When will my pregnancy start to show?

Pregnancy comes with a variety of gifts you didn’t ask for: morning sickness, maternity bra purchases, and splitting headaches. When you fall pregnant there are probably things missing that you thought would be there – like the first sign of your bump! But that will actually take some time to appear. 

The bump can be the physical proof you need to feel excited about the pregnancy, or to help it all feel a little more real. For others, it might be a relief to have their pregnancy hidden for a bit longer from their coworkers, friends, or family members. Either way, you might be wondering when you can expect this exciting milestone?

When will my bump appear?

Around the start of the second trimester is when you might see the first signs of your growing belly. Don’t worry though if you haven’t seen anything yet, many mamas don’t show until around 16 weeks or even later. Remember every body and every baby is different.

There are multiple reasons for the varying times of growth:

1. Your age

If you’re an older mother you may be more likely to show earlier. This can often be due to younger mums having stronger stomach muscles that hide the bump a little longer. But of course, this isn’t always the case.

2. Your size

Height and body shape matter! A smaller and more narrow mum is going to start showing quicker than a taller woman since there is more space to grow into. 

3. Your genes

Speak with your mum, auntie, and grandma to see when they started to show. If they were late bloomers, you might be too!

4. If you’ve already had a baby 

A first-time mum is less likely to show quickly than an experienced one. A current mum’s uterine muscles have already gone through the wringer once before so they are much more prepared to grow the 2nd baby. 

5. The position of your uterus 

Depending on where your uterus is lying, your bump might not be visible yet. Typically, when your baby is leaning backwards toward your spine, the bump is less detectable.

6. Your weight

If you carry a bit of extra weight, your bump might be concealed in the beginning of your pregnancy. 

What does this mean for the growth of my baby?

This means pretty much nothing! Everybody is different and if you’re showing or not, it does not correlate to the growth of your little one. Your doctor will let you know how your baby’s progress is going so don’t fret over the size of your belly just yet! Soon enough you won’t be able to see your feet and this sign you were looking for will be long gone. 

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