I don't understand how I can have a bump at 12 weeks? First pregnancy...

[Cherryblossom200]

Hi everyone,

This is my first pregnancy and seem to have a pretty obvious bump already? I don't get it, I've been a gym goer for years and I'm petite in build. Only 5'3 and weigh 8.5 stones at most. So I don't understand how I can have a bump so early on when the baby is so tiny?! I don't think it's all bloating (though at the day of the day that does contribute to looking bigger) but I wake up with a bump and it's fairly hard. I've tried sucking it in but it's not going away?!

So what exactly is showing if the baby is so tiny???

xx

[Rosebud29]

I was in maternity jeans at 10wks and couldn't hide my belly by 12wks. People were giving me funny looks at work so I had to announce as soon as I'd had my first scan. So yep, it's possible to have a bump at 12wks. I seemed to get big quick then it slowed down a bit.

[Cherryblossom200]

Awww bless you all and our little (or big!) bumps! Feeling very teary today god knows why so you have all made me feel much better :) xx

[Bearsinmotion]

Am 10 weeks and definitely have a bump made of cake!

[Frances79FirstTime]

I'm 16+2 and feel like I have a massive bump - and have done for weeks. It's also my first and previously I was a size 10, 5ft7, very active. Pretty sure a lot of it as bloating but I haven't put on weight elsewhere and mw etc don't seem concerned so I've just got to deal with it. (Hopefully it will stay that way as I would rather just grow a bump than put on weight all over).

[SassehMonsta]

Yes Cherry, first pregnancy - due Dec! Only 5ft and was size 10-12 before I got pregnant, but lost about a stone due to Hyperemesis in first tri. the 10 week picture is my first day back at work after being admitted into hospital for fluids!

[weebairn]

I agree if you are slim with obvious bump you will look fab and get loads of compliments :)

[weebairn]

I'm also quite little and short and had a late-ish bump (19-20 weeks first pregnancy, 17-18 weeks this time). I think people just vary! I didn't have a very big baby and was measuring about 4-5cm under by the time I got to my due date last time. Perfectly healthy though!

I also know people who had a "bump" at 10 weeks which then went away before coming back again at 18 weeks or so - must have been bloating!

And then you get the ladies who barely look pregnant even at term. I have a friend like that, I think the baby was just shoved right into her stomach and lungs because she could hardly eat or breathe for the second half of the pregnancy! There's position, size of baby (later on), fluid, your body shape, height, organs… lots of variables.

There is a very wide range of normal and I wouldn't be concerned about it.

[Cherryblossom200]

Squizita that's really helpful thanks :) you are right it's hard at the bottom and softer up top so must be all my insides pushing up! Lovely ha ha! x

[Cherryblossom200]

I think you are right most if it is water retention etc but I still have a bump in the morning so must be something going on in there! I think probably around 20 weeks is when it turns more into baby rather then insides sticking out (Urgh!) x

[squizita]

TBH I don't think it has that much to do with your build. I'm quite petite and didn't really show until 16 weeks. I think it's to do with your organs and so forth.
The uterus isn't what shows anyway - at 12 weeks it is only just rising about the pubic bones - a trained MW can feel the top of it.
When they did my scan at 12 and 14 and 16 weeks (high risk) they noted a lot of gas/other organs all moved to the front - that's normal. Even at 16 weeks my bump was soft and just other organs/guts at the top, hard at the bottom.

Don't go by babycentre's updates if you're not showing early (they hint when you should get a bump very early and there is a culture on their boards of having a bump/feeling movement earlier and earlier- in some cases at 6 weeks I saw!!)... they really worried me! Mumsnet and the NCT were far less worrying.

[Happilymarried155]

I'm similar build to you cherry and I too am 12 weeks and have a bump! I can't believe it, I can't do any of my trousers up so have been using a hair and on them and hiding under baggy tops and dresses. My 12 week scan is late and not until 13 weeks and I can't wait to tell people!! Everyone just thinks it's getting fat!!

At a previous scan the doctor said it was normal as I was so petite I have a smaller torso so there's nowhere for anything to go but out! I can't wait until everyone knows so I can show it off proudly! X

[Missingcaffeine]

I had a bump from 9 weeks with this pregnancy, my first. Only those who know me would have noticed and was possible to hide with careful choice of clothing. I'm average height, normal BMI, did a load of exercise.
I'm now 32 weeks and I like my bump size/shape, it is not ridiculously huge, I just popped early!

[wingcommandergallic]

5 months? !!

I'm pregnant for the 2nd time and had a bump at 5 weeks.


ignoring fact that I never entirely lost the first bump

Enjoy your pregnancy and flaunt your bump.

[Cherryblossom200]

Omg! Was that your first baby?

[SassehMonsta]

Me at 10, 13 and then 19 weeks... I certainly had a bump at 12!

[bellaboo88]

Op, I'm 12w today & have a small bump today! I'm quite sure its everything moving upwards as uterus starts to rise from pelvis. Or its the full garlic baguette I polished off by myself the other night!

I'd rather have a bump than a bumpless pregnancy like a friend did! X

[Booboostoo]

I am petit as well and my bumps have always stuck out early on, at 7 weeks with this pregnancy. Everyone commented on it including the doctor but it's just a singleton pregnancy. Some people just show more than others.

[weebairn]

I think it just varies massively from person to person.

[Cherryblossom200]

Not mistaken things I definitely look pregnant! Just a bit of a shock as I thought I wouldn't show until about 5 months!

[Cherryblossom200]

I wore a pretty tight fitting sun dress to work today, and there was absolutely no way I could hide my bump. I felt a bit self conscious TBH! I'm proud of my bump but I'm not quite used to it yet. Takes a bit of getting used to x

[WiggleGinger]

I'd say based on your height/ weight stats it makes perfect sense as to why you show early. There's nothing to 'hide it'.
I wouldn't worry as to how you will look in a few months, just enjoy looking pregnant & not looking like you are too much cake (which it was happens to most people between 3-5 months)
Embrace your bump, huge congrats & enjoy your pregnancy

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

I'm petite too and I found with my first and with this pregnancy, that my bump just sticks right out. I think because it has nowhere else to hide! I showed early too, now I look like I've stuck a beach ball up my top.

[redexpat]

No honestly you get lots of compliments if you are slim and pg because its obvious that its a baby and not cake, so people feel more confident in talking to you

[mssleepyhead]

That's very likely what you will look like, cherry : )
As a woman said about me to her daughter in a public toilets the other day: "look! That lady looks like she has a ball under her dress!"
Nice.
In fairness, I do...