In pregnancy, gastric pH tends to:

• A. Decrease (more acidic)
• B. Increase (less acidic)
• C. No change
• D. Fluctuate without pattern

Answer: (B)

In pregnancy, the hormonal environment, especially higher progesterone, slows the activity of the GI tract and reduces gastric acid secretion. This means the stomach becomes less acidic overall, so the gastric pH increases. The slower gastric emptying also contributes to reflux and heartburn commonly seen in pregnancy, reinforcing why the stomach tends toward a higher pH rather than a more acidic one. Thus, the best answer is that gastric pH tends to increase (become less acidic).