As for the bloating, I try my best to eat bland foods and avoid caffeine and carbonation those first few days. My mom says they'll be less severe after I go through labor for the first time. When I was in high school, I got my doctor to prescribe strong pain reliever and that seemed to do the trick. It's not as effective as the prescription, but not as much hassle, either. Sometimes I think cramps are just an interesting sensation, sometimes they genuinely annoy me.
Some people say jogging or exercise is good too.