Does weight/size really matter when it comes to when you get a bump?

[sandandsun]

Okay, so I'm a little over 14 weeks pregnant. I already have a small bump - my husband, mother-in-law, and even one coworker who knows I'm pregnant have pointed it out. It can be disguised by certain clothes, but it's there.

I'm a size 2 and fit. I was always told "you won't show until you're 5 months!" "Thin women don't show early." etc. etc. And this is my first pregnancy.

Honestly, I like the bump. I think it's cute. But I'm confused! I have a friend who is probably 10 lbs. heavier than I am, and at 5 months, her stomach is nearly flat!!

Does "showing" really have anything to do with size, or are there other factors? I feel like I'm showing early for someone my size...at least from what I've been told! I guess it's a good thing, but it was unexpected!

 

[labgal]

I can only speak from my personal experience, and every pregnancy is different.

I'm also a size 2, 5'4'' 110-115 pre preg and a daily exerciser. I started showing a bump at 12 weeks, I'm 17 weeks now and noticably pregnant through any clothes I wear. My coworkers have commented on how big I've gotten, and how I'm all bump (I'm told...Unless they're just being nice! ).

That said I have a coworker who is 5 feet and was 100 lbs when she got pregnant and didn't show until 7 months. There's no normal in pregnancy!

And oh, forgot to mention... I'm a first timer, too. Enjoy your bump!

 

[babymamaagain]

Agreed. No normal. You pop when you pop!

 

[Anaconda]

I don't think it matters at all. You pop when you pop! Just because you have the flattest tummy doesn't mean you will pop sooner or latter. Same with heavy set women. And just because you show sooner or later the first time around doesn't mean it'll be the same second time around.

It all depends on baby and what your body wants to do

 

[sandandsun]

I can only speak from my personal experience, and every pregnancy is different.

I'm also a size 2, 5'4'' 110-115 pre preg and a daily exerciser. I started showing a bump at 12 weeks, I'm 17 weeks now and noticably pregnant through any clothes I wear. My coworkers have commented on how big I've gotten, and how I'm all bump (I'm told...Unless they're just being nice! ).

That said I have a coworker who is 5 feet and was 100 lbs when she got pregnant and didn't show until 7 months. There's no normal in pregnancy!

And oh, forgot to mention... I'm a first timer, too. Enjoy your bump!

Good to know I'm not alone!

Thanks, everyone! People were always telling me I wouldn't show until I was closer to 18-20 weeks, so I was really shocked to already be showing when I hit 13 weeks! I haven't even gained weight yet, but it's just popping out and it's not bloat! I do like it, though - I think it's cute and reminds me that I'm actually pregnant. It really is interesting to see how different everyone is...

 

[londonangel]

I'm a size 8/10 UK (think that is about a 4 in the US?) and have been showing since 10 weeks. I weigh about 118 pounds normally (I'm 5 foot 6). This is my second pregnancy and with my first I don't think I showed really even at 16 weeks. I suspect it matters more whether you've had a pregnancy before but not that much. Where it makes more difference, in my opinion, is when they measure your bump. I got in such a panic at 31 weeks with Eleanor because I saw the consultant and he said bump only measuring 27cm so sent me for ultrasound - the tech said those who are very slim before pregnancy always end up being the ones having ultrasounds at that stage because they measure too small and generally the babies are fine, it's just the women have less fat so the measurements are smaller.

 

[Kantny09]

I was a size 4ish pre-pregnancy and my bump popped around 11 weeks. Now you can most definitely tell I am pregnant. I also got all kinds of comments from coworkers and others about how big my belly is..."are you sure there aren't two in there?" etc. This is also my first baby so I was surprised to be showing so soon. Now I love it and the 8.2lbs that I have gained so far seem to be all belly and boobs as everything else on me has stayed the same! My DH even made a comment this morning on how I am not getting bigger anywhere else lol. I think it is just different with each person and each pregnancy! I am proud of my sweet bump and am actually glad I started showing before 16-18 weeks like everyone said...I guess I jst FEEL more pregnant this way lol.

 

[moter98]

I think it's different each pregnancy. I was 107lbs at 5'3" at start of this pregnancy and people still didn't know I was pregnant at 18 weeks. It took me the longest to pop this time and I've had two babies before. No one was more shocked than me I think as I was expecting to show much sooner being it's my third. Each time it has been different for me.

 

[BethanyNBump]

I am 5'10 and had a little belly before getting pregnant. My stomach popped at 15w and I am a FTM. I haven't gained any weight but my pre-pregnancy jeans no longer fit.

 

[emeeorevan]

Unfortunately it really does just depend on the person and baby. Some women really do just "show" earlier. In my experience, genetics and baby size/health are also a factor. I was pre Prego 95lbs with DS#1 and was showing before end of first trimester. I did gain 50lbs with him but that just brought my up to 145 total which is only about 10lbs overweight for a nonpregnant person my size according to my doc. My baby was born 8lbs at 37 weeks completely healthy!! And I was a healthy 125 the day I left the hospital! With ds#2 I was about 130 pre pregnancy weight and gained 40 lbs once again baby was born healthy 9lbs at 38 weeks!! I was 138 when I left the hospital. I have to say I did find it more difficult to maintain my weight after #2 but I was also getting older :'( I gaines some weight mu first year teaching (second career) and was 145 US size 4 when I found out about #3. I feel like I always show early and gain weight quickly, but I never changed my diet. My babies seem to be big no matter what I do and I blame my DH as he was a 9 lb baby and is a healthy (muscular) guy. (ex military, super hot! Off topic but standing near him while Prego makes me feel unattractive cause he is so much hotter looking!) there really is no right answer. You are how you are. Eat healthy, exercise moderately and live a healthy lifestyle. And don't worry. About weight or size. You will be just right foe what your baby should be!!

 

[LuxAeterna]

There are many factors. Height, pre-preg weight (mainly carried in the midsection), torso length, number of pregnancy, how you're measuring (on target or ahead of dates), etc.

I'm 5'9.5" and a size 14/16 (US). I was a 12/14 pre-preg. I have a longish torso, and this is my fifth baby. I had a little tummy pooch before the pregnancy, and I typically measure ahead (always have by at least 3 cm/weeks). So, right now, my fundus measures 25 cm (a few weeks "ahead"), and I don't always look noticeably pregnant to other people. Depending on what I wear and my posture, and what I've eaten (bloated), I may or not look 22 weeks pregnant.

I carried my girls on the smaller side (compact), and I was heavier with them. Even just before I had them, I didn't look like I was near my due date. My eldest was 9 lbs at 38w, and second daughter 8 lbs. 9 oz at 39w. But I based on how I carried them, seeing me straight on or from the side, one couldn't tell I was term or that they were bigger than average.

 

[sandandsun]

Thanks for the responses, everyone! It does make it seem more "normal," as it sounds like everyone's experiences were different! I'm not worried about it (though I would like to hide the bump from my coworkers a little longer - right now, I'm using flowy tops and dresses to do the trick!). I was just surprised to see someone who is bigger than me show SO much later! I guess it's all truly individual.

I told my boss the big news yesterday and she had no idea! She said "you're so thin, no one would ever know." But I believe the opposite! Everyone is used to seeing me wear form-fitting clothes, and when I do, you can definitely see the bump because everything else looks the same except my tummy! That's why those clothes have been kept way in the back of my closet for now! lol I'm personally trying to wait until 18 weeks after my scan to tell coworkers, and I thought it would be easy. Had no idea I'd already be trying to hide a bump!

 

[hope&faith09]

I don't think there is a normal! I am 5ft11 and a size 12 - 21 weeks and still not notably showing! I can tell my body is changing but even people at my exercise class havent noticed I am pregnant yet!

 

[AMB1216]

I think theres a lot that comes into it. I lost a good bit of weight in my first trimester and felt like I started to show around 10 weeks (most people say it was bloat but I'm like PSH) I'm also extremely short (4'11) with a shorter torso and my uterus is tilted forwards. I think those things all have something to do popping as well as baby and where he/she likes to hide. I'm also over weight but still seem to have an obvious bump.

 

[sandandsun]

I think theres a lot that comes into it. I lost a good bit of weight in my first trimester and felt like I started to show around 10 weeks (most people say it was bloat but I'm like PSH) I'm also extremely short (4'11) with a shorter torso and my uterus is tilted forwards. I think those things all have something to do popping as well as baby and where he/she likes to hide. I'm also over weight but still seem to have an obvious bump.

My uterus is also tilted forward! I've always been told by gynecologists that my "uterus is way up front!" I never knew what they meant, but I guess that kind of makes sense regarding why I'm showing earlier. I know someone with a retroverted uterus takes much longer to show.

 

[moter98]

I think theres a lot that comes into it. I lost a good bit of weight in my first trimester and felt like I started to show around 10 weeks (most people say it was bloat but I'm like PSH) I'm also extremely short (4'11) with a shorter torso and my uterus is tilted forwards. I think those things all have something to do popping as well as baby and where he/she likes to hide. I'm also over weight but still seem to have an obvious bump.

My uterus is also tilted forward! I've always been told by gynecologists that my "uterus is way up front!" I never knew what they meant, but I guess that kind of makes sense regarding why I'm showing earlier. I know someone with a retroverted uterus takes much longer to show.

Hey I have a retroverted uterus! Maybe that's why I didn't show for so long when others seem to.