When Do You Start Showing In Pregnancy

The Clothing You Choose

When Will My Pregnancy Start to Show?

The type of clothing that you choose to wear while you are pregnant will also have a big role to play in how early or late your baby bump starts to show. If you mostly wear loose fitting and comfortable clothes, especially those that are loose around your stomach, your baby bump will show later than others. On the other hand, if you wear clothes that are tight and well fitting, especially around your stomach area, you will start to show earlier than other women.

How Much Will You Show In Your Third Trimester

  • In case you enter your third trimester and are still not showing your baby bump, do not panic. If there is something to worry or any cause for concern, your doctor will always attend to the same, so do not worry if your doctor is not worried about the lack of a baby bump.
  • There are many women who will not start to show until quite late in the third trimester. If you are not showing yet, it does not mean that your unborn baby is too small in size or that there is something wrong with your babys growth and development.
  • In some cases, your baby bump may not show till late in your third trimester due to your body type.
  • Another reason that could prevent your baby bump from showing till you are in your late third trimester is the amount of weight you gain while you are pregnant. Regardless of whether you had a slender build before you were pregnant or when you got pregnant, if you did not gain the required amount of weight during your pregnancy, you may not start to show yet.

Should I Be Worried If I Haven’t Started Showing Yet

If you haven’t started showing and feel like you don’t look pregnant yet, don’t fret. There are a number of completely normal factors that may be contributing to how pregnant you look. Showing late doesn’t automatically mean that your baby is too small. In the second trimester, your ob-gyn or midwife will start monitoring your fundal height to track your baby’s growth, and if there’s any reason for concern, they’ll do an ultrasound to check on the progress. Babies who are smaller than expected for their gestational age will get frequent monitoring to make sure they’re doing well.

BabyCenter’s editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you’re seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

American Academy of Family Physicians. 2021. Changes in your body during pregnancy: First trimester.

Office on Women’s Health. 2019. Stages of pregnancy.

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Maternity Pants And Pregnancy Shirts

Once someone has grown to have a baby bump wearing their regular clothing will likely start to become uncomfortable. Thank goodness for maternity pants and pregnancy shirts! Maternity pants are great to start wearing once buttoning those old jeans is no longer possible or starts to feel restrictive. Maternity pants are designed with an elastic band that goes around the belly and the waistline allowing for the baby bump to grow while still allowing for someone to wear regular pants. Maternity shirts are also designed to fit a growing baby bump at each stage throughout pregnancy. Maternity pants and maternity shirts can help pregnant people to look and feel their best while also being comfortable and having the room to breathe in their own clothing.

Feeling Body Positive About A Growing Bump

When Will You Start Showing In First Pregnancy

As excited as you are, a growing baby bump might also make you feel self-conscious. Here are a few tips to boost your confidence:

  • Dont weigh yourself. If youre self-conscious about your weight, constantly weighing yourself can make you feel worse. Fight the urge to get on the scale. If youre tempted, get rid of it. Regular weigh-ins at your OB-GYNs office will inform your doctor alls on track and you dont have to know the number, if you dont want to!
  • Dont neglect maternity fashion. Lets be honest: We often feel good when we look good. So rather than settle on a maternity style consisting of old baggy jeans and old, worn out T-shirts, treat yourself to some chic, yet affordable maternity clothes. Embrace your baby bump and your inner fashionista.
  • Get your hair and makeup done. Along with embracing maternity fashion, you might feel better with a little pampering. Treat yourself and your beautiful pregnancy hair to a professional styling and show off that pregnancy glow!
  • Believe others when they say youre beautiful. These arent pity compliments. So even if you dont feel the prettiest, believe those who say otherwise.
  • Exercise.Working out isnt only an energy booster and a bloat blaster it can also release endorphins, which are feel-good hormones. This can improve your mental outlook, increase your confidence, and help you feel better about your changing body.

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Follow My Babys Growth

For first-time parents, a baby bump can start showing between 12 and 16 weeks. But others may start showing sooner if its not their first baby. Learning more about the first trimester of pregnancy can explain whats happening in the early stages of pregnancy that may or may not be affecting the baby bump.

Cramping And Spotting During Early Pregnancy

From weeks 1 to4, everything is still happening on a cellular level. The fertilized egg creates a blastocyst that will develop into the fetuss organs and body parts.

About 10 to 14 days after conception, the blastocyst will implant in the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus. This can cause implantation bleeding, which may be mistaken for a light period. It does not occur for everyone. If it does occur, it will usually happen around the time you expect your period.

Here are some signs of implantation bleeding:

  • Color. The color of each episode may be pink, red, or brown.
  • Bleeding. Implantation bleeding is usually much less than your usual period. Its often described as light bleeding that never turns into a flow or enough to need a tampon.
  • Pain. Pain is usually milder than your usual menstrual pain. It may involve some cramping. It can be moderate or severe, but its most often mild.
  • Episodes. Implantation bleeding is likely to last less than 3 days and does not require treatment. It can sometimes last only a few hours.

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Accept Compliments About Your Looks

Its hard to agree with someone on what you dont believe. But beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. So open up your mind to compliments, there are not always sympathy-based praises.

Therefore, trust those who tell you youre beautiful, even if you dont feel your prettiest. You could be glowing even when you are self-conscious.

And if no one compliments you, you can use positive affirmations to keep your self-esteem from plummeting.

With A Second Pregnancy When Do You Start To Show

When do you start showing in Pregnancy | Pregnancy Bump Progression

If youve previously been pregnant, dont be surprised if you start showing sooner this time. After your first pregnancy, its not uncommon to grow a baby bump in the first trimester.

A previous pregnancy may stretch your abdominal muscles, and they may not recover to their former size. A baby bump may form early as a result of this adjustment.

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Weight Gain During Early Pregnancy

Weight gain becomes more common toward the end of your first trimester. You may find yourself gaining about 1 to 4 pounds in the first few months.

Calorie recommendations for early pregnancy wont change much from your usual diet, but they will increase as pregnancy progresses.

In the later stages, pregnancy weight often shows up in the:

Hormones can cause the valve between your stomach and esophagus to relax. This allows stomach acid to leak, causing heartburn.

When Do Pregnancy Symptoms Start

Symptoms are a tricky subject as early symptoms arent universal. One woman could feel all the symptoms as early as a week upon conceiving. On the other hand, others only feel a difference after a few months.

However, the usual first symptom is a missed period. Nausea, vomiting, and breast tenderness may follow soon after. After 3 weeks, some pregnant women claim to have a heightened sense of smell. At times, this may lead to strong food aversions when it comes to fish and alcohol.

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Does Fundal Height Indicate Baby Size

You will notice that your doctor will be measuring the size of your belly from the top of your uterus during your 20 weeks appointment. This measurement is called the fundal height and it should match your gestational age in centimeters. For example, if you are 20 weeks pregnant, you should measure in the range of 19cm to 21cm.

Got Multiple Buns In The Oven

When do you Start Showing in Pregnancy?  Mummys Busy World: A ...

Okay, so this one should be pretty obvious. Still, just in case a pregnant woman carrying twins, triplets, or other multiples will generally start showing much earlier than those carrying single babies. How much earlier, you ask? Up to six weeks earlier. Thats because your uterus will expand to create space for the extra fetus.

Note: Showing as early as six weeks isnt necessarily a sign of a twin pregnancy, but if you already know that you have two tiny tots on the way, you may notice that your belly pops earlier too.

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Emotional And Mental Wellbeing

How are you today? If you’re feeling anxious or low, then talk to your midwife or doctor. They can point you in the right direction to get all the support that you need. You could also discuss your worries with your partner, friends and family. You may be worried about your relationship, or money, or having somewhere permanent to live. Don’t keep it to yourself. It’s important that you ask for help if you need it.

When Do You Start To Show With A Second Pregnancy

If youve been pregnant before, dont be surprised if you start showing earlier. Actually, its not uncommon to develop a baby bump in the first trimester after your first pregnancy.

A previous pregnancy can stretch your stomach muscles, and sometimes, these muscles dont return to their original size. Because of this change, a baby bump might appear earlier.

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Fun Tip: Take A Belly Photo Every Week

You may not feel like you are showing at all, or you may feel huge! Taking a weekly belly photo allows you to look back and see when you really started showing, as well as the ability to watch your body change as your baby grows inside of you.

The WebMD Pregnancy app is a great app to use for this. They have a section just for a Baby Belly Slideshow where you can save weekly pictures. This app also has a variety of other features, such as babys week by week development, what body changes you can expect each week, questions to ask at your doctors visits, etc.

When Do You Start Showing Signs Of A Pregnancy For The First Time

When does a woman’s pregnant belly start to show?

It may surprise you, but the number of pregnancies youve had has an impact on how soon you start showing.

In most cases, especially if its your first pregnancy, you wont have a baby bump in the first trimester. However, early in the second trimester, between weeks 12 and 16, youll likely notice the first hints of a bump.

If youre a person of lower weight with a smaller stomach, you might start showing around 12 weeks, and if youre a person of higher weight, about 16 weeks.

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When Do You Start To Show When You’re Pregnant With Twins

If you’re pregnant with more than one baby, you can expect to see that baby bump of yours sooner rather than later. It is likely that, as your uterus is having to expand more to accommodate your babies, that you show before the end of your first trimester. All part and parcel of hosting a little party in there! says Louise.

How Your Bump Is Measured During Your Pregnancy

From around 20 weeks, your doctor will measure your tummy at each appointment, to see when you start showing pregnancy.

This record is called fundal length , and its from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus.

Its used as a rough guide to show how many weeks along you are, and works out at about 1cm per week so if you measure 25cm, then youre around 25 weeks along.

The medical pros can use this basic measurement to gauge if they need to do any further checks on your health or the babys growth.

But they also use this info with caution, because its not perfect and various factors can change it.

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When You Should Worry About Bump Size

By week 20, your doctor will start measuring your fundal length that’s the distance between the pubic bone and the top of the uterus. Typically, this number should correlate with your week of pregnancy.

So, for example, if your fundal length is 25 centimeters, you should be in or near your 25th week of pregnancy.

If, however, your fundal length is too high, it could indicate growth problems with the baby like fetal macrosomia, which is when a baby is significantly too large.

On the flip side, if your fundal length is too low it could mean restricted growth, which is when the baby isn’t large enough. While not all small babies suffer from restricted growth, it’s worth checking in with your maternal health practitioner if you are concerned.

Doctors caution, though, that the fundal length isn’t a perfect measurement, and variables like weight or carrying multiples babies can change your numbers significantly.

What If Youre Not Showing And Feel Like You Should Be

When Will You Start Showing? Find Out When You

Even though every woman is different, you might have concerns if youre not showing yet. Understandably, you want to have a healthy baby and pregnancy. But showing a little later doesnt typically indicate a problem.

Remember, uterus position and shape, frame size, and fitness level prior to pregnancy can all contribute to when you show. And some people just never appear very pregnant. If this is you, you may be hearing scary comments from others comments you shouldnt have to endure. Trust your OBs guidance, and not what you see in the mirror, when it comes to the health of your pregnancy.

Its also possible that you simply have a smaller baby, although still healthy. If you have any concerns, though, speak with your doctor.

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What If Youre Not Displaying But Feel Compelled To

Even though every woman is different, you may be concerned if you havent shown it yet. You understandably want a healthy pregnancy and kid. However, showing up a little later isnt always indicative of a problem.

Remember that the position and shape of your uterus, your frame size, and your degree of fitness previous to pregnancy can all influence when you show.

And other women do not look to be very pregnant. If this describes you, you may be receiving frightening comments from others that you dont need to hear. When it comes to the health of your pregnancy, trust your midwifes advice rather than what you see in the mirror.

Its also possible that you had a smaller but healthy baby. However, if you have any concerns, talk to your doctor.

It might be exhilarating, but sometimes a little odd, to go from no baby bump to a huge tummy. Its crucial to keep in mind that everyone begins to show at different periods. Bump development can occur later in the first trimester and quicker in the second pregnancy or if youre expecting twins.

Consult your doctor if you have any concerns about bump progression. And take pleasure in your developing physique as many parents will tell you, this is a unique period that, in retrospect, passes far too quickly.

When Will My Baby Bump Show

Typically, youll start to show in your second trimester, when you are somewhere between 16 to 20 weeks. However, you know your body better than anyone and you may notice changes to your belly much sooner. If youre petite or didnt carry a lot of weight pre-pregnancy, you could start showing as early as 12 weeks. If youre pregnant with multiples, you could potentially start to show at the end of your first trimester. Finally, if this baby is not your first, then you may also start showing sooner than a first-time parent.

Healthcare professionals will often compare your growing baby to the sizes of a variety of fruits to help you visualize how big your growing baby is at different stages of pregnancy. At 16 weeks, your baby may be the size of an avocado. By 20 weeks, he or she might be the size of a banana, and at 24 weeks they could be around the size of a cantaloupe. Your baby will be the size of an eggplant at 28 weeks and then the size of a pineapple at 35 weeks. At 40 weeks, your baby could be as big as a watermelon!

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