You just found out you are pregnant; a growing abdominal region is something you've likely already noticed. This bump, however, is not your baby, who is still the size of a poppy seed. Rather, you are experiencing bloating as your body adjusts to pregnancy. Your levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone surge during the first month of your pregnancy, which causes the bloating. Discuss your symptoms with your doctor for advice specific to your situation --- and don't take an medications without her approval.
Hormones
Bloating in the first month of your pregnancy is hormonal. Just as you might experience bloating as your menstrual period approaches, you experience it in early pregnancy as the hormones in your body change. Estrogen and progesterone levels increase when you get pregnant; these hormones relax your body's muscle tissue, including tissue in the gastrointestinal tract. These relaxed muscles cause bloating.
Bloating Basics
Bloating might have been one of the first pregnancy symptoms you noticed -- perhaps even before you got that positive test result. Your hormone levels change as soon as the egg is fertilized, so bloating can start very early in your pregnancy. Bloating will give way to a true baby bump over the next several months, so just give this uncomfortable feeling time.
Treatment
While you cannot treat hormone-caused bloating during the first month of your pregnancy, you can take some measures to help relieve the discomfort associated with bloating. Wear loose-fitting clothing around your waist and stomach. Eat smaller meals. If any foods cause you gastrointestinal discomfort, avoid them, as they will only increase the bloat.
Bloating and Gas
If you're experiencing bloating during early pregnancy, you are probably suffering from its not-so-enjoyable sidekick: gas. Your gastrointestinal tract slows down during pregnancy, which can create gassiness in the forms of burps or flatulence. Constipation is another symptom related to the increased hormones and relaxed tissue in the body.
