We see how some pregnant women have bigger baby bumps and some other women have smaller baby bumps which don’t show that obviously unless they are in their last trimester. In this Pregnancy Care Blog by Infano, let us see what can influence the size of the belly of pregnant women.
A pregnancy belly will probably start to show around 20 weeks but may show sooner or later, and that’s okay. Every pregnant woman always feels like they look bigger or smaller than their friend, sister, or neighbor. What’s normal for one might not be normal for another woman. If you happen to be pregnant for the first time, for example, it may take a while longer to show.
For first-time pregnant women, it may take longer for the uterus to move up and out of the pelvis. In the next pregnancies, the abdominal wall becomes looser, which means that pregnant women will show a baby bump sooner. However, try your best to resist comparing yourself to other pregnant women.
The height and fitness of expectant mothers
According to a pediatrician, the taller the mother the smaller is the baby bump, and vice-versa. If the mother is tall, there is more space available between the lowest rib and hip in the uterus to push upwards. In the case of women with a short height, the uterus starts pushing outwards instead of upward because of the cramped space which makes the baby bump bigger. Some others are of the opinion that a woman’s level of fitness and general abdominal strength may also play a role in the shape of her belly but her body size does not influence the size of her bump.
Position of the baby in the womb
The position inside the womb determines the size of the bump to a large extent. The baby changes its position frequently during the last trimester, which can affect the bump size significantly. For example, when a baby moves from one side to another the bump will enlarge accordingly.
Possibility of multiple pregnancies
The size of a pregnant stomach can be different in the case of multiple pregnancies. While mothers with twins or triplets have a larger bump, mothers carrying a single baby might have a smaller one. This is because pregnant muscle needs to stretch more in order to house the multiple fetuses inside the womb.
Amount of amniotic fluid
Pregnant women who have been carrying excess amounts of amniotic fluid may develop a large baby bump during pregnancy. Where postpartum should be put on a continuum that includes medical reasons and cultural and religious beliefs
Genetics, size of baby
Genetics is also responsible for the size of the mother and baby and this may be carried down in the family. Also, if the baby’s size is big the bump will be big. Some babies are chubbier or bigger than the average size and weight and mothers carrying bigger babies will naturally have a bigger-sized bump.
Medical reasons
Also, there are medical reasons which determine the size of the belly, eg., if a mother has a medical condition like gestational diabetes her belly might appear bigger. A condition called diastasis recti may make the size of a woman’s bump seem bigger. Diastasis recti happen when the left and right sides of the rectus abdomens muscles separate. This creates more space in your belly and the uterus typically pushes out more, making the bump appear bigger.
Better body posture
An upright body posture creates the illusion of a smaller stomach. Conversely, short and drooping postures lead to the perception of having bigger baby bumps.
Resisting the pressure to compare yourself, there’s no universal definition of what a “normal” pregnancy looks like. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to what you should expect during your pregnancy. So, what does that mean? Once again, resist comparison and focus on the unique experience that is your body!
Also read: Pregnancy Care blog and women’s health blog on Infano.