Is this normal? I am a bit of worrier...

[hippymama1]

I am sure I am probably panicking about nothing but I would like to know if anyone else has had a similar experience before I call my midwife and have a nervous breakdown ;-)

I am 14 + 3 with my first baby and although I have put on a bit of weight, I am not showing at all and the little hard bump I can feel just over my pelvic bone has not moved or changed in about 2 weeks as far as I can tell.

My nausea seems to have stopped over the last week (thank GOD), I need to pee less and the constipation is getting better (sorry if tmi) but I am still having other symptoms - sore boobs, rhinitis etc.

I am stressing out that there is something wrong because nothing has changed with my little bump and some of the symptoms have stopped altogether (I never thought I would miss morning sickness) - I can still sleep flat out on my belly!

A sonographer told me that I would be showing by 16 weeks which is next week Friday and unless it starts popping out sharpish over the next week, the only thing showing will be my Christmas pot belly!

I thought about getting a doppler to reassure me but I read some of the other threads on here where some people were advising against it for worriers...

I guess I just want to know what other people's experiences have been at the start of the third trimester... Does this sound normal to you? I have never felt the baby move but I know it is pretty early for that... Maybe I will feel better when I start to feel that?

I am booked for a private scan at week 16 anyway to check everything is ok (As I said, I am a bit of a worrier) and to see if we can see the gender and I am scared they are going to tell me that something awful has happened... Everything was fine at 12 weeks but nothing is certain, right?

[moggle]

It's true nothing is certain - but many first time pregnancies don't show until midway through. Until 18 weeks I just looked a bit podgy. And bumps can pop out almost overnight! Finally, I think lots of women find the middle trimester best in terms of sickness and tiredness easing but you haven't got enormous and uncomfy yet!
So I wouldn't worry - and enjoy that extra scan!

[moggle]

Oh I could sleep on my belly until 24 weeks. God I miss it - breastfeeding now so boobs too big!!

[plannedshock]

Firstly...breathe! You are in the second trimester, I didn't show until 20weeks with my 1st, I'm now 23wks with my second and only show in the evening, still can sleep on front, what are you freaking out at the most? Not showing? Give it time!!!

[Thurlow]

That really does sound quite normal to me.

Early pregnancy symptoms often pass at around your stage - so the nausea gets less, you need to pee a bit less etc. I think it's got something to do with the placenta being in place by now, so you start being less sick and exhausted. Also with the bump, I found that in the first few months I felt I looked pregnant as it was all gas and bloating, and then I stopped looking pregnant when that faded, before the bump started to grow properly. There are no absolute rules as to when your bump will start showing.

By all means have a chat with your midwife if you are worried, that's what they are there for. But I've had friends who on second and later pregnancies have said once the tiredness goes, they can easily forget that they are pregnant until the bump turns up later!

[weelamb123]

With my first I didn't show until I was 5 months, people in work thot I was taking my pregnancy I was that slim. I'm 12 weeks with second child and still not really showing, apart from a slight ponch.....Don't worry, u'll show soon enough and be huge xxx

[weelamb123]

*faking not taking

[BanglesSpangles]

even after my bump popped out (which wasn't until 18 weeks or so), i could still sleep on my front for ages

Although my first trimester had been pretty unremarkable, symptom-wise, the second was even less exciting- i felt absolutely normal, save for a bad back if I pushed myself too hard and then the startings of movements and stuff around 18-20 weeks

Everybody's different, of course, but as moggle said, lots of people find the second tri the best of the three, so don't worry too much :)

[GotToBeInItToWinIt]

I didn't show until 24 weeks with my first. Currently 14 weeks pregnant with DC2 and apart from being a bit podgier (which is probably the fault of Xmas rather than the pregnancy!) I dont look any different. And I'm quite petite so always thought id show early. It really is nothing to worry about and IMO is an odd thing for a midwife to say as everyone is completely different.

[GotToBeInItToWinIt]

I didn't show until 24 weeks with my first. Currently 14 weeks pregnant with DC2 and apart from being a bit podgier (which is probably the fault of Xmas rather than the pregnancy!) I dont look any different. And I'm quite petite so always thought id show early. It really is nothing to worry about and IMO is an odd thing for a midwife to say as everyone is completely different.

[Threesoundslikealot]

You're very early for bumps and movements, especially the first time round! This is a really weird bit of pregnancy - the symptoms of the first trimester are less but the visible and tangible bits of pregnancy haven't kicked in yet. You are normal to worry, but also normal to have a small bump. I'm 22 weeks with my third and still have a small bump when I lie down. I didn't look pregnant at all at 16 weeks even this time round.

[Jackiebrambles]

With my first baby I didn't show til 17-18 weeks. Second baby is very different!

As for feeling movement again around 18 weeks I think for me.

Don't worry!

[CBo79]

Don't worry, seems to be a common concern! I feel the same. I'm 17 weeks and do query some days if this is actually happening! I have a small bump but I've always had a bit of a tummy, so it's not a huge change. Some days it seems bigger than others. I too was worried about being able to lie on my back still - everywhere I've read, it says you shouldn't really be able to do that after week 16.

I had a scan last week though, and everything looked fine - little one was wriggling away and we saw its heartbeat too.

I was lucky enough to have had a relatively smooth first trimester so tbh, this whole pregnancy thing doesn't feel like it's happening - I'd always thought I'd 'feel' more pregnant than this!

Try not to fret cos chances are, everything is absolutely fine. This is the second trimester - I've been told to enjoy it because we'll be looking back at these days when we're 36 weeks and wishing we didn't feel pregnant!

[hippymama1]

Thank you all :-)

I am a massive worrier and I do tend to dwell on and worry about the bad things that could possibly happen... I think it's because the whole thing is an unknown experience with it being my first baby, everyone is telling me different things and I just don't know what to expect - I've suffered from health anxiety quite a bit in the past so this could be the pregnancy equivalent... Hormones - the gift that keeps on giving ;-)

[Zahrah5]

I am worrier too.

But I was telling myself- after they see heartbeat the risk goes down, after 12 weeks the risk goes down.
And I was telling myself everyday, I have no bleeding and no major cramps, that is very good sign, I was actually relieved everytime I went to the bathroom and checked for spotting. If you didnt have those you should not worry- easy to say, but just read how many people have spotting or bleeding and even then turn out OK.

You need to take it one day at the time and possibly stay away from google.

It gets better after you feel baby move but even that you will not feel those on daily basis at first.

And about sickness, those symptoms are supposed to go away after 12 weeks so be happy about it.

[GailLondon]

I had a doppler this time round and personally found it very reassuring after having a late miscarriage in my last pregnancy. I was always able to find the heartbeat though, maybe it would have just made me panic more if I couldnt get the machine to work so well.

[Gemzybelle]

This is my second DD and I am only now starting to look pregnant at 25 weeks. I'm sure you have no reason to worry