plus size baby belly

[ttc97]

Hi lovelies!

I've caught myself in a little bit of a daydream this afternoon, I'm not pregnant yet but we are activity TTC..
I'm what you would call plus size, size 20-22 and have got a bit of on overhang, or 'pouch' as I like to call it 😂😆

I caught myself in the mirror this afternoon and am now absolutely deveststed having seen myself, and I'm so scared that when the time comes, I won't have a nice bump like everybody else..

So I did the worst thing (Googled it) 🤦🏼‍♀️ and now I've seen that there's such thing as a B belly bump, that is in the shape of a B from a side profile.. has anybody experienced this? Likewise is there anybody here that has had a successful pregnancy being classed as plus-size?
I know it sounds so silly in the grand scheme of things, but I've always dreamed of my own little bump and now I'm thinking I won't look pregnant at all! 😞

[Crossfitwidow]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you won’t have a lovely little bump and people won’t even realise you’re pregnant until quite late in the pregnancy.

In my last pregnancy I was plus size, it was HARD work!

• made to feel really shit about being fat by midwives/doctors
  
• sonagraphers HATE fat mothers! They huff and puff through the whole scan.
  
• being consultant led because of high risk.
  
• no water birth, more likely to have c-section.
  
• bad back, walking was agonising.
  
• maternity clothes are shit for plus size.
  
• you can’t feel baby kicking very much.
  
• early gender scan is really difficult.
  
• People constantly assume you’re ready to drop from 30 weeks and it’s really embarrassing saying you have 10 more weeks to go!!
  

Please don’t think I’m being a bitch. Honestly, plus size pregnancy isn’t fun. I would never do it again. Get as healthy as you can before pregnancy, your body will thank you!

Good luck!

[TakeMeToYourLiar]

I'm pregnant and plus size. A size 24 before pregnancy

It's fine, my bump is cute.

I already have a DS, he was born by c section but not because of my weight

[TakeMeToYourLiar]

Oh and this baby didn't get the memo that I'm not meant to be able to feel kicks, because she appears to be auditioning for the royal ballet in there

[ttc97]

@Crossfitwidow thank you, I really do appreciate your honestly. I know it isn't easy breaking the news with things like this, it's always a hard topic.

I'm going to try to eat the best I can to loose some weight before falling pregnant. We are TTC, but I have only come off of the implant a month ago today, my AF came back as usual which is great and I'm pleased about that, something is obviously going right at the moment 😂🙈

Thank you. X

[ttc97]

@TakeMeToYourLiar thank you so much, congratulations - I bet your so excited 🥰 and I'm so glad you've got your lovely baby bump!
I think it must be different for everyone by the looks of things, some people saying they got a bump and some not! Xx

[Addler]

I'm a size 18-20, and currently 28 weeks. I didn't really look pregnant until a few weeks ago, just looked like I had been indulging in too much lockdown snacking. I don't really have much of a bump still when I stand normally but if I relax my tummy out I do look pregnant.

I've actually had very nice experiences so far with midwives, sonographers and consultants. They've been matter of fact about not being able to be on the midwife led clinic due to BMI but not rude or patronising which is what I worried about. Also scans weren't an issue due to my size, possibly depends where your fat is on your belly.

I have quite a pouch hanging down which got worse after losing a lot of weight after bariatric surgery, so most of the time I don't like the way my belly looks. I don't actually have a B belly though.

This is how my tummy looks if I sort of relax it out, if I stand up straight I just look a bit podgy still!

[WhatWouldPennyDo]

My friend is a 22 normally and she didn’t really start to show until maybe 26/28 weeks. B shaped bump for a while and then it ‘filled in’ the B part to look more like a ‘normal’* bump. She had a healthy and safe pregnancy and birth though, which are the main things. Hope everything goes smoothly for you.

*for want of a better word.

[ttc97]

@Addler that's amazing, thank you so much for sharing. You look gorgeous and your bump is definitely there! It looks lovely 🥰 it's lovely to hear a positive experience xx

[ttc97]

@WhatWouldPennyDo thank you! Yes the health and well-being of mum and baby is what's most important! As I say, I'm being really silly in the grand scheme of things.. I think it's just one of those moments I've dreamed of for so long, and now it could happen, I'm so scared I don't look pregnant but instead just fat. 😂🙈 xx

[ttc97]

Belly at the moment: it's got a bit of a pinch going on.. 😂🤦🏼‍♀️ will I get a nice bump one day..?! Who knows 😞

[ttc97]

** a bit of a pouch I meant 😂🤦🏼‍♀️

[WutheringShites86]

I have to disagree with everything @Crossfitwidow said, OP apart from being consultant led due to high bmi and water birth not being offered. However for me, the consultant appointments were just a 5 min chat after scans and I didn't want a water birth anyway.

I recently gave birth, normal vaginal delivery just with gas and air and discharged same day. Size 18 and bmi 39 pre pregnancy. I started showing as clearly having a baby bump and not just a belly at about 18 weeks and I certainly felt lots of movement despite an anterior placenta. No issues at all with scans or professionals attitude and I had a lovely round bump. I stayed active until the end, I love long walks, and I only gained the baby weight. Now weigh less than I did before the pregnancy.

Just my individual experience but wanted to say although I agree the healthier you can be before pregnancy the better, being plus size doesn't condemn you to a miserable pregnancy.

[ttc97]

@WutheringShites86 thank you so much, that's such a relief! I really want it to be a happy and positive experience.. this would be our first little one. I am so pleased to hear you had a safe and successful pregnancy loved

[Addler]

Also check out the plus size and pregnant podcast, I found it really useful to listen to in early pregnancy and it gave me a lot of information and confidence. Good luck to you!

[Crossfitwidow]

I’m just comparing having a normal first pregnancy against a plus size second pregnancy.
Obviously if you’ve only ever had a plus size pregnancy you don’t know any different.

I’m sorry but you are treated differently I don’t care what anyone says, I’ve experienced it first hand. I had to have repeated Glucose tolerance testing, it was crap. My BMI was circled on the top of every paper and I was advised on my diet throughout. Maybe it’s different in Wales. I didn’t mean any offence by saying fat girls don’t show until late, but that’s true and you will have a bump but it won’t be cute and it won’t be little!

[ttc97]

@Crossfitwidow it's okay, I understand what you mean, it is a concern for me and I've looked into everything I possibly can regarding this.
I know for some women they actually don't put on much weight during pregnancy, and the stomach hey already have is sufficient and just rounds out and gets slightly larger whereas for others It doesn't show / is huge! I guess there isn't really any way to know for sure. X

[Pipperleen]

Hi, I am currently coming up to 39 weeks pregnant with my first and started off a size 18-20.
I would say I looked pregnant from about 16 weeks - that was when my tummy became round at the top. No B bump, it’s just a little softer at the base rather than all solid if that makes sense! The majority of it is like a hard beach ball!
I was under a consultant which meant 2 extra scans - both of which showed I have a very average sized baby. I also had a GTT which was normal. Was signed off from the consultant at 36 weeks.
I honestly haven’t felt judged throughout this pregnancy. It’s been a tough one in terms of backache, sickness throughout, etc, but it’s generally been a lovely time and I would do it again.
I’ve not been told there’s anything I can’t have in terms of the birth.

Totally understand that people have different experiences and I might have a completely different tale to tell if there’s a next time! But don’t be put off trying. X

[ttc97]

@Pipperleen thank you so much lovely! I'm so happy for you 🎉 and it's lovely to hear a nice and positive experience! There are certainly so many avenues to plus size pregnancy, some people find it a breeze - I hope I'm one of them 🥰
I had a gynaecologist appointment recently actually, due to stomach pains I was having a month or so ago, and she had said that everything is spot on, and my body is in a great way, and ready to conceive when we decide the time is right! 🎉 so thats great news 💓

[Dogsgowoofwoof]

I’m size 18. I’m 28 weeks with my second and I have a slightly lower bmi this time, which means I’m not consultant led and I’m able to use the mlbu should I want to.

My scans are a little tricky because all my weight seems to cling to my stomach rather than else where.

I have a lovely round bump, it’s a little pouchy at the bottom but you’d only know that if I had no clothes on.

I have a posterior placenta this time (anterior last time) and I feel this baby wiggling most of the day.

It’s not negatively impacted me, but I would say try and get as healthy as you can while you’re ttc. It will be best for you and baby.

[ttc97]

@Dogsgowoofwoof congratulations! Amazing news 🥰🎉 I'm glad all is going well for you!
I am definitely on a health kick, I have been for a few months now as TTC has been on the cards for a little while x

[RWK29]

@ttc97 I have to say that I was 100% expecting the experience that @Crossfitwidow describes, but maybe it really does vary from place to place because it’s not the experience that I’ve had (so far anyway!).
My BMI was mentioned at the start (BMI of 35.2). I was told I will have to give birth in labour ward rather than in a midwife led unit and that I’ve to take Aspirin daily from 12 weeks. I had to have the Glucose Tolerance Test at 25 weeks and I’ve to have growth scans at 32/36/40 weeks. I’m supposed to be consultant led but was told that my blood pressure etc is all fine so provided that stays the same I’ll never be referred to the consultant 🤷🏻‍♀️ 32 weeks at the moment and aside from that one conversation and being given all the info at the start, my BMI has never been mentioned by anyone again!

As for baby kicking...I’m certainly feeling it 😂😅 my whole belly moves and bulges as baby moves around.
I was a size 20 with a bit of a pouch before pregnancy too and was worried about not looking pregnant but I work in retail and customers that I don’t know have been congratulating me and asking about baby since around 25 weeks 🤷🏻‍♀️ I wear loose flowy tops to work too and they could still tell it was a bump and not just belly!
It’s definitely taking its toll on my hips and my back but I have no way of knowing how much of that is plus-size related and how much would be felt in a “normal sized” pregnancy. I do also work 5 days a week doing 9.5hour shifts and am on my feet for the whole of that minus my 45 minute lunch break so I’m sure that’s also quite a big factor in my hip and back pain! 😅

Obviously being as healthy as you can before pregnancy is the most ideal situation for everyone though 😊 Good luck TTC 🤞🏼

[futuredreams]

I used to worry about this a lot. I've been through three miscarriages and each time I worried I wouldn't have a 'proper bump' and I really don't know if it's because I've had those losses but now I'm 32 weeks - I still have my b belly even though I haven't put a single pound on since my 12 week scan (size 18-20) but I've always had that even when I was a size 10/12. Sometimes it's just how your made up.

When I put my maternity jeans on and a nice tight vest top I look really pregnant. No mistaking it.

Not all midwives are hard about weight. I was scanned with no issues or difficulty. I chat to a dietition because I choose to sign up to one just because with Covid there was no help what so ever about what's good to eat etc cus I don't like read meat. But she's wanting me to put on a little by now! Sorry going off on one but yes! I still have a b belly. And with my clothes off it isn't a perfectly round bump but I honestly don't care one bit. Every time she moves or kicks I see them. And that's all that matters ☺️☺️

[Sunshineandrain2018]

Hello, I am a plus sized lady and on my second pregnancy. Don't worry your bump will come. I'm 30 weeks and definitely have a nice bump and I dont look like I'm ready to drop I have only put on 1lb so far. Can I also add that I've never once had a midwife or sonogramer mention my weight. Dorothy Pekins have a great maternity selection and I've gotten some really nice stuff in there sale. I've felt my baby kick from 18 weeks. Consultant lead means more scans (woop) who doesn't like seeing baby? My hospital is lovely. Honestly give it time you will have a beautiful bump. Enjoy your pregnancy.

[ttc97]

@RWK29 that's great, I'm really pleased for you! 💓💓🥰 I'm glad to hear a lovely positive story - it keeps my hopes up! Xx

[ttc97]

@futuredreams thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's so nice hearing positive stories 💓 I'm glad everything is going well for you - exciting times ahead!