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Are you only a few weeks pregnant but suddenly feel a few months due to early pregnancy flatulence? You may be waiting for that positive test, wondering if this bloating is from pregnancy or an upcoming period. Here’s why this is happening and what you can do!
My attempts to hide my pregnancy for a few more weeks seemed unsuccessful when I passed the mirror after six weeks.
The night before, my stomach was flat (flat like never before). This morning? It looked like I was five or six months pregnant.
People say you always point earlier and bigger with your second, but I didn’t expect that to happen a little later.
I’m really anxious to hug your baby bump – but man, I was only six weeks pregnant. I couldn’t believe I was actually showing that much – part of me was convinced I must have been pregnant with twins!
Then I remembered hearing about it before – early pregnancy bloating. So I googled.
I definitely wasn’t the only one who went to bed one morning and woke up with a belly the next. Frequent bloating in early pregnancy is very normal (as long as it is not accompanied by severe abdominal pain, excessive diarrhea, bloody stools, or other blood).
It can also be one of the first early signs of pregnancy a mother experiences. Since bloating is common on a menstrual cycle, you may be wondering if you’re pregnant or if Aunt Flo is on the horizon right now.
What Causes Flatulence In Early Pregnancy?
- Hormone Changes – This is the biggest culprit behind this unsightly pregnancy hormone. The rapid change in hormones can affect your digestive system and slow it down, which can lead to gas because …
- Constipation – this is common at all stages of pregnancy. The rise in progesterone levels, which in turn causes the smooth muscles – including the digestive tract – to relax. Since the baby can draw some water from the mother, the stool can become drier – which leads to constipation.
- gas
- Uterine swelling
- Intolerances – Some women have food intolerances that manifest during pregnancy and can lead to gas and bloating.
- Increased blood flow
Additional reading on causes
How I helped my pregnancy recovery
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to “combat” it so that you can fit back into your pre-pregnancy jeans a few more weeks (and just feel more comfortable overall).
There were two things I did that made the bloat go away as quickly as it seemed, and I didn’t look pregnant long.
- Increased water intake – Water really is the solution to so many pregnancy ailments – including gas and constipation. I know it can be quite hard on your stomach during pregnancy. Real citrus packets can be very helpful in making drinking easier!
- You should still increase your water intake during pregnancy to avoid swelling, headaches, etc.
- Especially when you love high up like me. It helps flush out the system and prevent constipation. I’m not sure why exercise helps, but I really feel that way.
- A gallon water bottle could be a good investment
- Exercise – If you’re like me, exercise might be the last thing you want to do. However, it can also be very effective at getting your digestive system moving a little more effectively.
- Always make sure to check this with your doctor
- I didn’t do anything crazy – just a few extra steps or 20 minutes on an elliptical
Here are some great tips / information about exercising while pregnant:
More tips to combat gas
If you’re looking for more meal ideas that might help, check out our FREE Pregnancy Meal Plan below – it has tons of great recipes!
As always, I’m not a doctor or medic. This is only information from my personal experience. While some bloating is perfectly normal, see your doctor right away if you have any cause for concern. Swelling can be a sign of preeclampsia.
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