When Do You Start to Show When You're Pregnant?

Pregnancy is an exciting time, but each pregnancy is different for every woman. One of the most exciting yet stressful parts of a woman's pregnancy is wondering when she will begin to show. While some women worry about weight gain, others become concerned that their pregnancy may not be progressing normally if they don't begin to show early on.

Considerations

A full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks. A woman's pregnancy is divide into three trimesters. The first trimester is weeks 1 to 12. Because of the hormonal fluctuations, many women feel nauseous during the first trimester. Some women get sick and have trouble eating, and may actually lose some weight during this time. The second trimester, weeks 13 to 28, usually offers most women some relief. Nausea usually subsides and the mother to be usually has more energy than she did during her first trimester. Weight gain almost always begins during the second trimester. The third trimester starts at week 29 and lasts until the birth of the baby. This is when a woman can expect to see the most weight gain, as the baby is rapidly growing.

Time Frame

Some women go well into their fourth or fifth month of pregnancy with barely a baby bump. Other women begin to show during their first trimester. Either way is perfectly normal. Other factors, such as previous pregnancies, can affect how quickly a woman will begin to show. It often takes longer to show with a first baby. Second babies and subsequent babies tend to cause the mother to show sooner. In most cases, the expectant mother will begin to show by the end of her fourth month of pregnancy. If a woman is carrying multiples, she will likely begin to show much sooner.

Benefits

Although the expectant mother may be dismayed to see her figure changing, a baby bump is a good sign that the baby is progressing and growing. If there are any concerns with the size of the baby, or if the mother is not showing at all well into her pregnancy, the doctor will usually schedule an ultrasound to see the baby inside of the womb.

Misconceptions

The size of a mother's pregnant belly does not determine how big the baby will be. There are many factors that influence an expectant mother's belly size. Some women retain more water than others, and gestational diabetes can cause a mother to gain more weight than normal during her pregnancy.

Warning

The expectant mother should consult with her obstetrician/gynecologist if there are any concerns about weight gain or the baby's size. An expectant mother should never diet or cut her calories, and exercise should be moderate and with a physician's approval.