Patient's question:
How big should a small abdomen be at 40 days of pregnancy?? Mine seems bigger than before. Is it normal??Doctor's answer:
Normal, there are many reasons that can cause abdominal bloating during pregnancy. In the early stages of pregnancy, the production of progesterone causes the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract to relax and reduce peristalsis, making it easier for acidic stomach contents to reflux into the lower esophagus. Additionally, the prolonged gastric emptying time means that food stays in the intestines for longer, leading to decomposition and fermentation under bacterial action. This produces a large amount of gas, causing the pregnant woman to feel bloated.