But my tummy is firm and I didn’t eat anything big today I only ate two small meals

Okay so sometimes your tummy can feel firm or bloated even if you haven't eaten a lot, and it's totally normal. This can happen for a bunch of reasons, and a lot of them are connected to your cycle and just how your body works.

Your hormones literally fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle, and sometimes they can make your body hold onto extra water. This is called water retention, and it can make your belly feel full and firm. It's super common right before or during your period. Also, even small meals can sometimes produce gas, or maybe you swallowed a bit of air when you were eating or drinking, which can also make your tummy feel a little hard.

What you can do

If your tummy feels firm and uncomfortable, sometimes just moving around can help. Go for a walk or do some gentle stretches. Drinking plenty of water actually helps with water retention, weirdly enough, and it can also help if it's gas. Sometimes a warm bath or a heating pad on your belly can feel really nice too.

When to tell a grown-up

Most of the time, this feeling goes away on its own. But if your tummy feels really painful, or if it stays firm and uncomfortable for a long time, or if you also have other symptoms like throwing up or fever, it's always a good idea to tell a trusted grown-up, just to make sure everything's okay.