Why does the belly swell like a pregnant elephant?
Girls, yesterday my belly swelled like a pregnant woman’s. I was very scared, this was the first time this happened to me. I didn’t immediately go online, I just forgot about food for the whole day and waited for it to blow over. And what do you think? By evening, my stomach swells again, like a pregnant woman’s, despite the fact that I haven’t put a single crumb in my mouth. WHAT'S wrong with me, doctors? Will I live or is this my last post? Google, in response to my question – why does the belly swell like a pregnant woman – advised Sparex. In the first line of the search. I'm not one of these, with advertising. I'm really worried here. And I’m quietly waiting for your answers with help.
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Sheludyakov Sergey
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In the morning my stomach is so flat that I don’t even want to have breakfast or lunch, so as not to spoil it, and in the evening it also increases - gravity, the abdominal organs drop slightly, plus food intake. Well, what we eat also depends - fresh baked goods, white bread, for some dairy products give this effect
My stomach swells these days. Maybe you will soon too? The intestines are emptied and swelled with gases that are not always felt. Plus hormones. When I look at my swollen one, I want to cry: it’s just a ball. It sticks out like at 4 months. It's scary to watch. Then it passes.
Almost everyone's stomach swells with gas in the evening, especially if you don't watch your diet during the day.
In the morning my stomach is so flat that I don’t even want to have breakfast or lunch, so as not to spoil it, and in the evening it also increases - gravity, the abdominal organs drop slightly, plus food intake. Well, what we eat also depends - fresh baked goods, white bread, for some dairy products give this effect
My stomach swells these days. Maybe you will soon too? The intestines are emptied and swelled with gases that are not always felt. Plus hormones. When I look at my swollen one, I want to cry: it’s just a ball. It sticks out like at 4 months. It's scary to watch. Then it passes.
Almost everyone's stomach swells with gas in the evening, especially if you don't watch your diet during the day.
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With such breaks in food, you only make everything worse. The interval between meals should be 3-4 hours, no more. And you really should have taken Sparkex, a very good remedy in such a situation.
Most likely they ate something provocative...
You need to get checked by a doctor, that's best. You need to be checked by a doctor, that's best.
A familiar situation and a familiar remedy, it helps, but it is prescribed by a doctor, it’s better to go to the hospital and get checked first!
What does it mean to watch your diet? Not eating all day? Or, on the contrary, do you eat a lot and often?
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Bloating in various diseases
Flatulence, which causes considerable discomfort to a pregnant woman, can also be a consequence of various pathologies. These often include diseases of the digestive system. These include:
- Acute appendicitis
- Pancreatitis, etc.
In addition, this problem can be a consequence of pyelonephritis, cystitis and other problems. All these diseases can worsen and also progress. Moreover, it is important to remember that they can cause strong and serious complications.
There is also an option for gynecological pathologies. And here you should remember about all the warning symptoms. If flatulence is accompanied by:
- Sharp and severe pain
- Bloody discharge
- Clots in the discharge
This indicates problems from a gynecological point of view and even an incipient miscarriage. You should consult a doctor as soon as possible who can stop the process and maintain the pregnancy.
The stomach is swollen - and you are neither pregnant nor obese
You know the feeling: you just ate a big meal, maybe washed it down with carbonated drinks, and your trousers, skirt, belt have become a little tight. After a few hours (either emitting gases through the north or south hole) most of the discomfort will pass. This type of fullness after eating is usually not a medical problem.
When should you be concerned about a bloated belly and why?
If bloating repeats , disappears and appears again, this is most likely due to the fact that you have swallowed air or you have gas in your intestines. Most swallowers deny this fact because it is not a conscious action on their part, but simply a nervous habit.
Swallowing large amounts of air (as well as water) stretches the stomach and gives a feeling of fullness, which can be relieved by what doctors politely call “belching” (read “belching”). Such people usually say that they “ate something” or that they “have gas.”
In fact, only in a small number of cases does bloating result from the consumption of gas-producing carbohydrates (cabbage is a well-known example). If this is the case, changing your diet and avoiding sweets will relieve the gas problem.
In some "functional" bowel disorders , such as "nervous stomach", "spastic bowel" and "irritable bowel" (in which there are often no physical changes), large amounts of gas form within the intestines, accompanied by stretching and collapse of the abdominal wall. Again, a change in diet or anti-spasticity medications will help.
Warning signs of an enlarged abdomen and their causes
The most dangerous reasons for the appearance of a belly in a woman, like a pregnant woman, are diseases. Among them there are several groups:
- Intestinal pathologies. Increased gas formation, flatulence, irregular or abnormal bowel movements, nausea, as well as other digestive disorders may indicate the development of diseases. Dysbacteriosis, polyps, irritable bowel syndrome, parasites, Crohn's disease - this is only a small part of the gastrointestinal tract pathologies. They are often accompanied by a whole range of symptoms, and an enlarged abdomen is associated with severe bloating. This group also includes polyps and other neoplasms in the intestines that create mechanical obstacles to the movement of the food bolus.
- Pathologies of the biliary system. The most common condition that causes an enlarged belly is gallstones. Due to stagnation of bile, digestion worsens, gases accumulate, and the stomach becomes large.
- Gynecological disorders. An enlarged abdomen is possible with the development of endometriosis and the growth of the endometrium of the uterus into the intestinal cavity and bladder. An enlarged abdomen is observed with large ovarian cysts. The most common cause is fibroids, which are constantly growing. There are cases of tumor growth up to several kilograms.
Diseases associated with malignant processes can be identified as a separate group. An enlarged abdomen can occur with cancer of the stomach, small or large intestine. Excess fluid forms especially strongly in women with ovarian cancer. Among intestinal cancers, the most common are neoplasms in the rectum, which are constantly accompanied by bloating.
Enlargement of the abdomen and preservation of the density of its structures is possible with damage to the spleen. If swelling occurs from below or slightly to the side, this indicates a disorder in the bladder, its stretching or the formation of a tumor.
An alarming enlargement of the abdomen, as in a pregnant woman, is often accompanied by other symptoms of pathology. In case of disturbances in the functioning of the intestines, impurities appear in the feces, dyspeptic disorders, and in cases of gynecological diseases, pain in the lower abdomen appears, uncharacteristic discharge and cycle disruptions.
Endocrine diseases as a cause of bloating
If the belly grows like a pregnant woman, but the woman is not pregnant, the development of endocrine pathologies can be suspected. The endocrine glands are responsible for metabolism, accumulation and breakdown of fat, so if their functions are impaired, weight fluctuations, including spot fluctuations, are possible. Among the most common diseases:
- hypothyroidism - a pathology characterized by a low amount of thyroxine, which is why adipose tissue rapidly increases, and proper nutrition and exercise are powerless in the fight against them;
- diabetes mellitus is a complex disease associated with hormonal disorders and metabolic pathologies; a strict diet helps to correct weight;
- changes in hormonal levels, including aging - due to reduced estrogen, an increase in adipose tissue is possible.
Endocrine disorders require complex therapy using hormonal substances.
Big belly in early pregnancy: causes and alarming symptoms
Changes begin to occur in the body of a pregnant woman from the very first month. This is a completely natural phenomenon. After all, the expectant mother’s body adapts to optimal conditions that should be comfortable for the baby.
Sometimes such changes present “unexpected gifts” to a woman in an interesting position. And, first of all, this concerns the gastrointestinal tract. This is due to the fact that during pregnancy, digestion slows down a little.
In this regard, pregnant women in the early stages often complain of pain in the stomach area, excessive gas formation, bloating and rumbling in the abdomen. All of the above symptoms appear when there is dysfunction of the digestive tract, namely flatulence.
What should a expectant mother do to avoid such a problem, and how to deal with bloating without harming the baby?
What is flatulence?
Flatulence is an intestinal disorder that is accompanied by discomfort associated with excessive formation of gases in the loops of the digestive organ. In addition, there is nausea, colic, belching, an uncomfortable feeling of fullness in the abdomen and constipation.
Normal abdominal size in early pregnancy
Norms for the height of the uterine fundus and abdominal circumference During normal pregnancy, up to 16-20 weeks, the abdomen increases slightly. The uterus in the first trimester has a small volume and takes up little space in the pelvis.
By the end of 1 month it does not exceed the size of a chicken egg, and after 8 weeks it increases to the volume of a goose egg. During the first trimester, she does not have time to reach the pubic symphysis, located in the lower abdomen.
In most cases, in the early stages of pregnancy, changes in the female body are not visible.
The abdominal circumference begins to increase only after the 20th week of gestation (the average is 70-75 cm). Of particular importance for diagnosis is the height of the uterine fundus (UFH) - the distance from the upper wall of the organ to the edge of the pubic joint. This figure is 2-6 cm at week 12, and by the 16th week it already reaches 10-18 cm.
The main causes of bloating in different trimesters of pregnancy
Signs of increased gas formation begin to appear in the first weeks after conception, which indicates that changes have begun in the woman’s body. It's time to think about the quality of nutrition so that flatulence does not turn into a pathological condition - constipation with intoxication. The symptoms must be dealt with - for this there are all kinds of medications, as well as traditional medicine.
The first reason why problems begin in the intestines of pregnant women is a high level of the hormone progesterone.
Its excess amount is produced by the body to prevent miscarriage. The reverse side of the process is atony.
The peripheral nervous system connects the uterus and intestines, so acceleration of peristalsis can cause uterine tone, miscarriage or premature birth.
Nature protects one organ at the expense of another. The functioning of the digestive tract can be easily corrected with the help of diet, water regime, and consumption of foods that promote the evacuation of feces. The woman’s goal is to monitor the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and take timely steps to alleviate her condition.
The second reason is the consumption of foods that are difficult to digest in the digestive tract. As a result, gases are formed:
- hydrogen;
- methane;
- hydrogen sulfide;
- ammonia;
- carbon dioxide.
The small intestine contains bacteria that break down plant foods. This releases carbon dioxide. Hydrogen is the end product of the breakdown of carbohydrates. A large amount of it is released when eating beans, peas, other legumes, and cabbage.
Methane gas is formed in small quantities and only during the digestion of those substances that the body itself created - these are liver enzymes, digestive juices of the pancreas and gall bladder. Scientists have not determined exactly why methane is produced in the body, most likely it is due to intestinal flora - certain types of microorganisms involved in digestion.
Intestinal gases have an unpleasant odor because they contain impurities of sulfur-containing substances found in food products.
First trimester
The causes of bloating and gas formation in early pregnancy are:
- Dehydration, which often goes unnoticed due to the habit of drinking juices, tea, compote or carbonated drinks with a high sugar content instead of water.
- Wearing tight clothes.
- Diseases of the vessels that deliver blood to the intestinal walls.
- Parasitic infections. In the initial stages, a woman’s immunity naturally decreases, so all pathogenic life forms in the body begin to multiply intensively.
- If a woman has undergone abdominal surgery in the past, adhesions may form, which will create big problems in the later stages. In the presence of adhesions, the mobility of internal organs is impaired, and the growing fetus will create tension and tears in the fibrinous tissue, which causes constant pain.
Second trimester
In the second trimester, the fetus actively grows, which causes displacement of the abdominal organs. For this reason, frequent belching, heartburn occurs, even if it has never happened before, and constipation.
Many women are prescribed iron supplements to increase their red blood cell count. Such drugs increase constipation and provoke gas formation. If a doctor recommends eating meat (beef) to eliminate anemia, this also affects peristalsis and the state of intestinal flora.
The stomach often swells in the second trimester of pregnancy due to wearing tight clothes and shoes.
Bad eating and lifestyle habits contribute to the rooting of the problem, so deciding what is more important is urgent.
Third trimester
During this period, the condition of the intestines is affected by a sedentary lifestyle. It is harder for a woman to move, so she prefers to lie down.
The third trimester has the highest rates of constipation and bloating. Heartburn is often observed due to the uncomfortable position of the stomach, on which the fetus presses.
Causes of flatulence
The main reasons due to which flatulence occurs during pregnancy include the following.
Source: https://pol5.ru/zabolevaniya/vzdutie-na-rannih-srokah-beremennosti.html
Poor diet as the cause of a big belly
The cause of an enlarged belly can be gas formation caused by certain foods. In addition, an incorrect diet triggers many unfavorable processes:
- Beer abuse. This drink makes your belly grow by leaps and bounds. Beer contains estrogens, and sometimes beer lovers have a belly that is disproportionate in size to the rest of the body.
- Drinking Diet Coke. After it, you usually want to eat even more, which leads to excess calories.
- Magnesium deficiency. This element controls the level of sugar and insulin; if it is not enough, metabolism is disrupted.
- Abuse of semi-finished products. The chemicals contained in these products provoke the release of insulin, and also lead to a deterioration in digestion, metabolism and other processes. Monosodium glutamate, a flavor enhancer, leads to eating huge portions and stretching the stomach. And refined, low-quality fats only make the situation worse.
Abuse of carbonated drinks, cabbage, nuts and beans also does not lead to good health. These products cause gas formation and flatulence, which contribute to a significant increase in the abdomen.
Poor nutrition is a common group of causes of abdominal enlargement. More than 80% of the population regularly violate diet rules and suffer from digestive disorders accompanied by severe bloating.
What causes discomfort
The woman does not yet know that she is pregnant, but her body is already experiencing global changes. First of all, the amount of progesterone increases, which promotes muscle relaxation. This is a prerequisite for maintaining pregnancy.
If this does not happen, the uterus will not be able to contract and a miscarriage is quite possible. This is what relaxation is for. But it affects not only the reproductive organ, but also all the others. Including the intestines.
This is why gas is often identified as a sign of pregnancy. When the intestinal muscles relax, they retain food, which stagnates and causes flatulence. As the fetus develops, it enlarges and puts pressure on the intestines, which leads to severe gas formation.
And in this regard, women diagnosed with chronic dysbiosis, as well as various intestinal ailments, experience severe discomfort. In this case, the food decomposes, releasing gases.
All this allows us to answer the question of whether increased gas production in a woman can be a sign of pregnancy in the affirmative. Moreover, I know mothers who define their “interesting situation” precisely by this criterion.
I have already told you what most often causes severe gas formation in a pregnant woman. Some, for example, the natural increase in progesterone in the body, are difficult to combat, while others can be prevented.
Everything is determined by reasons, there are several of them:
- in the first weeks of pregnancy, the number of enzymes is reduced, so the process of digesting food is not as active as before, which contributes to the formation of gases;
- lack of physical activity;
- the use of medications that have flatulence as a side effect.
In the first weeks of an uncomplicated pregnancy, the problem can also be caused by poor nutrition. Women with chronic gastrointestinal diseases also experience problems. Knowing the reasons, you can try to get rid of flatulence.
Stress and overexertion
The stomach can swell under stress. Cramps begin, which lead to bloating and digestive problems. This results in impaired peristalsis, flatulence and intestinal distension.
Stress can be triggered by a variety of factors - constant stress at work or a one-time, but very strong experience or shock.
Sedentary work can also lead to fat deposition, especially when forced into an uncomfortable position. Bad habits - smoking, addiction to salty foods and fast food, alcohol - only aggravate the situation.
Methods for solving the problem
To remove a big belly, you need to take a comprehensive approach to the problem:
- Review your diet. Even if the volume is associated with endocrine diseases or other pathologies, the body needs a rational diet. It is necessary to exclude flour and baked goods, animal fats, as well as sugar and store-bought products that contain a lot of chemicals. It is necessary to drink enough water if there are no contraindications for the kidneys.
- Increase physical activity. Sport has a positive effect on all processes, activates metabolism and helps fight fat. However, you need to exercise regularly, according to the rules and taking into account the doctor’s recommendations if you have certain diseases.
- Compliance with the regime. Stress and lack of adequate sleep greatly slow down the weight loss process. This also includes bad habits that contribute to the deposition of fat.
If the pathology is caused by a particular disease, it is necessary to take medications prescribed by a doctor after a full examination and confirmation of the diagnosis. For endocrine disorders, hormones, glinides and sulfonylureas are prescribed when diabetes mellitus is detected.
Intestinal pathologies are treated by taking antibiotics, if the disease is of infectious origin, or probiotics. It is extremely important to follow a diet.
Cirrhosis and ascites require an advanced approach, including surgery and liver transplantation.
For severe diseases that cannot be cured with one method or are incurable disorders, specific methods of therapy are indicated. For tumors, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are required.
Physiotherapy methods are especially effective during the rehabilitation period and in the fight against various inflammatory processes: UHF, electrophoresis with painkillers, mud baths, laser and infrared heating.
Gynecological disorders - large fibroids or enlarging ovarian cysts - require surgical treatment and subsequent hormonal therapy.
What to take during pregnancy for bloating?
If your symptoms of bloating are extremely severe, you should seek medical advice. A specialist will help you choose safe medications to get rid of the main manifestations of flatulence: cramps, colic, pain, involuntary passage of gas. Moderately active probiotics and a number of carminative drugs are usually prescribed. These may include:
- Espumisan - simethicone as an active substance has the property of neutralizing gas bubbles and destroying foam, helping to remove them from the body through natural intestinal peristalsis. It is the first choice for prescription during pregnancy, like any drug with simethicone,
- Activated carbon is not absorbed into the blood and does not affect the development of the fetus, so it can be used to eliminate severe bloating in early pregnancy. The dosage cannot be exceeded, since coal actively absorbs substances entering the intestines and in large quantities can provoke vitamin deficiency,
- Linex - bloating during pregnancy can be eliminated by this drug based on lactobacilli. Beneficial microorganisms will bring the intestinal microflora back to normal and reduce the formation of gases resulting from stagnant processes, including fermentation and rotting. The dose is selected individually, taking into account the characteristics of the patient’s body,
- Iberogast is a natural herbal preparation produced in the form of drops. It contains: Iberian bitters, peppermint, chamomile, angelica, caraway seeds, celandine, licorice, milk thistle, lemon balm. Iberogast has an anti-inflammatory and antispastic effect. It also has a prokinetic effect,
- Bifiform - enteric capsules containing a probiotic (lactic acid bacteria) are allowed in all trimesters of pregnancy. The doctor will select the optimal dosage. You can find descriptions of other probiotics on our website .
Taking any drug during pregnancy requires prior approval from your doctor! You should not self-medicate, as this can lead to negative consequences.
Prevention methods
You can prevent belly fat from poor nutrition by following a diet and exercising regularly. Other causes of impairment require a responsible attitude towards one’s own health.
When the first signs of a particular disease appear, it is important to contact a doctor and, following his instructions, take medications and undergo other treatment.
It is important to take a responsible approach to health, avoid stress, spend more time in the fresh air and move. Even if heavy physical activity is prohibited, exercise therapy, walking, and light yoga are indicated even for serious illnesses.
The problem of an enlarged belly may not bother you for a long time. However, if volume is added only in this area, and other areas remain thin, you should consult a doctor and undergo an examination. After all, dangerous pathologies can be hidden behind painless bloating.
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Abdominal enlargement in the evening is normal
Regardless of pregnancy, by the evening the stomach can become heavier and larger in any woman. The weight by this time increases to 1 kg, especially after a large dinner. This is due to the characteristics of metabolism.
At night, the body goes into a special mode of operation, putting the body in order by the morning. A pregnant woman often experiences increased gas formation in the early stages due to the large amount of progesterone produced, which is necessary to maintain the health of the fetus. However, the same hormone is responsible for relaxing smooth muscles, which leads to slower digestion and increased gas production.
A heavy dinner can aggravate the situation - it is almost impossible to remove this habit from a woman’s schedule, especially if she has a job that does not allow her to eat evenly throughout the day. This approach to diet only increases the load on the stomach, and by the evening the heaviness becomes much more noticeable than before pregnancy.
If in the early stages of pregnancy the belly is distended in the evening, this indicates gas formation. If there is a slight fluctuation in size and there are no additional symptoms, the girl does not need to worry about her condition. But, if your stomach is swollen, hurts, or growls a lot, it is better to consult a doctor with a description of the problem.
Chronically bloated belly like a pregnant woman, nothing helps!
Help, my stomach is swollen every day, so much so that I can’t breathe and when I exhale, it hurts downstairs. I myself am not fat, but my stomach is large and hard. I took various enzymes, sorbents, microflora preparations, nothing helped. Where to go and what tests to do?
Woman.ru experts
Find out the opinion of an expert on your topic
Ekaterina Gomez Suarez
Psychologist, Psychologist-consultant. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Sheludyakov Sergey
Psychologist, Clinical psychologist. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Dyachenko Elena Vladimirovna
Psychologist, Gestalt therapist in training. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Natalya Maratovna Rozhnova
Psychologist. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Sokol Larisa Ivanovna
Psychologist, Gestalt therapist. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Pustovoitova Elena Yurievna
Psychologist. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Muratova Anna Eduardovna
Psychologist, Online consultant. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Slobodyanik Marina Valerievna
Psychologist. Specialist from the site b17.ru
Alexander Trofimov
Psychologist, Online consultant. Specialist from the site b17.ru
