When we get a positive test, we already start caressing our belly! There’s nothing there that you can actually see yet, but it feels like we’re at the end of pregnancy, so proud to be in this new phase. We spend hours analyzing ourselves in the mirror and always wondering: when does your belly start to show during pregnancy?
For first-time moms, the timing and size of the belly are still a mystery. Some show a little bump after just eight weeks. Others, only much later on in pregnancy. Knowing how many months it takes for the belly to start showing can greatly reduce the worries that sometimes arise in these future moms.
Belly size versus body type
Let’s get to it! Every woman has a different body type1. So why do people think everyone’s belly should show at the same time? Some women have small bumps and that’s totally normal! There’s always someone who will comment on a pregnant woman’s belly size:
Wow, that’s a small belly!
And this is when our heads fill with all kinds of doubts! Know that the belly size is only a concern if the uterine height is much lower than normal. Small babies can also grow inside large bellies full of fluid2. So, your belly size is not always a reliable indicator for diagnoses. Many times, the body starts to change as soon as all those hormones kick in during pregnancy. It’s normal for a woman to lose her waist; sometimes she just looks chubby or like a replica of SpongeBob SquarePants. Still, the bump can be the last sign of pregnancy to appear.
When does the belly appear?
When the bump starts to show in pregnancy, a woman’s body already shows other features like larger breasts, a puffier face due to progesterone, and some initial weight gain. However, in the very early stages, a bigger belly is often just hormonal bloating rather than the baby itself. So, don’t expect people to know you’re pregnant just by looking at your “2-month bump.”
The body is full of surprises and each pregnancy can be different. But for first-time moms, we can estimate that the bump really starts to show around the fifth month of pregnancy. Before then, there might be a low bump below the belly button, caused by intense hormonal changes and, in some cases, constipation.
At how many months does the belly grow?
The uterus grows little by little, and by 20 weeks, it starts to rise above the midline, using the belly button as a reference point. At this stage, some women already have that more characteristic pregnancy belly. However, some may see a bump as soon as 14 to 16 weeks.
We can say the belly starts to show between the 3rd and 5th month, but it depends on your body type. At 3 months, the bump already starts to change. The abdominal ligaments loosen due to hormones, and growing pains are common, too. But you can’t always pinpoint exactly when the belly will start to show, since so many factors influence it.
Some specific situations can make the bump appear sooner. That’s the case for women with twin pregnancies, women with a slimmer build who have less fat and abdominal muscle, and also women who have previously been pregnant. That’s because their ligaments are already more adapted to the changes, thanks to their first experience.
Another example is what used to be called having “wide hips.” Women with wider hips and larger bone structure tend to get that pregnant belly look later on. Overweight women may also take longer to show a bump, just because there’s more belly fat.
The belly button in some women may start to change in the first trimester. Some may have a swollen area even before a visible bump appears. The most important thing, if your belly takes a while to show, is to know that everything is okay with the baby. If the baby has the right size and weight, it might just be about your body’s physical characteristics. Your bump size is irrelevant if the baby is doing well—even in future pregnancies.
Readers’ Questions:
Is it possible to have a pregnant belly at 9 weeks?
Even in your second pregnancy, at 9 weeks it’s almost impossible to see a baby bump. That’s because the embryo is still very small. What you might feel is a little abdominal bloating, but it’s unnoticeable to others.
I’m 16 weeks pregnant with no belly, is that normal?
Yes, every woman and every pregnancy is different. So, we shouldn’t compare, even if you’ve had other children. At 16 weeks, some may be rounder, while others show no sign of pregnancy at all. Don’t worry—your belly will be showing soon enough.
See also: Second Pregnancy – The Difficulty of Getting Pregnant Again
