Pregnancy Symptoms

 Bloating During Pregnancy

What causes that bloated, gurgly, gassy, full-of-it feeling during pregnancy — and what every pregnant woman can do about pregnancy bloating.

 

Bloating During Pregnancy — What It Is

In the dictionary, "to bloat" means "to swell up or inflate, as with liquid or gas." (Ah, so that's why you've been feeling like a hot-air balloon.) When you're pregnant, bloating means discomfort — and lots of it, since bloatedness may be one of your most frequent and least charming pregnancy symptoms.

Bloating During Pregnancy — What Causes It

It almost seems that your jeans start to feel snug as soon as the pregnancy test comes back positive — and you can thank the hormone progesterone for that puffy phenomenon. While progesterone is essential for maintaining a healthy pregnancy (it is, after all, the pro-gestation hormone), it also triggers that oh-so-delightful trio: bloating, burping, and farting. Why? Progesterone causes the smooth muscle tissue in your body (including the gastrointestinal tract) to relax. This slows down digestion, giving the nutrients from food you eat more time to enter your bloodstream and reach your baby. That's the good news. The bad news is this slower metabolism can cause bloating.

Bloating During Pregnancy — What You Need to Know

Sorry, but that ate-too-much feeling you're experiencing is likely to get worse as your uterus keeps expanding and pressing on your stomach and intestines. It's a bit of a pain for you (literally), but take comfort in knowing that your baby is oblivious to your discomfort. He's snug as a bug in your womb, just listening to the beautiful gastric music your body is making.

Bloating During Pregnancy — What You Can Do About It

• Eat right and drink plenty of water to avoid constipation during pregnancy, which can aggravate bloating.
• Opt for smaller meals that don't overload your digestive system. Aim for six small meals a day, rather than three large ones.
• Slow down (see, your mom was right). When you eat too quickly, you often swallow air, which can form gas pockets in your belly. Chew food thoroughly to give digestion a head start — not only will you make your mother happier, but your tummy as well.
• Try to relax. Tension can also cause you to swallow air, both during meals and during the day. Don't talk turkey over your turkey sandwich if it'll get you stressed.
• Stick to your pregnancy diet and avoid gassy foods such as cabbage, beans, fried foods, onions, or anything that affects your particular digestive tract in a painful or musical manner. 

Abdominal Achiness During Pregnancy (Round Ligament Pain)

What causes that round ligament pain in your belly — and what every woman can do about abdominal achiness during pregnancy.

Round Ligament Pain — What It Is

As your uterus expands during your pregnancy, you may experience "growing pains" around the middle. The pros call it round ligament pain, and whatever you want to call these pangs (no cursing, please), round ligament pain is typically felt as achy or sharp sensations on one or both sides of the abdomen.

Round Ligament Pain — What Causes It

Your uterus is supported by thick bands of ligaments that run from the groin up the side of the abdomen. As your uterus grows (and grows and grows!) the supporting ligaments stretch and thin out to accommodate the increasing weight. This weight pulls on the ligaments, causing sharp pains and/or dull aches in the lower abdomen. Other causes of abdominal achiness during pregnancy include increased blood flow (you've pumped up the volume to nurture your baby) and the buildup of your uterine lining.

Round Ligament Pain — What You Need to Know

You'll probably notice round ligament pain more when you change positions suddenly or get up from sitting or lying down, or when you cough. It may be brief or last for several hours (yet another mystery of pregnancy). As long as it's occasional and there are no other symptoms accompanying your abdominal achiness during pregnancy (such as fever, chills, bleeding, vaginal discharge, or lightheadedness), there's nothing to worry about.

Round Ligament Pain — What You Can Do About It

Get off your feet, get comfy, and stay there for a while! If that doesn't bring relief to your abdominal achiness during pregnancy, or if the achiness crosses the line into severe abdominal pain, contact your practitioner and let him or her know what you're feeling.