This woman isn’t pregnant - but her belly is speaking volumes

The truth behind Chelsea BreeAnn Hardesty's condition is something 1 in 7 Australian women live with - and it’s still misunderstood.

Scroll past the powerful photos on Chelsea BreeAnn Hardesty’s “Getting the Better of Endometriosis” Facebook page, and you might assume she’s celebrating a pregnancy.

That beautifully rounded belly, gently curved and soft, could easily be mistaken for a baby bump. But scrolling deeper, the caption shatters that assumption: this isn’t joy - it’s endo belly, the swollen, painful abdomen caused by endometriosis.

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Chelsea BreeAnn Hardesty shared photos of her painfully bloated belly online. Image: Supplied

The photos that stopped us in our scroll

Look closely and you’ll see a woman who appears joyously pregnant - but Chelsea is anything but. What you’re seeing is massive endo belly, a symptom many describe as “looking pregnant” even when there’s no pregnancy at all.

Chelsea suffers with bowel and urinary Endometriosis, her swollen abdomen a visual statement of a condition that’s routinely misunderstood, under-diagnosed, and often brushed aside.

What is endo belly - and why does it happen?

The term “endo belly” describes the sudden, painful abdominal swelling experienced by many people with endometriosis. But it’s far more complex - and debilitating - than a bit of bloating.

While endometriosis has long been explained as the presence of uterine-like tissue in places it doesn’t belong, such as the ovaries, bladder or bowel, modern research shows that’s not quite accurate.

Speaking with Kidspot, Chelsea explains: “The lesions caused by endometriosis are not just ‘misplaced endometrial tissue’ - they’re structurally and functionally different, and don’t behave like the uterine lining at all.”

Instead, endometriosis is now better understood as a whole-body inflammatory disease. It can cause nerve involvement, autoimmune-like symptoms, and in severe cases, structural damage to organs.

When it comes to endo belly, several factors are at play: inflammation from active lesions, scar tissue that restricts movement of the bowel, infiltration into the bowel wall itself, and even pelvic organ prolapse. Add in hormonal shifts, nerve disruption, impaired gut motility, and bacterial overgrowths and the result can be extreme distension, pain, and dysfunction.

For many, this bloating isn’t just uncomfortable - it’s disabling. Bellies can become so swollen and tight they resemble a late-term pregnancy. Some can’t walk properly. Some can’t eat. Some are stretched to the point of skin damage.

Chelsea explains: “This is what chronic illness can look like. It’s humiliating, exhausting, and often ignored. You can’t ‘just drink water’ or ‘take a laxatives’ or ‘go gluten free’ to fix this.”

RELATED: ‘Endometriosis has ruled my life for 24 years’

It’s common - but still unseen

According to Endometriosis Australia, endometriosis affects about 1 in 7 people with a uterus. Yet diagnosis often takes 6–7 years, despite patients seeing an average of seven doctors before a definitive answer.

Symptoms like severe period pain, gastrointestinal issues and fatigue are still widely dismissed as "normal" or misdiagnosed as IBS, anxiety or simply stress.

Why Chelsea’s story matters

Her images stop the scroll, but it’s the raw honesty of her words that pierce through:

“If you’re in a similar fight, you are not alone. Your symptoms are real. Your pain is valid.”

Not only is she shedding light on symptoms rarely discussed, but she’s also highlighting how often you must fight simply to be listened to - especially in a medical system that demands a label before it acts.

“This bloating photo was so much more than a visual,” says Chelsea. “It is the result of years of being misdiagnosed, medically gaslit, and left to navigate a chronic illness that has taken a significant toll on every aspect of my life.”

What to do if you - or someone you love - suspect endometriosis

Recognise the signs

Symptoms to be alert for include:

• Severe pelvic pain during and outside periods
• Bloating, nausea, constipation or diarrhea
• Pain during or after sex, or with bowel/urination
• Heavy or irregular bleeding
• Constant fatigue or unusual body swelling

Track your symptoms

Keep a journal or use apps like EndoZone. Record when symptoms appear, their intensity, and what you were eating or doing - that data empowers you and your GP.

Find a GP who listens - and refer to specialists

See a GP with experience or interest in reproductive and pelvic health. Ask for referrals to specialist clinics or gynaecologists, including public pelvic pain clinics.

Advocate for investigations

If symptoms persist, request imaging (ultrasound, MRI) and insist on a referral to a laparoscopic surgeon if warranted. Early intervention can reduce complications like cysts, adhesions and organ damage.

Utilise support services

Australia offers strong networks:

• Endometriosis Australia: symptom checkers, podcasts, support clinics
• QENDO (Queensland Endometriosis Association): 24/7 helpline 1800QENDO, peer support.
• Australian Coalition for Endometriosis: works with government to improve access, funding and training

Explore treatment pathways

Effective management includes:

• NSAIDs for pain relief
• Hormonal therapy (oral contraceptives, progestins—some on PBS)
• Laparoscopic surgery to remove lesions
• Pelvic physiotherapy, dietary changes (low FODMAP, anti-inflammatory), mental health support

RELATED: ‘My boss wouldn’t have hired me if she’d known’

Beyond the photo

Chelsea’s story resonates because it defies expectations: her body looks pregnant, but it carries pain, not life. It spotlights a condition that demands emotional, physical and medical resilience. Her openness encourages others to step forward.

In Australia, we’re moving forward. Specialist clinics are expanding, access to pain-informed care is improving, and new PBS medications are helping reduce symptom burden. But stigma remains, and the timeline to diagnosis can still feel unreasonably long.

Your next step

If these symptoms ring true - whether for you or someone you care about - start tracking, speak up, connect, and push for answers. Endometriosis may be common - but being taken seriously shouldn’t still be rare.

Originally published as This woman isn’t pregnant - but her belly is speaking volumes