--- title: "Common pregnancy discomforts" description: "Practical help for heartburn, constipation, piles, aches, cramps, swelling and sleep, and signs that you need care soon." url: "https://myruva.co/learn/common-pregnancy-discomforts" language: "en-GB" topic: "Pregnancy" published: "2026-10-18" updated: "2026-10-19" author: "Ruva team" reading_minutes: 4 --- # Common pregnancy discomforts Practical help for heartburn, constipation, piles, aches, cramps, swelling and sleep, and signs that you need care soon. *Written and reviewed by the Ruva team · Updated 2026-10-19 · Pregnancy* ## Key points - Small meals and sitting upright after eating can help with heartburn. - Fibre, water and gentle movement can help with constipation. - Pain in your pelvis that makes walking, stairs or turning over in bed hard needs checking. - Sudden swelling, a severe headache or changes to your eyesight need a call straight away. Heartburn after a meal, hard poo and aching hips can make pregnancy uncomfortable. These symptoms are common, and practical changes or treatment can help. Start by telling your midwife or doctor which symptom is getting in the way of your day. ## Heartburn after food or at bedtime Changing hormones and pressure from the growing baby can lead to heartburn. Smaller meals, sitting upright while you eat and afterwards, and cutting down on rich, spicy or fatty foods may help. Propping up your head and shoulders in bed can stop acid coming back up while you sleep. If these changes aren’t enough, ask your midwife, GP or pharmacist about treatment. Antacids and alginates are options, but some products aren’t suitable in pregnancy. Tell the pharmacist you’re pregnant. Mention your other medicines and supplements too, including iron or folic acid, because antacids can stop your body taking them in properly. Don’t stop a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor. If you think a medicine is making heartburn worse, ask the prescriber to review it. Book an appointment if you have trouble swallowing, weight loss you can’t explain or stomach pain that won’t go away. Don’t assume it’s all reflux. Call your maternity unit now (UK), your obstetric clinician (US), or your doctor or midwife elsewhere if heartburn doesn’t go away with antacid medicine. Don’t wait for a routine appointment. ## Constipation and piles Pregnancy hormones can slow down digestion and lead to constipation. Try foods with plenty of fibre, such as wholemeal bread, fruit, vegetables and pulses. Drink plenty of water and keep gently active. If constipation doesn’t settle, ask your doctor or midwife about treatment. Iron supplements can make constipation worse. If this is happening, ask your clinician whether a different type would suit you. Don’t stop prescribed iron on your own. Piles (haemorrhoids) are swollen veins around the back passage. They can itch, hurt or bleed. Constipation can make them worse. Drinking fluids, eating fibre and not straining can help. Ask a clinician which products are suitable before using a treatment. ## Backache and pelvic girdle pain Contact your midwife or maternity unit urgently (UK), your obstetric clinician (US), or your doctor or midwife elsewhere for back pain in the second or third trimester (the middle or last part of pregnancy), or back pain with fever, vaginal bleeding, pain when you pee or pain in your side under the ribs. Backache is common in pregnancy. The NHS suggests avoiding heavy lifting and keeping your back supported when you sit. A warm bath may also help. Talk to your GP or midwife if the pain bothers you a lot. Being referred to a physiotherapist may help. Pelvic girdle pain can make walking, stairs or turning over in bed painful. Ask your midwife or GP to check it, especially if it’s hard to get around. Supportive shoes, sitting down to get dressed and a pillow between your legs in bed may help. Specialist physiotherapy can include exercises or a belt to support your pelvis. ## Leg cramps and gradual swelling Cramps are sudden sharp pains, often in the calf or foot at night. Moving your legs and ankles gently may help prevent them. Swelling that builds up slowly can be uncomfortable too. Resting with your feet up, not standing for long periods and wearing comfortable shoes can help. Call your maternity team or doctor now for sudden swelling, a severe headache, changes to your eyesight or severe pain below the ribs. These symptoms need checking for conditions such as pre-eclampsia, a serious condition linked to high blood pressure. Get medical care straight away for a leg that is painful, swollen or red, especially on one side. Don’t assume it’s a cramp. ## Making sleep more comfortable The NHS advises going to sleep on your side, either left or right. If you wake up on your back, turn onto your side to go back to sleep. Pillows under your bump and between your knees can make you more comfortable. Relaxing before bed and avoiding caffeine in the evening may help you settle. ## When everyday measures are not enough Contact your midwife or GP in the UK, your obstetric clinician in the US, or your doctor or midwife elsewhere if heartburn, constipation, pain or poor sleep keeps bothering you. Use the urgent advice above for heartburn that antacids don’t help, or back pain with warning signs. Explain how the symptoms affect your day and what you’ve tried. Tell the clinician about any medicines you take and ask about treatment. ## When to get help - **Same day:** Call your midwife or maternity unit now (UK), your obstetric clinician (US), or your doctor or midwife elsewhere for sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet, a severe headache, changes to your eyesight, severe pain below the ribs, or heartburn that doesn’t go away with antacid medicine. Don’t wait for a routine appointment. - **Same day:** Contact your midwife or maternity unit urgently (UK), your obstetric clinician (US), or your doctor or midwife elsewhere for back pain in the second or third trimester (the middle or last part of pregnancy), or back pain with fever, vaginal bleeding, pain when you pee or pain in your side under the ribs. - **Book an appointment:** Contact your midwife or GP (UK), your obstetric clinician (US), or your doctor or midwife elsewhere if heartburn keeps coming back, constipation doesn’t settle or pain in your pelvis makes it hard to move. Use the urgent advice above for heartburn that antacids don’t help, or back pain with warning signs. ## Where you live Services and advice differ between countries. - **UK:** A midwife or GP can check pain in your pelvis and may arrange specialist physiotherapy. - **US:** The Office on Women’s Health advises contacting your doctor if aches, constipation or heartburn don’t get better. - **Elsewhere:** Elsewhere, ask your doctor or midwife about symptoms that don’t go away and which medicines are suitable. Use urgent maternity care for warning signs. ## Sources 1. [Common health problems in pregnancy](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/common-symptoms/common-health-problems/), NHS 2. [Indigestion and heartburn in pregnancy](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/common-symptoms/indigestion-and-heartburn/), NHS 3. [Pelvic pain in pregnancy](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/pelvic-pain/), NHS 4. [Tiredness and sleep problems in pregnancy](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/common-symptoms/tiredness/), NHS 5. [Swollen ankles, feet and fingers in pregnancy](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/common-symptoms/swollen-ankles-feet-and-fingers/), NHS 6. [Body changes and discomforts](https://womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/youre-pregnant-now-what/body-changes-and-discomforts), Office on Women's Health 7. [Back pain in pregnancy](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/common-symptoms/back-pain/), NHS 8. [Urgent Maternal Warning Signs and Symptoms](https://www.cdc.gov/hearher/maternal-warning-signs/index.html), CDC --- This guide is general information to help you keep and use your own records. It isn’t medical advice. If you’re worried about a symptom, or something changes suddenly, talk to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.