how does a pregnant belly feel in early pregnancy?

How Does the Stomach Feel in Early Pregnancy?


9 First Trimester Symptoms
Guide

Early pregnancy (first trimester) abdominal symptoms include nausea/morning sickness, cramping, constipation, heartburn, bloating, and gas.
Early pregnancy (first trimester) abdominal symptoms include nausea/morning sickness, cramping, constipation, heartburn, bloating, and gas.

Pregnancy begins when a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of the uterus, and pregnancy symptoms may begin in some people as early as a week after implantation. Other people may have no signs other than a missed period until a few months into the pregnancy.

In many women, a missed period is the first sign of pregnancy but the only way to know for sure if you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test.

There may be a number of stomach or abdominal symptoms that occur during the first trimester, such as:

Nausea/morning sickness
Usually occurs about 2 to 8 weeks after conception
Morning sickness occurs most frequently during the first trimester and then goes away, but may continue throughout pregnancy for some women
Lower abdominal cramps
Implantation cramping may occur about a week after ovulation
Stretching and growing of the uterus in early pregnancy can also cause abdominal cramps
Constipation
An increase in the hormone progesterone, which causes the muscles in the intestines to relax, can cause food to pass through the digestive system more slowly
Iron supplements or prenatal vitamins that may be high in iron are often prescribed to pregnant women and may worsen constipation
The growing baby takes up space in the abdomen which can affect normal bowel activity
Heartburn/indigestion/acid reflux
Progesterone can cause also cause heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux because it causes the valve at the top of the stomach to relax which allows gastric acid to escape up the esophagus, especially when lying down in bed
Bloating and gas
Hormonal changes that affect the digestive tract also cause the body to produce more gas, which can result in bloating

What Are Early Pregnancy Symptoms?

Other early pregnancy symptoms include:

Implantation bleeding
Occurs when a 6 to 12-day-old fertilized egg attaches to the inner lining of the uterus, resulting in light vaginal bleeding or spotting
Bleeding is light pinkish or brownish — usually slightly different in color than a woman | s normal menstrual period
Usually happens near the time of a woman | s next expected menstrual period
Only lasts 1 to 3 days
Not all women will have this symptom
Vomiting
Tiredness/fatigue
Tender or swollen breasts
Headaches
Frequent urination
Backaches
Can occur in early pregnancy but are more common later, during weeks 27 to 34
Food cravings or food aversions
Darkening of the area around the nipple (areolas)