So if you're fat do you show earlier or later?

[ecuse]

I can hypothesise either...

a) since I'm fat anyway there's a lot of extra space to be 'taken up' by the growing baby before it pushes out (and people will probably notice relatively small changes less on me). On the other hand,

b) since I don't exactly have abs of steel it might all start to hang out earlier than someone with a taut stomach.

Not really bothered either way, just interested to know when I might show. Am a comfortable size 20 and 10+2 with my first. So far my tummy feels more solid than usual and I find it harder to 'pull in' than before.

Anyone got any good guesses when I might start showing?

I'm about size 18 - with DD I wore my normal clothes until about 12 weeks then my jeans started getting snug & uncomfy in the waist.

I had a good bump by 5 months & I found wearing snug tops useful so I looked pregnant instead of just fatter . I did feel I have plenty of room for the baby to grow into but I'm reasonably tall also at 5'9" - so there was lots of space.

I loved it as it felt like finally I was accepted for being fat/pregnant, rather than judged. Not that I feel very self conscious about my weight usually, but I really loved the big bump.

I'm now about 10 weeks with DC2 and I was really bloated at first, though I'm more comfy in my normal jeans again. It seems you do get bigger quicker 2nd time. I don't want to announce to work etc yet, but it will be a relief to get into pregnancy clothes so I won't be able to wait too long.

I think you show sooner if you are slimmer.

It's taken me ages to realise when some larger aquaintances are pregnant, especially if they wear loose clothes anyway.

if it's your first baby you tend to show later than subsequent ones.
I am size 14-16 and 5ft9 and didn't really have a bump til about 22 weeks. I am 32 weeks now and there's no mistaking it!
was frustrating between about 18-22 weeks as it's the whole belly or bump debate and consequenetly would find myself rubbing my stomach a lot in public. It felt and looked harder and like a mini bump to me, but to the rest of the world probably a minefield assuming so.

I have small shoulders and chest and big hips, thighs, arse and tum. 16 tops and 20/22 bottoms. I started to obviously show at 16 weeks. I haven't had any new stretch marks and I'm 28+4 now with DC1. My tummy is now taught and my belly button is starting to flatten out. I did find I had a little shelf above the bump to start with but that's sort of gone now. I find that empire line tops are a little more flattering on my bump, the kind that gather below the bust and go out. I was in maternity jeans at 10-12 weeks, I was uncomfortable at the waist line, spending most days leaning over a desk was just uncomfortable. Though Next jeans have never fitted me before, their maternity jeans are very good and I'm wearing 20 under bump bootcut and very pleased.

I'm 12 and a half weeks and already show. I'm about a size 14 but top heavy (big boobs) and tend to put weight on my stomach rather than anywhere else.

I'm a size 18/20 and almost 19 wks pregnant. I have just popped out my usual jeans over the week, i now have a definate baby bump,and loving my maternity jeans soooo comfy!

I am a size 16-18 and thought I wouldn't show for ages, but actually did quite early. I had always been curvy - overweight but with a good 'inny' waist so whilst I wouldn't say hourglass, I was definitely errmmm... figure of 8 shaped (!), but then at about 10 weeks my waist had completly disappeared, I couldn't fasten any trousers and had the beginnings of a round pregnant bump. I also lost about half a stone during the first 12 weeks as wasn't eating anything in the evening due to nausea, so I think I actually lost a bit of actual fat but gained fluid and baby shape, which seemed to weigh less. Am now back to pre-pregnancy weight but am clearly visibly pregnant and have been since about 14 weeks.

I think it actually helps once you get into maternity clothes as they're shaped to give you a round bump, whereas when I was still trying to fit into normal clothes I had a lovely double belly thing going on, which was both uncomfortable and unsightly!

D

Sorry should have mentioned, am now 19 weeks.

I definitely have a (not very scientific!) theory that the slimmer you are, the more quickly you show. All of the slim mums I know showed really quickly.

ecuse - I am about the same size as you - with my first and third (both boys) by 13 weeks, I was in maternity trousers - there was no way my normal ones would ever go on. I just looked really fat though!
With dc2 (girl) and this time (don't know what it is!) I barely show.
I'm 21 weeks now, my normal trousers still fit (when done up with a hair bobble) and I'm starting to look PG.

I think it's down to the pregnancy, as well as size!

I dont think you can go by what size or shape you were before.

My friends who have been pregnant have all been different. Mrs size6 looked like she had swallowed a peanut the day before she dropped yet her sister Mrs size8 had a definate bump even before her 12 week scan.

Myself..... I stuck my size 18 backside in maternity jeans after 20 weeks just so my belly was more round rather than fat

I'm a pre-pregnant size 16-18. Only gave up on my regular jeans at 22 weeks and still wear some normal tops (37+2). I am convinced I just looked like I'd eaten a lot of pies until over 30 weeks. DH says not but then he would.
NOw obviously there is no mistaking and for the past couple of months have quote enjoyed wearing fitted tops which show off that I'm not just fat!!

I have a theory that everyone notices it on themselves about the same time (10ish weeks and some of your trousers fit and some don't). But if you're normally concave of stomach, its' more obvious. If, to be delicate, you normally protruded a bit, people aren't going to notice a bit more...

I think Longtalljosie's right. If you've got stick-like arms and legs and small norks, and your stomach muscles aren't strong enough to hold it all in, your belly is going to look pregnant quite early.

If you're more....erm...rotund, then people won't be sure if it's a pregnancy belly or just a few extra pounds from some delicious meals.

Well, I was a 14-16 when I concieved the second time round. So while not very fat, certainly not petite! I showed before 12 weeks, though to the untutored eye it looked like I'd been eating more pies than normal. I am now 26 weeks and enormous. I have a massive bump that everyone thinks is full-term. There's a little flab hanging off the bottom of it (my 'apron' from DS) but you can't really tell unless you squidge it.

With DS, I also popped out fast, though not as fast as this time. TBH, fat or slim, I think it's down to your personal build and height. I am 5'2" and quite short-waisted and attribute my massive and early bump to this.

I was an hourglass size 16 before and felt I gained weight (and lost my waist) in the first trimester really quickly. The weight gain then slowed down a bit so have probably gained about a stone so far (am now 18+4). Still managing to avoid maternity gear, although can feel squidgy belly starting to harden into a proper bump. Otherwise I don't look particularly pregnant, just like a fatty without a waist!

I'm a pre-preg size 16-18, I remember being really disapointed with my first PG how long it took to look Pg as opposed to just fat but loved the fact I could sit around rubbing my tummy. I had an obvious high up baby bump by 20 weeks but a lot of people still wouldn't ask if I was pregnant in case they caused offence. My stomach gradually got harder and harder until there was no give but my tummy button stayed in, I didn't get any new stretch marks either.

i'm now 12 weeks with DC2 and most of my clothes still fit apart from that top button but my stomach feels/looks more rounded to me. I think I will get the maternity tops out in a few weeks time so I can start rubbing my stomach and saying loudly that i'm PG when I want a seat on the bus.

I'm a 16-18 and now at 23 weeks with DC2 I definitely look as if I have a bump in tight clothes and not just fat. I'm still in my normal size 18 jeans and normal tunic tops. Earlier on in the pregnancy - around 10-11 weeks my jeans were beginning to feel very tight and I was anticipating having to get into my maternity ones but after a few weeks, they began to fit again so I'm guessing it was down to bloating. I didn't start showing with DC1 until around 5-6 months and think I even lost some bulk around my bum/thighs though I don't seem to have been so lucky this time so far! I've got that annoying little shelf at the top too but it is beginning to even out - in fact with DC1 I had to ask the midwife if it was 'normal' as I didn't recall having it before (I did, but I'd forgotten!). Still have the overhang at the bottom of my belly too but that's well enclosed in my clothes - if I 'pull' the whole thing up, I have quite a tidy bump but once I let it go, it all flops down again !

I'm only 8 weeks but have always stored fat around my stomach (size 16-20) so am used to being offered seats/asked when I'm due etc. I went to pregnancy yoga this week as advised by the midwife and the instructor thought I was 20+ weeks until I told her, and then promptly told me off for coming so early on. So I think I'll have to get used to lots of 'so, you must be excited now the baby's nearly here?' 'no, I'm 20 weeks' sort of conversations. I'd been rather looking forward to being pregnant for a rest from the constant embarrassment, but it seems there are just new forms.

slimmer people normally show quite early, but i dont think its a definate thing, i just think everyone is different as with my 1st i weighd just over 8 stone i showed as soon as i found out at 8 weeks pregnant i had quite a big belly, but now im pregnant with my second, im nearly 11 weeks and have nothing there at all, i weigh 7 stone 12 now, so thought i would have a quite prominent belly. i think each pregnancy is different. my cousin is 11 weeks like me and shes larger than me and shes grown quite alot

Hmmm so the message seems to be everyone's different. So far I'm still in all my normal clothes at 10wks (like findingmymojo and mejon I found they were tighter a week or two ago than now, so I guess it was bloat). I guess I'll just have to wait and see. In one way I'm dying to have a lovely little baby bump but, actually, I want to keep it secret from work for as long as possible (waiting to hear whether I get a promotion). Thanks everyone!