Being pregnant is a very special moment in a woman’s life, full of new sensations, emotions, thoughts, and above all, changes1. The most striking is, without a doubt, the growing belly, but what many people don’t know is that not all bellies grow the same way during pregnancy. And these differences can lead to many questions and even concern. Why is my belly different from the others I’ve seen? Does this mean I have a problem? Does it indicate the baby’s gender? All of these doubts are common and happen quite frequently, which is why today we’ll talk about why baby bumps can look different during pregnancy. But before we get into that, it’s important to understand how a woman’s belly grows when she is pregnant.

When Does the Belly Start to Grow During Pregnancy?

It’s common for some women to feel worried when they realize their belly looks different from other pregnant women, but we need to know this is normal! Some bellies grow more and faster, others stick out more, so they are all different and vary from one woman to another. For moms who have already had a child, the belly tends to grow faster, because the body has already gone through this process in a previous pregnancy. However, first-time moms usually have to wait longer to see their belly begin to show. It’s also common to be fooled by a growing belly during the first weeks, but this is nothing more than hormonal bloating in the abdominal region, which is also accompanied by bloating in the breasts, face, and other parts of the body. The belly actually begins to show usually after the third month, but as mentioned earlier, this all depends on the woman’s body and her development.

What Influences the Size of the Belly During Pregnancy?

It’s important to know that during pregnancy, there are many factors that influence the size of a pregnant belly — whether it grows more or less, whether it’s pointy or rounded, all of it will depend on the woman’s body during that pregnancy. Here are some of these factors:

  • The woman’s body type
  • The abdominal muscles
  • Uterus positioning
  • The stage of pregnancy

The Woman’s Body Type

The pregnant woman’s body type has a big impact on belly size during pregnancy. The food she eats, her weight before pregnancy, all of this will influence the size of her belly. Even the size of her hips can say a lot about the belly’s size.

Abdominal Muscles

Women who exercise regularly tend to have firmer, stronger abdominal muscles, and this can cause their belly to appear smaller and take even longer to show. This doesn’t mean anything is wrong, it’s just a different baby bump.

Not many people know this, but the position of the uterus can also have an effect on the size and shape of the belly during pregnancy. Women who have a uterus that tilts forward usually see their bump appear sooner, while those whose uterus is tipped back may take longer to show.

The Stage of Pregnancy

Another point that seems obvious but is important to mention: during pregnancy, there are times when the belly grows faster and other times when it hardly grows at all. This is closely linked to the stage of pregnancy. In the last months the belly tends to grow a lot more, while at the beginning it’s normal for it not to grow and only start showing in the fourth or fifth month. These are just some of the factors that create different baby bumps during pregnancy. It’s good to be aware of them to understand there isn’t one ideal belly shape or size — everything depends on how the pregnancy develops.

Does the Size of the Belly Indicate the Baby’s Size?

In most cases, yes2. However, you need to take all the factors mentioned above into account, since those also affect the size of your belly. Besides, intestinal gases are very common during this period and give volume to the abdominal area. To be sure, you should talk to your doctor, who through some measurements and also an ultrasound can tell you your “fundal height,” which means nothing more than the measurement from your pelvis to the top of your belly. The ideal is for the fundal height3 to match the number of weeks of your pregnancy — for example, at 20 weeks of pregnancy, the fundal height should be 20 centimeters.

Does the Belly Shape Indicate the Baby’s Gender?

No, this is just a myth! It’s very common to hear from older people that if the belly is pointy, you’re having a boy, and if it’s rounded, a girl — but as we’ve seen, there are several factors that influence the size and shape of your belly during pregnancy, and it depends on each woman and each body. So these claims are false.

Why Does the Belly Get Hard During Pregnancy?

Pregnant women often get worried when they notice their belly gets hard sometimes, but this is normal. First of all, the belly starts to get hard right at the start of pregnancy, especially just below the belly button. This is due to the growing fetus and uterus which start to give the belly shape. This tightening also happens after the first 20 weeks due to Braxton-Hicks contractions, or practice contractions. These help train the body for the real contractions that happen during labor. It’s important to highlight that these contractions do not hurt and happen sporadically. If you start to feel pain or discomfort during Braxton-Hicks contractions and they become more frequent, seek medical help right away.

Is It Normal to Have a Lopsided Belly During Pregnancy?

A lopsided belly can also happen during Braxton-Hicks contractions, but usually, a crooked belly is simply an indication of the baby’s position. So, just like firmness or hardness in the belly at times, a lopsided belly is also normal and does not signal a problem in pregnancy. Over time, especially toward the end of pregnancy when the baby is bigger, you can even notice where the baby’s bottom, head, hands, and feet are. It’s important to know that there are many factors that influence the size and shape of your belly during pregnancy. In the vast majority of cases, this is completely natural, since everyone is different and each person has unique physical and behavioral characteristics that affect this process. Of course, it’s always important to keep up with your doctor — not just because of your belly’s shape, but because professional monitoring is vital for all aspects of pregnancy and is what guarantees your baby’s health. Although it might seem strange to some, different bellies during pregnancy are part of who we are. No one is the same as anyone else. Also Read: What Does It Mean to Have a Low Belly During Pregnancy? Photo: Unsplash