When does that brown belly button line malarky appear?

[TheScenicRoute]

I'm 26+5 and think I can see the vaguest of shadows, like a faint bruise, in two areas below my belly button, from a distance they look like they might be the start of that brown line thing.

I can't say I'm ecstatic about the prospect of this appearing, but im fully expecting it. So when does it normally arrive, is it a gradual build up, how soon does it disappear after the birth and what's it's real name?

It's the linea nigra (I think!). I didn't get it in either pregnancy though.

I didn't get it in either pregnancy.

I didn't get it either!

31+4 and mine is getting gradually darker. Had the faintest line for a couple of weeks now.

I also have rings around my belly button where it's stretched out

I never had it

Thanks guys. I didn't realise there's a chance I might avoid it. Then again, I've not managed to avoid anything else in pregnancy so why should this be different!

So Retro - you started at 29 weeksish. I guess this could be similar. Time will tell.

X

I seem to recall my line appearing before 20 weeks!

Mine just started appearing in the last week or so - I'm just over 30 weeks now. Oh, and I totally have the exact same belly button rings Retro, with very very little belly button left to speak of.

Around 32-33 weeks for me, both pregnancies. Looks like a very thin tanned line.

Mine was well and truly there around 15 weeks! Although only now that I'm nearing 30 has it developed above my belly button

I didn't have it in either pregnancy.

I didn't see mine till after my babies were born, very odd lol.

I only got it after the birth too, bit odd.

I've had mine a while but its fairly faint. It only goes up to my belly button so far. I'm 28 weeks.

Think mine started around 30weeks, I hated it. It faded but stayed around until I finished bf at 19mths, sorry! Dd had a faint one which took a couple of yrs to completely disappear. Couldn't tell you what causes it.

I can still see mine from previous pregnancy 3 years ago! It's white now. I'm pregnant again but only 13wks so I guess it'll go brown at some point

I didn't get it with dd1 or any stretchmarks, am 26+4 with dd2 and so far no sign of either again.

My nipples are a rather fetching shade of brown again though and my boobs look like a road map of veins.

I got it in my first pregnancy and am interested to know if it activates the same line or creates a new line with subsequent pregnancies (as an old wives tale says you can tell the sex of the child by how straight the line is!)?

You can still see mine just in a bikini photo when ds1 was 11 months old. It must have gone soon after as that was same time I got pregnant with ds2 and I remember it reappearing. Prob about 30 weeks.

Emus - how high the line goes is supposedly a sign of the sex too, if it only goes upto belly button they say it, if it's any higher then girl!

But back to original question, I remember getting line with my ds but can't remember when, have a faint white-ish line just now at 24 weeks

Mine is definately coming through, only to my belly button and I'm having boy/girl twins, so that blows that theory!

Whilst I had a mirror under my tummy reflecting upwards I noticed 9, YES NINE stretch marks! My first ones and such a shock as I couldn't see them stood looking in the mirror as normal. Double whammy in the space of two days. ( not that they were unexpected, was just hoping to avoid them). Just need to avoid the poppy out belly button thing now.

Ah well that's that theory gone then lol I already have the popped out belly button, shows through everything I wear and I hate it!

Both times mine's appeared from about 30 weeks. To be honest, I can't see it unless I look in mirror as I can't see over the top of my bump and it only goes as far as my belly button! I don't remember when it disappeared last time around

If you are pale skinned you are less likely to get it according to my pregnancy book