When did you start to show with your first? First little pregnancy meltdown.

[coffeeplastic]

I’m 11+4 with my first. This baby is very much planned and wanted, and I am very very happy to be pregnant, but nevertheless I had my first little meltdown this morning over what my body is doing!

I was getting ready for work, and getting later and later as I tried on pair after pair of trousers. Not ONE single pair of work appropriate trousers would fasten over my belly! Already! I ended up in tears feeling like an elephant and have come to work in horrible stretchy patterned jeggings and a baggy old jumper. Will be hiding at my desk all day today.

Before getting pregnant I had a BMI of around 21 and wore a size 8 (and I’m now realising, had a wardrobe consisting of very fitted clothes). In the past, despite the fact that my weight has yoyo-ed from 8 and a half stone all the way to 10 and a half stone, I’ve pretty much always fit into my clothes (even if they got a bit snug to warn me I’ve been overdoing it!)

But since getting pregnant, jeez. My weight has gone up about half a stone already, and it’s all belly. I look massive already. I’m first to admit that I haven’t been eating very well. Between 5 and 10 weeks I pretty much only ate carbs around constant nausea, and felt too poorly to concentrate on healthy eating (thank god for vitamins). I’m feeling better now, but still not exactly dieting!

We don’t want to announce the pregnancy until we have the NT results which I know can be a couple of weeks after my scan – but how can I keep this quiet until 14 weeks if I already have a sizeable bump!

Please tell me ladies – is it normal to be showing this early with your first, or have I just been taking the ‘eating for two’ wayyy too literally? I had an early scan at 7 weeks and there is definitely only one baby in there. I can’t believe I need to go shopping for maternity clothes before I even get to 12 weeks, I thought it was supposed to be more like 20 weeks!

[ProseccoPoppy]

I had a bit of a bulge at 12 weeks first time round, partly water retention I think, my body definitely bloats early! I would say though, trousers can be particularly unforgiving, even if you aren’t ready for maternity clothes some jersey or other nice but not too tailored dresses might be a good idea for the next few weeks. Wrap dresses especially will give you a bit of breathing space (and at home just embrace the jeggings!)

[Baby2018]

Im 12 weeks with my 1st and my jeans now no longer button up, take it as a sign your pregnancy is progressing well :) focus on that rather than your weight you can think about that post baby if you want to but right now youve got to do what your body tells you for your bub

[AbsolutelyCorking]

I think you’re imagining it bigger than it is. No one will notice. You’ll look like you gained a bit of weight or are bloated at the most. You won’t be showing.

[RayM]

Started pregnancy at 7st7. Size 6. Was wearing maternity jeans at 15 weeks - my jeans had been VERY snug for a few weeks before! I had already told everyone I was pregnant due to morning sickness at 10 weeks - also I very clearly looked pregnant! Couldn’t stand the comments from people saying things like ‘oh god, well i didn’t start showing until I was five months gone’. At the start of the pregnancy and before I could feel baby moving I was very self conscious of how big I was and constantly comparing myself to others at the same point - I’m ashamed to admit! But as the pregnancy has progressed I’ve become far more comfortable with my changing body. I’m 39 weeks today and just proud that my body has made a beautiful baby, so excited to meet her!

[Juststrugglingabit]

At this point in the pregnancy, there's a good chance it's bloating rather than your uterus/weight gain. Lot's of people put on most of their extra weight during the first trimester, by that I mean extra fat on your body as opposed to baby/placenta/extra blood (that comes later), and then things calm down once morning sickness passes.

If it's any help at all you sound just like me both times and I have not ended up overweight. You don't have to get maternity clothes right now - trousers a size up and floaty tops should get you by for a few weeks yet.However, I brought myself maternity trousers at 10 weeks this time - they have not lasted all the way through the pregnancy but were a god send as they were comfy and flattering (you can still hide your tummy with a loose fitting top).

[Pinkfrangipani]

I had to buy maternity clothes before 12 weeks. They see you the whole way through so really doesn't matter if you need to buy them now or in 2 months time! Get used to the changing body shape, this is only the start......you'll learn to love your bump once you have more scans and start feeling the little kicks of your little person!

[tlnejntr]

Everyone is different with their pregnancies. With my first I didn't show until around 20 weeks, I am now pregnant with my second and have been able to notice this bump since around 8 weeks. My belly is now almost the same size as I was full term with my first daughter and I'm only 23 weeks. Like you, I have pretty much got a wardrobe full of well fitted clothes so from 10 weeks I've been pretty much wearing the same style clothing, baggy dresses, tights, leggings and long tops. Even some of those are getting too tight too. The jeans and trousers were a no go from 13 weeks as they were too straining on my belly. At your 12 week scan they should be able to tell you if your baby's big or normal sized, but there could just be excess water in there too.

[silkpyjamasallday]

I had a fairly pronounced bump by 12 weeks, but I had a 22 inch waist pre pregnancy so there wasn't much space for the baby to be hidden away internally. I didn't gain any weight in the first trimester due to HG. I wore a stretchy midi skirt from misguided which cost a tenner for pretty much the whole pregnancy as it was so comfy and looked smarter than leggings. Looks like you're going to have to go shopping earlier than expected OP! Congratulations

[mintich]

10 weeks with my first, 6 weeks with this one!! I have a short torso and tilted uterus so I show early!

[tackytriceratops]

I pack on the weight very early on, and it's good for me as it's also muscle which I find hard to maintain when not pregnant.

First time I remember buying some size 10 Topshop maternity jeans at 8 weeks (normally size 8) but by 10 weeks couldn't wear them at all, not so much my bump as my hips too.

I've put on 2 stone and had done by 25 weeks, am now 31 weeks and I know I'm a bit more than that but don't keep track. But I know how quickly it comes off when I bf so I'm embracing it as I was under weight by 6 months last time!

Your blood volume increases by 30-50 iirc (I may be off with that but it goes up quite quickly) before the second trimester so some of it is just extra fluid.

[coffeeplastic]

You have all made me feel LOADS better! Very reassuring to know that getting bigger this early is not completely unheard of.

It's a bit hard to unlearn a lifetime habit of "oh no, tight jeans, I'm getting fat, that is bad", especially at this early stage of just looking chunky instead of it being obvious baby! But of course it's exciting to see baby grow and having a 'proper' bump is actually something I am genuinely looking forward to! I blame pregnancy hormones for this morning's tantrum.

I am choosing to look on the bright side now - I haven't bought myself any new clothes for YEARS so this is the perfect excuse to get a couple of new outfits (maybe some maternity stuff or just some floaty dresses). I'm going to treat myself and just enjoy it!

[pastabest]

Look into getting a few bump bands.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1421847-So-how-do-belly-bump-bands-work

They can extend trousers comfortably for a little longer

Personally though I embraced over bump maternity trousers very early on in my second pregnancy having fought the bump until about 20 weeks in my first. I'm going to miss them when I've given birth as they are so comfy!

[LisaSimpsonsbff]

I was hugely, hugely bloated from about 9-14 weeks (I think made worse than usual because I was taking progesterone). I thought it must be that I was showing early, but it then all disappeared overnight! Went back to usual flat-ish stomach for a few weeks, then started to get an actual bump at 18/19 weeks. So it's not at all weird (and definitely worth investing in some new clothes so you feel comfy - I found anything that dug into my stomach made me feel sick) but it also doesn't necessarily mean you'll stay like this for the whole pregnancy - bloating normally eases after the first trimester.

[Didntcomeheretofuckspiders]

60kg, size 8, athletic figure, flat tummy (abs!) pre-pregnancy. Started to get a little bit of a bump at about 11 weeks! Just looked less toned and a bit bloated to start with. 16 weeks now and have a quite noticeable bump although could still just be a big lunch! I can still squeeze into most of my jeans because I have only ever worn very elsaticated jeans due to small waist, big bum, muscular legs combo! It’s tops i’m Having a problem with! I’ve filled out a lot around my waist! I’m wearing a lot of stretchy leggings, hareem pants and baggy tops at the moment as maternity stuff is still a bit generous.

[usernotfound0000]

I put weight on in the first trimester but didn't really have any definite 'bump' until about 12/13 weeks, and even then, only me and people who knew would know, it was still a case of I could just be fat! Probably 17 weeks before I had a proper bump.

[annlee3817]

I was the same, ended up wearing maternity clothes for comfort from fifteen weeks as was so bloated. BMI was around 19, I used expanding tricks for my trousers or jeans and longer tops. Or for work I'd wear dresses and tights. No one noticed but myself and my husband, because we were in the know about the pregnancy. I put on four stone in total, but was pretty much back to normal three months post birth, bar a stone that I was ok keeping on. It's normal to be more sensitive to it when no one knows yet.

[surreygirl1987]

Hey! I am almost 11 weeks and experiencing EXACTLY the same as you!! I was a size 8 when I got married a few months ago and hardly any of my clothes fit me now - argh! At the weekend I went to some charity shops and bought some looser work clothes to be a bit more comfortable in - I definitely have a little bump and I just can't wear my usual tight skirts and trouser :( I bought some size 12 dresses!

I'm hoping a lot of it is bloating as I know it's vain but I really really liked my 'before' figure and I don't want to lose it forever!! Anyway I totally know where you're coming from and from my own googling on the same topic the other day... it seems fairly normal.

[WineAndTiramisu]

I was obvious from 12 weeks really, and in maternity trousers from 8 weeks. Now 93rd centile at 35 weeks and huge bump, but only gained just over a stone in total, it's all bump!

[Justoneme]

As soon as I saw the double blue lines .... ping my belly expanded .... embrace the baby bump x

[EyeDrops]

You can get some things (Topshop, if they still do them) called 'bump bands' - a big stretchy band of fabric, pull on over your jeans/trousers so you can leave them undone and the band will keep them up pretty well. Sooooo comfortable and allow you to get a lot more use out of trousers before you hit the maternity bottoms!

[Ekphrasis]

To reassure people, my tummy went back to my pre pregnancy shape within the first year. I think a lot is in the genes (I had no stretch marks either) but just try not to worry about it too much!

[FranticallyPeaceful]

I remember with my first my pants no longer fit me at 9 weeks, started bloating before that. It wasn’t the baby, it was just my body expanding. I was a little thing back then and I guess my body wanted to make sure I could carry the nearly 10lber it had on the menu and so blew me up like a balloon! I looked visibly pregnant earlier than most with their first (I think because I carry my babies very far out front, my womb just seems to like that position) but those early weeks were pure expansion of my body rather than baby

[Heartofglass12345]

I think its water retention, plus you are on the small side you could loop a hair bobble through your button hole of your trousers and over the button. Or you can get extenders that do the same, have a google

[GruffaloPants]

Use a hair band looped round your button and through the buttonhole to let out your trousers - should buy you a couple of weeks provided you have long tops to wear.

You're not "an elephant". You're growing a new person. It makes sense that you'll put on some weight! Try to relax, let go, and enjoy your pregnancy.

[halfwitpicker]

Another one here who showed early. Trousers wouldn't do up at six weeks with my first, it was about two weeks with my second!

It's all bloat op, don't worry.