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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

I don't like my bump.

23 replies

Rocklover · 22/09/2010 09:13

I look at all these lovely looking pregnant ladies in books, mags etc and my bump is just weird compared to theirs.

I am 21+5 and was a little overweight when I got pregnant (size 14-16) but I am finding that the top of my bump (where my intestines seem to be squashed into), just under my boobs is sticking out more than my lower tummy where my uterus is.

And whenever I eat I feel extremely uncomfortable, I can only eat very small amounts before I feel overwhelmingly full, which serves to make me even more aware of my upper tummy. To make things worse my diet is full of crap due to still feeling sick most of the time. Am I the only one who doesn't look properly pregnant? I just feel like a big, fat hippo. DP thinks I am insane.

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lilmamma · 22/09/2010 09:19

Maybe the baby is just lying in a funny postion,and once the baby starts to fill out,so will your bump.

I had a huge all over bump with most of mine,not a nice neat bump,at all,and with no3 looking back at photos,it looked totally false,like i had stuffed a cushion which had seen better days up my top lol.

Im sure you will fill out soon..

BuckBuckMcFate · 22/09/2010 09:19

I think most women go through a period were they don't like their bump, not enough baby and just looking fat!

I sympathise with the eating, I'm 33 weeks now and everytime I sit down to eat he sticks his bum up in the air and I can't even bend over slightly towards my food.

I think you'll probably feel better about your bump when you get a bit bigger. I too said to DP that I felt like a hippo and his words of comfort? 'Well, at least you're my hippo' I'm sure in his head it was a nice thing to say but would've appreciated some hippo denial from him!

missldi · 22/09/2010 09:20

I hated being pregnant-felt I looked like an oompa loompa..so I empathise.The only thing is it was all worth it-which you'll see when you hold the baby for the first time. Hope you feel better soon.

notjustalawyer · 22/09/2010 10:31

I know exactly how you feel! My husband also thinks I am mental but I still feel like I look fat rather than pregnant. I think when the bump gets harder it might be better... fingers crossed!

Original poster

Rocklover · 22/09/2010 10:48

Thanks for your replies. It is so odd as I seem to be all flabby at the base of my bump and then it's all really hard at the top (where I know my intestines are), I suppose I am just worried that it is not normal.

I really do feel like I look wrong, but I had my 20 wk scan a few weeks ago and all was fine. I don't want to ask my midwife about it as I feel like a complete prat worrying about this.

It doesn't help that I feel so uncomfortable and stretched already at 21 weeks, I am paranoid that I have put on far too much weight (the junk I'm eating to combat nausea). My next mw appt is not until 25 weeks, so not sure how I can ease my mind before then. Feel like an idiot.

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Marrow · 22/09/2010 11:09

I know how you feel! I am 22+3 and my bump looks like a capital B. It comes out a long way at the bottom, goes in at my tummy button and then goes out again. For the last two weeks my baby has been transverse lying right across the bottom of my uterus. I'm really hoping it will move and fill out the middle part of my tummy!

Original poster

Rocklover · 22/09/2010 11:18

Hi, Marrow, I am exactly the same, my bump looks like a B, although the lower part of my tummy is slightly smaller than the top.

My baby is also lying right across the bottom of my uterus, all his kicks are on the left hand side of my lower tummy (as confirmed in my scan a few weeks back. The little blighter doesn't seem to want to move, apart from trampolining on my bladder at times for fun .

I probably wouldn't feel so anxious if my upper tummy didn't feel so bloated and strained. Right now I am very hungry, my tummy is rumbling, but I just don't want to eat anything because I will feel sooo uncomfortable. So I am desperately trying to cut down on how much I eat. :(

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BongoWinslow · 22/09/2010 11:24

I felt that way too - I never had that perfectly round bump you see in pictures and felt really insecure about it. But when it fills out more, it won't notice as much.

Mine's flabby at the bottom too - figure my little fat roll has just migrated there rather than spreading itself out. God knows what it will look like when baby is out... sigh.

NeedToSleepZZZ · 22/09/2010 11:41

This has been such a relief to read, I have a bump above my belly button too although it is smaller than my bump (I'm 20 weeks). The top bump is really hard and just muscle, I was getting a complex about it as I thought all pregnant women had lovely round bumps. Still think mine looks bizarre though as I can see my ribs a bit still when I turn sideways. I have put on loads of weight but was underweight to start with.

BongoWinslow · 22/09/2010 11:50

I have found since I started swimming every day my bump has been a nicer shape - feels firmer and nicely toned on the sides. And you get to float along feeling weightless for a little while, which is a godsend.

Original poster

Rocklover · 22/09/2010 12:09

I think I have just figured out what has happened. My stomach muscles are kaput! If I hold them in my bump at the top shrinks and I look more "normal", but it is too uncomfortable to suck my stomach in all the time. Bugger!

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ihearttc · 22/09/2010 12:18

Im 24 weeks and my bump looks like a B as well so you are definitely not alone! It looked exactly the same the first time I was pregnant as well and Ive figured out mine is because my belly button doesn't ever pop out so no matter how rounded my tummy is it will still go in at the bit...if that makes any sense at all?!

Original poster

Rocklover · 22/09/2010 12:39

I think I need to go on a bloody diet, I really look huge. I did a stupid thing and googled to see what other women looked like at the halfway stage. I look like an elephant in comparison!

I was alot smaller at this stage with my dd as I had lost 2 1/2 stone through sickness and diahorrea. I really have to cut out all the junk food now and just live with feeling sick as a dog.

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Swazzee · 22/09/2010 14:58

My bump is the same! It goes in at the belly button and although the top bit is getting bigger and bigger, the bottom bit is just the same flabby spare tyre I had before I was pregnant (but I was a few sizes bigger than you to begin with). And to top it off, some days it goes really pointy! Plus, I've got two of 'em in there so it's going to get huge too!

I'm 29 weeks now and not loving my pregnant look, but at the scans and midwifes and consultants and doctors, no one has mentioned that it's odd, so I figure what the hell.

BuckBuck my DH calls me his whale , especially when he has to haul me off the sofa or push me out of bed for my thrice nightly wee trips.

Original poster

Rocklover · 22/09/2010 15:39

I reckon being pregnant is a tad crap.

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Raahh · 22/09/2010 16:12

I have been huge since about 18 weeks (number 3). A mother at school said to me shortly before the Whit holiday that she was looking forward to seeing my baby in the new term. She was mortified when I said i had another 20 weeks to go. And i am not at all fat- i am all bump (and only 4ft 8). and this time my belly button became an outy- not done that before!

I have hated every single second of this pregnancy.I look like
this-Mr Greedy

although, ironically, i have lost weight.
I week to go til ELCS- can't wait!!

Swazzee · 22/09/2010 16:58

HAHAHAHHA. Raahh I love that pic as an illustration of pregnancy

smoggii · 22/09/2010 17:09

Swazee I think I love you. that made me chuckle as i'm with you on this one. I am 28 weeks and i'm all top belly.
My baby is definitely in the bottom belly but it's the top belly that is getting bigger.
Again the midwives haven't said anything so i'm going to assume it's fine.
I guess everyone is different it's like when we're not pregnant i guess most people don't look like the nonpregnant women we see in the magazines either!

Raahh · 22/09/2010 17:20

Swazzee- it would make a good t-shirt!

Original poster

Rocklover · 22/09/2010 17:28

I think I would look like Mr Greedy if he tied a bit of string round his middle. I have just eaten pasta for dinner and my "top belly" is now sticking out even more.

I look great!

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ChooksAway · 22/09/2010 17:51

My bump is just the same. The top bit sticks out far more than the bottom, where the baby actually is.

I'm fully expecting the top bit to keep growing, and I won't have to wear a bra by the end, i'll just pop them on top of the bump and there they'll stay!

Original poster

Rocklover · 22/09/2010 18:01

I do remember in my previous pregnancy that when the bump was fully formed it literally went from under my boobs right down to my pubic bone. Even the midwife agreed that I was not one of those blessed with a neat bump.

In fact my nickname for dd before she was born was lumpy, because that's how I looked...like a big fat lump. I guess this is what's happening with this one.

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Swazzee · 23/09/2010 10:20

this thread is making me chuckle.

DH called me a small elephant last night. Not sure whether I prefer that or the whale... It came as a response to my horror as I looked down at my feet and realised my ankles were the size of footballs! Looks like I'm lumping out everywhere. Welcome to the third trimester.

Raahh I've seen maternity t-shirts with Mr Bump on them saying 'Mind the Bump' but I reckon the Mr Greedy pic would be better.

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