Bump size!

[justhayley]

Hiya I'm 21 + 4 weeks with my first - a boy :) just wondering if there's a way to measure "average bump" size?
Everyone is starting to have an opinion 3 people today commented on it's size - the first said I look massive for 21 weeks, later on I was told I was carrying really well and have a nice tiny bump, & then I was asked if iv been eating enough or I'm overdoing exercise as my bump is a lot smaller than it should be & I should really check the baby is growing ok!!

Bit extreme so tiny am I eating and massive in the same day!

I have no idea if I'm big or small for 21 weeks, it's my first pregnancy and I have nothing to compare it to. I had my 20 week scan at 19 weeks and baby was growing as he should be so no concerns. Im not fused about my bump size if the baby is the right size, our bodies are all different so I don't see why out pregnancies would be the same.

Just curious if there is such a thing as the average size bump.

Hayley xx

Hi justhayley,

Same here we are 21 weeks and 3 days gone and some people have commented how big a bump our DS is creating and then other people tell me how neat and tidy I am (yay)

The main thing is that baby is growing okay. I think they measure your bump later on to check on growth.

xx

Get used to it, it gets no better the further on you are - people always like to give their opinion, whether you want it or not!!!! I've had the exact same thing - comments varying from what a nice neat bump I have to omg how huge are you!!!!

As long as your midwife is happy with your growth I wouldn't worry. They won't start measuring bump size until about 28 weeks as it isn't an accurate reflection of baby size and even then it isn't 100% reliable!!!

Try not to worry too much, people always feel the need to make stupid comments to pregnant women! At your next mw appointment they should start measuring your bump with a tape measure to make sure baby is growing properly and if there are any concerns you'll be sent for a growth scan.

I had an appointment this week and mw said my bump measures exactly right but I still get told every day that I'm huge

There's a US website where people post pictures of their bumps at various weeks. I can't remember what it's called but it was really interesting to see the range of sizes for the same number of weeks! I don't think there is a normal, it depends how the baby is lying, your size etc etc

'Google Image' it and have a look at other people's bumps at 20 weeks. Remember that everyone is different though and we are all different shapes and sizes. I am 31 weeks and my friend is 34 weeks and her bump is smaller than mine. She has a smaller frame than me though so that might be why. She is also having a boy whilst I am having a girl. Not sure if that makes a difference or whether is it just an old wives tale.

My bump measures consistently 1cm over the number of weeks at each appointment so far (so measured 28cm at 27 weeks), which the midwives say is great - just listen to that and ignore anything else.

I've had both too - told my bump's huge by one person and tiny by another. Similarly, one person told me how much 'fatter' I'd become while another insisted I'd put on nothing except the bump, both in the same day! I have no idea what I look like to other people any more and as long as baby is fine I don't care

I just get told how enormous my bump is I am 22+2.

A lady at work is six weeks ahead of me and has a much smaller bump. I do feel it's an unfair comparison as I am barely five foot one and when not pregnant, am a size 6/8. So at that size, there's really nowhere for the baby to grow but straight out the front. Whereas the lady at work is at least eight inches taller than me so has plenty of space between pelvis and ribcage.

Unfortunately, people just love to comment. You have to learn to ignore them, just smile and say 'Well, the midwife is not worried' then change the subject.

Hi all,
Thank you I dont feel bigger than I should, to be honest my bump is only starting to properly appear, I also don't feel tiny - def not tiny enough to be asked if I'm eating, was quite offended by that! I'm 5'5 and was a size 10 pre pregnancy, am now wearing a 12 - mainly as my bum seems to be getting bigger rather than bump - but luckily for them knowone is commenting on that!

Yummymummy we are due the same time then :) I'm April 28th, u must be 29th? Loved ur yummy mummy post lol ur officially my new best mums net friend lol

Right I'm off to google bump photos and see if I can track down that website, will post a link if I find it xx

Congratulations. I really don't think there is any average size. My bump for dd 6 months was tiny and she was my 4th and smallest baby. Midwives never seemed too think it was unusual

Best to just ignore people. Bump sizes vary and can depend on height of mum the way the baby is lie and other factors. I am always huge in pregnancy. At 25 weeeks with ds1 they decided to rescan me incase they had missed a twin thankfully they had not and they said ds1 was normal size I just had a huge bump. A friend of mine had twins, when she was full time with them she hardly had a bump and looked more like I did when 4 months. I thought she was going to have two tiny babies but they were both 7 and half pounds.
You really can't tell with bumps and shame on those sensitive people, why do people feel the need to comment

I keep getting ' ooh you don't look pregnant' or 'you're not very big are you' which is complete bollocks, i've gone up a dress size at least and my tummy is huge, am def not one of those nice neat football tucked under the jumper pregnant ladies. Am about 7 months now so either will turn into a whale in these last two months or be destined never to properly be considered pregnant. M/W says am measuring ok.

Agree that it would be nicer if people didn't comment am not sure why but this really gets to me, esp at playgroup when i've got five witcheswomen all staring at my stomach and passing comment.

i've been told i'm massive and neat and tiny and huge... everyone has something to say :)

It's very cheesy but there are lots of bump pictures by week here:

pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/photos/model14573