Many women will find out they are pregnant and begin to “show” within days or weeks. Sometimes this symptom, which may also show up before a menstrual period, is one of the clues that lead a woman to take a pregnancy test in the first place. This early bump has nothing to do with the baby or the growing uterus, which is still hiding behind the pelvic bone; it is the dreaded pregnancy bloat. Bloating often arrives with its close cousins, burping and flatulence. Lovely, isn’t it?
Bloating is not exclusive to pregnancy. For example, it is a classic symptom of overeating and irritable bowel syndrome. When you’re pregnant, progesterone slows digestion to make sure more nutrients are absorbed and passed onto the baby. The digestive system doesn’t keep up with your intake, and just like with overeating, the result is bloating and gas. The bloating can even be severe enough that you may have to undo the top button on your jeans. It can be pretty uncomfortable.
There are some things you can do to minimize bloating. Eating smaller meals throughout the day, rather than larger meals three times a day, can give your system the time it needs to digest your food. You should also avoid foods that cause gas, such as cabbage, broccoli, potatoes, beans, bananas, prunes, fried foods, onions and cheese. (Which foods cause gas may vary from person to person.) Avoid drinking carbonated beverages. Drinking plenty of water makes it easier for you to digest your food and flushes out excess sodium, which causes your body to retain fluids and makes bloating even worse.
To make yourself more comfortable, put on a pair of sweatpants with a soft, wide waistband and wear them low on your hips. Before you know it, the bloat will be replaced with a firm, round baby belly and you’ll be feeling “full” for an entirely different reason. In the meantime, think of it this way: at least your bloat doesn’t kick you hard in the ribs, right?