That beginning trimester when you might struggle to differentiate a baby bump or just a food baby after a meal or in some cases a serious case of what we like to refer to as "bottom burps". Also known as gas.
Will My Bump Grow?
It is a given that you're going to look a little rounder, after all you're the new habitat for a growing human for 9 months. Your uterus will start to expand during the first twelve weeks and make its way from the size of a pear to the size of a grapefruit. During this time, your baby is still referred to as an embryo by many so will need little to no room at all and will not be the reason for your growth. The reason for your growth is due to the expansion of your uterus, for now anyway. From 12-16 weeks on, your baby is to blame.
The rate at which your bump will grow will vary and depend on a number of things.
👶🏼Number of babies:
If this is your first pregnancy, you're most likely going to show between your 12 - 16 week mark. It is most normal to show after this mark, all depending on YOU as an individual. If this is your second, third or eighth baby, you're most likely going to show a lot sooner than this as the muscles in your uterus have previously been stretched and will still have some elasticity in them.
📏Height:
If you're an individual on the taller side, your baby will have a lot of space to grow upwards before growing outwards. Meaning you will probably show later on in your pregnancy. Meaning if you're on the smaller side, your baby will have no choice but grow outwards, causing a bump.
💪Abdominal Strength:
If before pregnancy, the gym is your best-friend and you are doing ab crunches in your sleep, your abdominal strength is obviously going to be higher than average. Your abdominal muscles may remain strong during your pregnancy, especially if you continue to exercise daily (within reason), and this could be the reason for your bump being masked by your flawless abs.
⚖️Weight:
If you begin pregnancy on the heavier side, you may find a "bump" showing much later as you will have a little bit more room for the baby to grow, meaning it may be a while for you to look pregnant. if you're on the smaller size, you may notice an increase in size a lot sooner than normal. However, this can work in reverse and can often be the other way around. Nothing is actually scientifically proven.
👵Genetics through time:
You can often follow the footsteps through generations and will find similarities in both your pregnancy and the pregnancy your mother experienced. This is not always the case as you are your own person and as an individual, you have different characteristics which can affect the pregnancy you experience.
👬Carrying Multiples:
It goes without saying, your bump is going to be bigger is you're carrying more than one baby. If you're carrying multiples, you're bound to experience your bump showing much earlier as your body is adapting to being a home for not only one baby.
🚼Uterus Positioning:
The position of your baby will change during pregnancy and as this happens the shape/appearance of your bump will also change. The positions below will change the way your bump looks in many ways.
Occipito-Anterior Position: The baby's head is pointing downwards and their back follows the shape of you bump, meaning your baby is facing your back. Your baby is now in the position and their head will be ready to enter the pelvis.
Occipito-Posterior Position: Your baby's head is still pointing downwards, however they are now facing forwards towards your stomach. Your baby may rotate itself into a better position for birth but that's not always the case.
Complete Breech Position: Your baby is in a seated position with their bum facing downwards and their head up under your ribs. Their knees are bent and feet are tucked up just by their bottom.
Frank Breech Position: Your baby is, again, in a seated position with their bottom pointing towards the birth canal. This time your baby has their legs stretched out and upwards in front of their body and feet are kept up near their head.
Footling Breech Position: Again, your baby can be found in a seated position, similar to complete breech. Your baby can be found with one or both of their feet pointing downwards to the birth canal.
Transverse Lie Position: Your baby can be found lounging about horizontally across your belly. This meaning your baby's head is to one side of your body and their feet to the other side.