Best pregnancy-safe heartburn relief

How do the options compare?

Compares each step by pregnancy safety evidence and where it typically fits in a step-up approach, not by speed of relief alone.

• Heartburn touches roughly two out of three pregnancies, and it's usually managed step by step, starting with lifestyle changes and moving up to medication only if needed. 1
• A calcium-based antacid like Tums, used at the amount on the label, isn't linked to a higher chance of birth defects, but taking more than that can raise the chance of a lower birth weight baby. 2
• Pregnancy calcium intake from food, a prenatal vitamin, and antacids combined should stay under about 2,500 mg a day for adults (3,000 mg for pregnant teens), so daily Tums use is worth mentioning at a prenatal visit. 3
• Famotidine, the medicine in Pepcid, hasn't been linked to a higher chance of birth defects in the studies done so far, which is why it's often the next step when an antacid alone isn't enough. 4
• Omeprazole, sold as Prilosec, is the most studied heartburn medication in its class during pregnancy, and the research so far hasn't turned up a higher chance of birth defects or miscarriage. 5

Which option makes sense?

Daily antacid use is common and generally fine at the labeled dose, but it's worth mentioning at a prenatal visit since it counts toward your total calcium intake for the day.

Disclosure: Pregnancy Smart makes supplements in this category. The comparison above is written to inform, not to steer readers toward or away from our brand.