Early Pregnancy Bloating: Causes, Relief, and What to Expect

Are you bloated all the time during your early pregnancy? If so, you’re not alone. Many women experience bloating in the early stages of pregnancy. This can be due to a number of factors, including water retention, hormone changes, and digestive issues. Fortunately, there are things you can do to get relief from early pregnancy bloating. In this article, we’ll explore the causes of bloating and offer some tips for reducing it. Keep reading to learn more!

You just got that positive pregnancy test – and a few days later, you already look five months pregnant. What’s going on?! Am I bloated or pregnant?

It’s normal to feel and look bloated during early pregnancy, and it happens for various reasons.

What Is Bloating in Pregnancy?

Bloating in pregnancy can be related to the shifts in hormones you are experiencing, the growth of your uterus, and also to your digestive system which tends to be a little more sluggish in pregnancy. 

In early pregnancy, bloating is not your baby since they are so tiny!

Is bloating normal in early pregnancy?

The short answer is YES. For most, this bloating in early pregnancy isn’t usually a permanent fixture that subsides the further along you get (and that bloated belly gets replaced with your real baby bump). But if it’s bothering you, here are a few things to know!

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What Causes Extreme Bloating in Early Pregnancy?

Hormonal Changes

This is the biggest culprit behind this unsightly pregnancy hormone. The rapid change in hormones can affect your digestive system and make it slow way down, which can result in bloating due to…

Constipation

This is common during all stages of pregnancy, but it might be particularly noticeable in the beginning. Here is why

• There is a rapid increase in progesterone levels when you conceive
• This, in turn, causes smooth muscles – including the digestive tract – to relax.
• Because baby can take some of the extra water from mom, it can cause stool to be more dry – hence causing constipation.

You should talk with your doctor about pregnancy-safe constipation remedies. I have had good luck with taking a magnesium supplement. Here are a few to consider (and of course, discuss with your doctor before taking them):

• Calm Magnesium
• Needed Sleep + Relaxation Support (Use code TBM20 for 20% off). I really like this “tea”. It has other calming effects in it, and magnesium does help with constipation. Their prenatal vitamin also has a great quality magnesium. YOu can use the code TBMSAMPLE for a discount on their sample packs.
• Klaire Labs Magnesium Citrate

Gas

Many pregnant women experience extra gas while pregnant due to that increase in progesterone. If the gas is getting trapped, this may lead to bloating, especially in the morning.

Uterine swelling

Uterine swelling, a VIP culprit of early pregnancy bloat, swoops in like an uninvited guest, joining the hormonal dance party and adding to that bloated feeling.

Intolerances

Some women have food intolerances that manifest during pregnancy, which can make cause bloating.

• Lactose intolerance- Having dairy products can cause bloating if you are lactose intolerant
• Fatty foods can cause bloating

Increased blood flow

During early pregnancy, your body kicks into high gear, pumping extra blood to support your growing baby. While this is fantastic news for your little one, it can also have a sneaky side effect on your tummy. The increased blood flow can cause your blood vessels to dilate, making you feel a bit like a balloon slowly inflating.

So, while you’re nurturing that tiny miracle, your body’s also giving you the “fuller than a pufferfish” experience. But fear not, you’ve got this, and soon enough, that bloating will make way for the real star of the show – your beautiful baby bump!

Additional Reading on Causes

The Difference Between Pregnancy Bloat and a Bump

Alright, picture this: you’ve just scored that positive pregnancy test, and within days, it’s like your tummy has decided to host a five-months-pregnant party! You might start to ask yourself, “Is this pregnancy belly vs bloating?”

Most likely, that’s not your little bean’s doing; it’s the first trimester bloating rearing it’s rather annoying head.

Your baby is still super tiny at this point, so don’t worry, you’re not missing any growth spurts. That bloating is just your body’s way of adjusting to all the incredible changes taking place inside.

Most pregnant moms start to recognize a real baby bump between 12-16 weeks, though it may be earlier or sooner depending on how many pregnancies you’ve had, body type, etc. You’ll know it’s a baby bump when it doesn’t seem to ebb and flow with the hours of the day.

When does bloating happen during pregnancy?

So, when does this bloating during pregnancy happen? Well, right from the start! From those first weeks, your body is gearing up for the amazing journey ahead, and bloating can make an appearance due to a bunch of reasons. Hormones are throwing a party, your digestion’s getting into formation, and gas is popping in for a visit.

How long does bloating last in early pregnancy?

You might be wondering, “How long is this bloating party gonna last?” Well, let me be your cosmic pregnancy weather forecaster: for most of us, it’s not a permanent fixture. As time goes on, your real baby bump will start to show up and take center stage. But if bloating’s crashing the party a little too hard, don’t worry – there are ways to deal with it!

My Experience with Early Bloating Pregnancy

I remember my own early pregnancy bloat saga like it was yesterday. One morning, I strolled past the mirror at just six weeks pregnant and thought, “Wait, who invited this big ol’ belly to the party?!” Just a few days ago it was flat (ish) and now I was extremely bloated.

It’s not your tiny baby causing this – they’re still brussels-sprout-sized. Hormones are basically throwing a disco party in your digestion, making it slower than a sleepy sloth. Constipation might just RSVP to this party too, thanks to those hormonal shenanigans.

People say you always show sooner and bigger with your second, but I didn’t expect that to happen until a little later on.

I’m all about embracing your baby bump – but man, I was only six weeks pregnant. I couldn’t believe that I actually was already showing that much – part of me was convinced I must have been pregnant with twins!

Then I remembered hearing about this before – early pregnancy bloat. So, I googled it.

I was definitely not the only one to go to bed one morning and wake up with a belly the next. Frequent bloating in early pregnancy is very normal (as long as it’s not accompanied by severe abdominal pain, lots of diarrhea, bloody stool, or other blood. These are serious conditions)

How I Helped My Extreme Pregnancy Bloat

Fortunately, there are a few things you can to do “combat” it so you can get back to fitting into your pre-pregnancy jeans for a few weeks longer (and just feel more comfortable overall). As a pregnant woman, you can have a specific medical condition. But bloating should not be included because it is basically related to digestive problems which are easy to cure.

There were two things I did that pretty much made the bloat go away as fast as it appeared, and I didn’t look pregnant for a lot longer.

Increased water intake

Drink plenty of water. Water is really the solution to so many pregnancy ailments – including bloating and constipation. I know that it can be pretty hard on your stomach while pregnant, though.

Besides, it stimulates frequent urination. True Citrus packets can be really helpful for making it easier to drink!

You should increase your water intake anyways when pregnant to help prevent swelling, headaches, etc.

Especially when you live at a high altitude as I do. It helps to flush out the system and prevent constipation. I’m not sure why exercise helps, but I really feel like it did.

A gallon water bottle might be a good investment

Have fresh fruit juice if you are done with water intake or feel severe nausea. Make sure of avoiding artificial sweeteners

Exercise

If you are like me, exercise might be the last thing you want to do. But it can also be very effective in helping to get your digestive system moving a little more effectively. Start with gentle exercise. Regular exercise is important for a healthy pregnancy. But if you experience stomach pain, skip it.

Always make sure to clear this with your physician

I didn’t do anything crazy – just some extra walking or 20 minutes on an elliptical machine

In the early stages of pregnancy, a pregnant woman is very vulnerable. She goes through hormonal changes, mood changes, irritable bowel syndrome, etc. You perhaps are not in the mood to exercise. But there are various benefits. Here are some good tips/information on exercise during pregnancy, you will find it very more comfortable:

• The BEST Exercise App for Pregnancy – From First Trimester to Postpartum
• Water Exercise During Pregnancy
• Must-Know Tips for Exercise During Pregnancy

More Tips for Combatting Bloating

Having a healthy diet chart in your food diary can result in a large change. You can take medical advice from your healthcare provider to maintain a healthy diet.

Yoga

Here are some great prenatal pregnancy videos that you might enjoy. Yoga is one of the best natural ways to relieve discomfort and bloating.

Increase your fiber intake

Fiber is fantastic for the digestive system, especially when you are pregnant. Simply increasing your fruits and vegetables can help a lot with this. Chia seeds are a great source of fiber, too.

I highly recommend making green smoothies for this exact purpose. If you click here, you can get three that I LOVE and actually taste good. They are great for anti-bloat.

Eliminate stress

Our brains are so interconnected with our other body systems. Trying to decrease stress can help with digestive issues as well.

Have smaller meals

Focus on having smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. This can help prevent your stomach from getting overfilled and more prone to bloat.

Avoid gassy or bloat-inducing foods

There are many gassy and bloat-inducing foods, including:

• Beans
• Cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli)
• Dairy
• Lentils
• High fiber fruits

This can all be great for a pregnancy diet, but you may want to cut back. These may also increase the likelihood of pregnancy constipation.

Pull out the pregnancy pants or the stretchy pants.

Trust me – no shame in using those. I wish I could justify them even when I’m not pregnant!

Eat more protein

I think this helps a lot of people during pregnancy. Protein can also help with morning sickness. If you want some good options for pregnancy, my top two are:

• Clean Simple Eats (use CLARKS for 10% off)
• Just Ingredients (use TBM for 10% off). This is probably the clenaest protein around.

If you have trouble getting protein in, here are the only protein bars I can stand eating – you can get 10% off with the code CLARKS. I love these and eat them on a regular basis.

If you are looking for some more meal ideas that might help, be sure to grab our FREE pregnancy meal plan below – it has TONS of great recipes!

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As always, I am not a doctor or medical professional. This is just information provided from my own personal experience. While some bloating is completely normal, if you have any reason for concern, consult your doctor immediately. Swelling can be a sign of pre-eclampsia.

I hope that this article was helpful in understanding why early pregnancy bloating happens and what you can do about it. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments!

Other Pregnancy Posts You May Enjoy:

• Is Diarrhea a Sign of Pregnancy? What You Need to Know
• Surviving Gestational Diabetes: Everything I Wish I’d Known
• Morning Sickness Remedies: Believe Me, I’ve Tried Them All
• Heartburn During Pregnancy: Relief, Remedies, and Causes
• 18 Normal (But Annoying) Side Effects of Pregnancy

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