results vary between people, and acupuncture is not a replacement for assessment by your midwife or GP.

Medication

Antacids and alginates are commonly used in pregnancy, and your midwife or pharmacist can tell you which are suitable. Acupuncture works alongside them, and some women find they need them less often.

When to call your midwife

Pain high in the tummy, especially just below the ribs on the right, can be mistaken for heartburn but can be a sign of pre-eclampsia. Contact your midwife or maternity unit straight away if you have upper tummy pain with:

• a severe headache
• problems with your vision, such as blurring or flashing lights
• sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet

See your GP if you have difficulty swallowing, are vomiting blood, or have black stools.

What to expect

Your first appointment lasts an hour. We ask about your pregnancy, your due date and your symptoms, and agree a plan with you. Initial consultations start from £80; see clinics and fees for details.

Why The London Acupuncture Clinic

• 25 years treating patients in London, with pregnancy care a core part of our work
• Degree-qualified practitioners experienced in treating women through pregnancy and after the birth
• We work alongside midwives, GPs and consultants
• Early-morning, evening and weekend appointments
• Receipts for insurance claims on request

What our patients say