Whenever you think about pregnancy, the first question that comes to your mind is when do you start showing in pregnancy? All you can think of in pregnancy is a big protruding belly that will have a baby in it.
For some women, pregnancy is a fascinating experience, and they look forward to that big belly bump so that they may show it to the world. While some women love the idea of getting pregnant, they do not want to start showing sooner and keep it a secret for as long as they can.
Different women have different timelines to show their pregnancy. No matter which of these women you are, you must be willing to know when your pregnant belly will start announcing your news for you. Following are the things that will help you predict yours.
When does the baby bump appear?
The first trimester of pregnancy passes without you showing any visible changes in your belly. If you are looking forward to your belly showing sooner, you might start noticing very few changes. Most of the time, the increase in your belly size is not because of the baby but the blotting you get during the first trimester. Such changes will come and go until the first trimester is over.
Typically, women show their pregnancy in the second trimester between 12 to 16 weeks. This is when you would not be able to hide your baby bump behind your pelvic bones. Still, certain factors can heavily impact the showing out of your pregnancy.
Factors controlling when do you start showing in pregnancy
If you want to calculate when you start showing pregnancy, you must consider all these factors. If you are getting pregnant for the first time, you are most likely to take extra time to show your baby bump.
Your weight
Showing your pregnancy is mainly dependent upon your current body weight. Since the changes leading to baby bumps are very subtle, women with extra body weight might not be able to notice them very soon. The protruding belly will hide behind the extra pounds that you wear on your body. On the other hand, women with slimmer bodies will show pregnancy earlier than others. Even a slight change in the size of their uterus would be visible very soon.
Your height
If you are a tall woman, your pregnancy would be dispersed in your longer abdominal space. Height is one of the essential factors that affect when do most women start showing. That is why taller women take extra time to show their baby bumps. Even if they show it, the bump is smaller in the taller women. On the other hand, women with smaller stature will not have extra space in their bodies to hide their pregnancy for too long. That is why women with small height show pregnancy very soon.
Previous Pregnancies
When you are pregnant for the first time, your uterus muscles are tighter, and so are your abs muscles. That is why the first pregnancy takes the longest to show. But, if you are getting pregnant for the second or third time, you might show your pregnancy 3 to 4 weeks earlier than your first time.
Once your uterus has grown in your first pregnancy, it never goes back to the same size that it was again. Also, your abs muscles become stretched because of your first pregnancy. These factors make it easier for the baby bump to show sooner.
The number of babies
This is a very obvious factor that affects the showing of your pregnancy. If you are pregnant with one baby, you will take more time to show it off. But if you are carrying multiples, your belly will start protruding out faster. As the number of babies increases, your uterus will take up more space. Hence, the baby bump will be bigger and will show up earlier.
Position of the baby
Your growing baby also decides when your baby bump will start showing. If your uterus carrying the baby is tilted towards your spine, you will not show your pregnancy for a longer time. On the other hand, women whose uterus is tilted towards the front side of the belly show a bigger baby bump, and it protrudes out sooner as well.
Abdominal Strength
Your abdomen plays a massive part in deciding when you start showing when you’re pregnant. The strength of your core is the measure of the strength of your muscles. If the muscles are tighter and stronger, they will hold the baby in for a more extended period. This will delay the protrusion.
Suppose the abdominal muscles of your body are loose. In that case, your belly won’t be able to hold onto your baby for a long time, and the protrusion will happen soon. Your gym training and fitness will help you maintain your body’s size even while having a baby inside your belly.
Changing your wardrobe
Most women are worried about changing their wardrobe during pregnancy. This is the main reason behind the question, “when does a woman start to show?” If you do not want to spend a lot of money on your clothes, you have to decide exactly how long you are supposed to wear loose clothes. Some women are so excited about their pregnancy that they would buy a lot of maternity clothes even before their baby bump has started showing.
You can continue wearing your old clothes for the first four months of pregnancy. During the fifth month, you can start shopping for new outfits. But keep in mind that you won’t be wearing these clothes for more than a few months.
Another important thing is the increasing size of your breasts. Since most women do not have loose bras at their disposal, this is something that you should invest in. Because your breast size and soreness will not decrease for a long time after your baby is born. Make sure that whatever you get is useable and comfortable for you for a longer time. We don’t want you to end up wasting your money.