17+4 getting anxious over size and movement

[MumBeth]

Hi,

So I wouldn't be anxious about this if I wasn't constantly being told by "every man and his dog" that it isn't right...

I'm 17+4 and pretty large on the bump size, I'm wearing only maternity clothes now and even my previously baggy tops now sit snug across my bump. I'm still wearing a size 8 dress size so I haven't put weight on anywhere else.... Everyone keeps telling me I'm too big for my dates. My mum's convinced I've either got a hidden twin in there or they've got the dates wrong.

I'm also feeling baby move very noticeably and even my partner can now feel the kicks! I shared this information with my family and they are now freaking me out saying it isn't normal...

Just would like some advice from others on what to say to these people? Also when did you all start having a massive bump and feeling baby on the outside? Could it really be possible dating scan got my dates wrong and I'm a lot further gone?

Thank you xx

[UnbornMortificado]

Is it your first? By my fourth pregnancy I was showing earlier and felt movement earlier then in previous pregnancies.

I'm pregnant now and starting with a bump (it's my fifth) at 9 weeks.

It's quite unusual for dates at the 12w scan to be wrong and even more unusual for an extra one to be hiding.

[user1480264544]

Hiya I'm 17+2 and feeling your pain on this one! I'm in maternity leggings but there is definitely only one baby in there. If anything I've lost weight so I find it odd! I wouldn't mind but I feel huge 😳! I don't have a recent pic to hand but this was about a week 1/2 ago.. maybe 2 weeks and I've grown a lot! Guess we just have to embrace the bellys 🙈 Lol x

[MumBeth]

Thank you.

Yes it is my first which is why everyone is so unconvinced about my dates 😕

Maybe my body just is quick at adapting to pregnancy like those of women who have had multiple pregnancies?

[MumBeth]

User, yes your bump looks very similar to how mine did a few weeks ago! Maybe it's due to our slight frames? Xx

[TiltedNewt]

Everyone has an opinion on what should or shouldn't be happening. Especially when it comes to what size you should be.

Ignore them, listen to the medical professionals who are trained in this.

[passingthrough1]

Maybe your placenta is all at the back hence the strong movement? I guess at the 20 week scan they can tell you exactly where it is.

[user1480264544]

Possibly! everyone carries differently, with my first I had no bump at all until 7 months that's why I'm so confused as for movement I have been feeling it too which is nice. I wouldn't worry they would of most likely spotted another baby in there at your scan try not to worry too much! X

[UnbornMortificado]

Mum if your slight your bump will be more pronounced.

You could always have a private scan if your getting that anxious about it.

Your family should have more sense first pregnancies do tend to be more nerve racking, probably just fear of the unknown without unnecessary worry.

For reference that picture is me 14 weeks with my fourth, back when I was slim(mer)

[friends123]

Hi mumbeth.
This is also my first, I've been showing since way before 12 weeks I felt movements from 16/17 weeks and so did my DH.I've also heard all the same things, twins, big baby etc. Try not to worry.

[IWantAWittyUsername]

I showed quickly with my first and felt the baby move at 16/17 weeks (my husband felt a few weeks later). Don't worry! But there is no point stressing yourself out unnecessarily. Get an emergency GP appointment or go to a walk in clinic - they will check you out and put your mind at rest. And don't worry about what other people say - everyone has an opinion and loves to comment and most of the time they mean well.
Good luck with the pregnancy. x

[savagehk]

If you're small you will go 'out' faster than otherwise. I've felt movement from very early on this time (to the point I was worried it was twins or something!) I think feeling movement has a lot to do with where the placenta is, with my first I had an anterior placenta and didn't feel much till after 20 weeks. Dating scan shouldn't have got you that far wrong.
With my first I couldn't do up my trousers any more at about 13 weeks. Luckily I only popped out after I announced it at work!

[harleysmammy]

I was so big at 12 weeks that the sonographer at my scan said she was expecting to see a 20 week baby in there haha. He was measuring 3 days ahead of my dates back then, now he's measuring a week ahead and im 30 weeks. Even though now he's bigger than my dates, people who were telling me i was huge 3 months ago, are now telling me im tiny! Your bump will grow how it wants too, maybe there is some bloating as well as baby but there will be people bigger than you and there will be people who are smaller than you. My midwife said the only person who should tell you whether or not your bump is normal is your midwife not friends, family and random people! I dont think there is a "normal" bump size unless you're full term and still sporting a six pack haha x

[MumBeth]

Thank you everyone. Certainly making me feel a lot less worried and abnormal. Guess it doesn't help when my sister's have recently had babies and they were all so tiny bumped the whole way through and they didn't feel anything until about 23 wks.

I'll be having my 20 wks scan soon so I will be reassured then I guess too.

Thank you xx

[UnbornMortificado]

Everyman and his dog has an opinion when your pregnant.

I hope your 20 week scan puts your mind at risk

[Mothercoco]

With my last pregnancy (Third) I looked around 25 weeks at 17 weeks. I remember as I attended a wedding and had to wear a maternity dress which was very snug. By the time I gave birth I had outgrown maternity clothes in my size and the 2 sizes above.

Saying that, with my first 2 pregnancies I was very obviously pregnant by that stage too.

Some people are just bigger than others, I felt all 3 of mine move at around 14 weeks and they didn't turn into giant babies (Well..the third was a porker)

[eastegg]

Hi mumbeth. I 'm 17+2 and have had to get some maternity clothes too and have started feeling slight movements already. It is my 4th pregnancy though and I feel it's all happening a bit sooner this time. I don't think what you're describing is unusual. I've read nhs info about movements which says anytime from 16 weeks and my midwife at my 16 week check last week didn't seem surprised.

Presumably you've had a 16 week check too? Just tell everybody everything's fine and you'd rather listen to what the midwife/sonographer has said!

Oh btw my 7 year old noticed my bump at 9 weeks!

Also you sound like you are small framed like me; it makes your bump look bigger.

[MumBeth]

I didn't have a 16 wks midwife appointment as she said I was seeing my consultant there wasn't any need to book in with her (although my consultant said otherwise!). My next contact with midwife is at the 25 wks appointment although I have the 20 wks scan before that.

I guess I just feel worried because everyone in my life has been saying I'm too big for dates and baby movement can't possibly be this strong yet. Everyone is different but I'm just worried in case either dates are wrong or I've done something wrong and might be harming baby.

Maybe I should give my midewife a call to see if i can book in a check up before the 25 wks seems I missed the 16 wks appointment 😕 x

[eastegg]

I'm sorry you're still worried by all these silly comments Beth, (I mean in RL not on the thread!), and as you say maybe you should phone the midwife for reassurance seeing as you haven't seen one recently. I'm sure you'd get some reassurance; what you describe sounds completely normal to me.

[HN42]

I would just ignore what everyone thinks if you can, just take it on the chin and brush off people's comments, people just have lots of not very useful opinions to offer about the size of your bump, you are the size you are and some people get bigger faster especially if you are skinny and not all that tall. If baby is moving around etc. and you can feel it, its a good sign.