So my most obvious sign that I’m pregnant (to others) is that my belly sticks out so far right from the beginning that it’s terribly difficult to hide.
Most of my coworkers figured I was pregnant before I even announced it officially past the three-month mark of safety. My family and neighbors fully expect me to share the baby’s sex already, assuming that I’m far along enough to know.
I had one gal at work asked if I was having twins because of my size! I’m a petite thing, and YES I stick so far out my brother likes to call me HUGE when I’m pregnant.
But I’m only 17 weeks along….just the time when mothers usually START to show their little bumps. I clearly have early pregnancy bloating. What gives?
Early Pregnancy Bloating – Progesterone Is The Problem
A natural hormone called progesterone starts to rise during pregnancy above levels we’re used to. (There’s a nifty graph in this post here.) And it’s REALLY good at slowing down your smooth muscle in your digestive tract. This means that your food moves slower through your intestines.
Here’s a quick video that you may enjoy about it.
Have you woken up in the morning, lying there on your back, and you can start feeling your bowels just gush around? This morning I looked at my belly and could literally see bumps just rolling around under my skin. It’s kind of creeping looking actually.
If this is your first pregnancy, you may mistake this for baby movement. Sorry to disappoint you. That big and bubbly and that close to the surface isn’t the baby until you are MUCH farther along.
What Makes It Worse?
Plenty of things:
- not exercising
- not drinking enough water
- eating large meals
- eating foods that normally cause gas and bloating in the first place
- eating processed foods, especially sugar
- not eating balanced meals
- eating trigger foods that normally cause you problems (dairy for me)
- drinking too much caffeine (I just avoid it altogether)
- eating greasy or fatty foods
- eating spicy or highly seasoned foods (so anything in a restaurant)
- eating too quickly
You may find that in the morning you look perfectly normal, but then throughout the day you gradually expand. This happens to me EVERYDAY!
Or you may have one day where you seem just fine, then the next you’re looking 6 months pregnant and it’s a shocker! I hate it too…
But there’s not much we can do about it sometimes.
Can I Make It Go Away?
- exercising regularly
- eating the right things
- eating slow and steady throughout the day
- avoiding the carbonated sugar beverages
Yes, it can be very frustrating. I know I was when I was pregnant the first time because I wasn’t used to the expansion of body and mind that was destined to prevail.
But now…it doesn’t bother me. Sure it’s annoying when I have to explain to some who aren’t very educated about such things that I’m actually quite normal. Many even joke with me that there’s no where else for all of it to go–which is quite true, and it doesn’t irk me anymore.
Control Your Worst Symptoms With This Miraculous Pregnancy Bundle
I’ve accepted it and actually use it to my advantage sometimes….putting on the sweat pants as soon as I get home; not caring about trying to ‘suck it in’; getting my husband to carry things more often for me; sitting with one leg propped under me at church.
Quick post today, but I want to know that this doesn’t affect JUST me! Have you had problems with bloating early in pregnancy too? Love the skin you’re in.
Occasional abdominal discomfort is a common pregnancy complaint, but it can also be a sign of a serious problem. Severe or persistent abdominal pain during pregnancy is never normal. The point when one experiences abdominal pain or cramping along with spotting, bleeding, fever, chills, vaginal discharge, and faintness, is when the doctor must be visited. Symptoms such as discomfort while urinating, nausea, and vomiting, or the pain not subsiding after several minutes of rest, also require a doctor’s exam.
I found several other causes of this pain in this article – http://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/abdominal-pain-during-pregnancy-causes-treatments
Hope it will help someone
Thanks Elena! You’re quite right about the more severe symptoms to look for. Thanks for sharing!
Omg this explains exactly what I am experiencing! I’m freaking out too because I am only a little over 5 weeks pregnant (first time) and already am having such bad bloating… it’s hard to want to eat.
It helps to read your perspective, to go with it… and to hear your suggestions.
Thank you 🙂
You’re welcome Liz! It makes it hard to hide a prego belly if you want to keep it under wraps. But at the same time, it helps you get used to the more permanent belly that will be coming, and not be anxious about it.
Let me know how I can help as your pregnancy moves along! 🙂
What a lovely site. very interesting, keep up the good work
Thanks Sharon.
Very informative and to the point website. I agree with you that eating more healthy foods in small portions, without anything too spicy, getting sufficient exercise and drinking water is helpful.
Just of few of these things can do wonders for some mothers. Thanks for your comment, K.
I’ve only been pregnant once, but everyone I know with more than one child says the same; they get bigger every time they are pregnant.
Marie
That’s sure been the truth for me, nothing is absorbed inward at all. Thanks, Marie!
Thank you very valuable info, I know my wife will appreciate this! 🙂
Awesome, I would be glad to help her with any questions she may have. Thanks for sharing Jaylon!
Wow very informative, I’ll definetly be sharing this w some friends that need this information 🙂
I appreciate it, thanks so much!
Never had a baby, but someone I know is always pregnant. It’s nice to be educated on exactly what happens to women when they get pregnant. I mean, I hear gross stories from my mom (she’s pretty graphic and it horrified me enough to not want kids ever), but to actually be educated is nice. I’ll know how to treat my friends. I won’t tease them next time.
I know your friends will appreciate you more for that. 🙂
If you have anyone you know that has questions or needs help, send them my way. Thanks Kinya!
I found that staying active and exercising, even if it was just a brisk walk, helped me a lot. It helped me feel better even when I started out feeling big and bloated in the morning. There’s not much you can do about the belly, but I agree that you should embrace it… and ‘love the skin you’re in’ as you said. Be proud to show that bump! After all, a miracle is happening inside there. Congrats on baby #3. 🙂
I’m glad that staying active helped you, Kristy. That’s the one thing that new mothers need to hear because it really is your best investment in your pregnancy and birth experience, let alone entire physical life.
Honestly, when I’m bloated it’s a nice excuse to just relax and not worry about how I look, figure-wise. Thanks for sharing!
Love your site and I think this a great resource for expecting mothers. It is always nice to hear others pregnancy stories just to know you are not alone with what goes on with your body 🙂 My kids are grown now but I wish these resources were here all I had were books lol
Nichole
Help me share with others. I hear that a lot, mothers that wish they’d known so many things beforehand. I appreciate it Nichole, thanks!
hi Sarah
as usual very interesting and entertaining post! 🙂
Love that you share your own experience on your site, it makes it so much more relevant! I am sure pregnant ladies out there are appreciative. I had not idea this could happen when pregnant. Kind of gross yes but fascinating what the body can do!
Gotta keep things lighthearted. 🙂
Gross but fascinating is the right way to put it, thanks Emily!
Good information on what makes bloating in pregnanacy worse and better. Spicy foods was the food that made me bloated when I was pregnany. Thanks for this information.
For me, it’s just eating anything really that makes me bloat. So I don’t worry too much about spicy foods. Now processed things on the other hand certainly make my heartburn worse. It affects everyone a little differently. Thanks, Tracy!