Bloating may be one of your most frequent and least charming early pregnancy symptoms, first showing up around week 11 and likely lasting throughout your pregnancy up until delivery day.
Many mums say that, by the end of the 1st 3 months of pregnancy, they feel less bloated and more comfortable after eating.
Bloating during pregnancy is to be expected; it is rarely a cause for concern. Bloating may feel like having an inflated balloon in the belly. Along with constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), doctors consider bloating to be a functional bowel disorder (FBD) .
While some women may not experience any bloating at all or only have it for the first few weeks, some may experience this symptom for their entire pregnancy. However, it typically begins in the first trimester, around 11-12 weeks and worsens around the third trimester as your growing baby takes up space.
Very early signs of pregnancy include a missed period and implantation bleeding (light spotting resulting from the egg implanting in the uterus). You may notice these signs during the first month of pregnancy, and you may also notice some gas, bloating, fatigue, and moodiness.
Some women do notice signs and symptoms that implantation has occurred. Signs may include light bleeding, cramping, nausea, bloating, sore breasts, headaches, mood swings, and possibly a change in basal body temperature.
Lower abdominal pain is normal during pregnancy and is most common between 18 and 24 weeks. Your growing uterus is pulling and straining the muscles that support it. You may feel sharp pains or just a mild pulling sensation. It often occurs when you cough, sneeze, stand up, sit down, roll over, or during sex.
Yes, you probably do have some abdominal swelling, but it's most likely caused by first trimester bloating, not the size of your uterus. Just like when you get all puffy right before your period, the increase in progesterone (and a bunch of other reproductive hormones) that happens with conception can cause bloating.
At five weeks pregnant your belly may be looking and feeling a little bloated. Pregnancy hormones are probably responsible, and this symptom may be accompanied by burping and passing wind, too.
Pregnancy hormones, progesterone and oestrogen that can also be responsible for slowing digestion and constipation can add to the feeling of abdominal bloating/distension. Slowing of digestion also enables for nutrients to be absorbed, which is beneficial to the baby.
In the first trimester, you may get the morning sickness and the exhaustion. Or you might be gaining weight, but there's still no bump. So, you feel fat. And bloated.
Bloating and constipation during early pregnancy
Similar to symptoms of a menstrual period, bloating may occur during early pregnancy. This may be due to hormone changes, which can also slow down your digestive system. You could feel constipated and blocked as a result.
Smaller Meals. Eating 3 well-balanced meals a day can contribute to excessive gas during your pregnancy. Breaking up 3 large meals into several smaller ones helps your body digest your food, freeing you from bloating and gas.
At 4 weeks pregnant, you might experience a bit of bloating and cramping particularly in your abdomen, as your uterine lining is getting a bit thicker, and the swelling means your womb is taking up more space than usual.
The most conclusive way of finding out is to have an ultrasound done by your doctor or midwife to see baby's heartbeat. I say "most" conclusive, because even with an ultrasound, if you are early in your pregnancy, it can be difficult to see or detect a heartbeat with 100% accuracy.
7 weeks pregnant: What to expect
You may start to feel bloated and your breasts may start getting bigger. Your baby is growing, too. Baby's head and face are developing and tiny hands and feet are sprouting. Your fatigue may be intense right now.
You'll likely notice the first signs of a bump early in the second trimester, between weeks 12 and 16. You might start showing closer to 12 weeks if you are a person of lower weight with a smaller midsection, and closer to 16 weeks if you're a person with more weight.
How does a pregnant belly feel in early pregnancy? For most of your first trimester, you may not feel much, if any, difference in your belly. It will probably be soft and look a little bigger – similar to when you get bloated during your period or after you've eaten a large meal.
For some women, their belly doesn't change much during the first trimester. Your belly may look a little rounder, but that's most likely due to bloating more than it is a growing baby. However, by the end of the first trimester, you and your significant other may be the first ones to notice a little bump!
Every woman starts showing at a different time. Your baby won't be big enough to show until the second trimester, but many women get a belly in the first trimester from increased water and bloating. Again, your prepregnancy fitness level plays a factor. Stronger abs means you'll keep your flat belly longer.
A hard spot on your abdomen during the early part of the second trimester is likely to be your fundus, which is the top of your uterus.
“Early on in your pregnancy, it's natural to feel some mild cramping in your lower abdomen at infrequent times as your body prepares for your growing baby,” Dr. Nalla said. As your belly grows, so does your uterus. This may cause you to feel some slight pulling, tugging or stretching similar to menstrual cramps.
Stretching of the uterus
Symptoms of your uterus stretching may include twinges, aches, or mild discomfort in your uterine or lower abdominal region. This is a normal part of pregnancy and a sign that everything is progressing normally. Watch for spotting or painful cramping.