Heartburn in pregnancy: why it happens and what helps
Why your stomach burns in pregnancy, what to change about meals and sleep, why bicarbonate of soda is not the answer and when heartburn needs a doctor.
3 min read
Third trimester
Week 29 of pregnancy
Your baby is the size of a butternut squash. The muscles and lungs are maturing and the bones are taking in lots of calcium.
Your baby is the size of a butternut squash
- Length, head to heel
- ≈ 38.6 cm
- Weight
- ≈ 1.2 kg
Your baby this week
- The muscles and lungs keep maturing.
- The head grows to make room for the brain, which is developing fast.
- The bones take in a lot of calcium, so calcium-rich foods matter for you too.
Your body this week
- Heartburn and constipation are common; small, frequent meals help.
- You may get piles, from the pressure on the lower part of your body.
- Braxton Hicks contractions may come more often.
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General information written by the mam.al editors. Every pregnancy is different and sizes are averages; it does not replace advice from your doctor or midwife. Sources include the NHS week-by-week guide to pregnancy. NHS. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.