Is it REALLY possible to show so early?

[BabyBlueBella]

I read quite a lot of posts on here re people asking about whether it's normal to be showing at 6/8/10/12 weeks.

I can't wait to see my bump and must say I stare at myself in the mirror for about 10 minutes straight every morning to see if I can see it yet.

My question is - I see a lot of people telling others that you absolutely CANNOT show early on, and others saying that you absolutely CAN. Which one is right?!

Would love to know if it is really possible to show in the first trimester...

Sort of. It’s usually bloat not baby though. Some women (depending on pelvis shape and how the womb lies) have their wombs turn out much faster... so it’s showing, it’s just not baby at first. Therefore there isn’t an answer as such, it just depends on what you mean by showing

Sorry I should've clarified @FranticallyPeaceful - I mean a proper baby bump, as opposed to bloat (it's all lovely but this seems to always be a bit of a debate on here!)

the womb expands and it’s not just baby in there though, or we would all be pretty small until right at the end. Lots of water and other stuff going on... so if we’re taking the womb out of the equation and pretending it’s just a baby floating in the stomach then no of course you wouldn’t be able to notice... but baby is in an expanding womb, which changes things

I’m very petite, 5’1” and size 6-8 hips and I was “showing” at 10 weeks with both of mine in that I hadn’t put weight on anywhere else but my belly was noticeably round, enough for a couple of people to ask when I was due.

@MillieMoon94 I'm exactly the same right now. Not even out of the first trimester yet and feeling especially round. Can't hide it from my colleagues so hiding under big jumpers! Just wondered if I would be laughed at at 12 weeks for owning my bump as so many people seem to have such strong opinions on it!

With my first baby I didn't show until about 24 weeks. When I got pregnant with my second I weighed less than I had when I got pregnant with my first, but I had a bump from around 8 weeks. I just presumed my muscles were weaker or something . So I definitly think it's possible to have a bump quite early on.

Your bump will happen....lol...and then everyone will think they can touch it .

@Perfectly1mperfect I can imagine that's super annoying!

I have been pregnant twice before, just sadly haven't made it to term.

Come on bump, where are you!

BabyBlueBella

So sorry to hear that. How far along are you ?

@Perfectly1mperfect it's okay. It was a while ago now. It was devastating ah the time but I'm now just incredibly grateful to be pregnant again. I was told however that you can show earlier if you've been pregnant before.

I'm 10 weeks! Had two early scans due to a number of previous miscarriages and bleeding so I know as of two days ago baby was just fine

@BabyBlueBella so sorry for your previous losses ❤️ Wishing you lots of luck and love this time around. I’m glad I’m not the only one who struggled to hide it before the 12 week scan! First time around was easy to hide it as my first trimester was in September/October but second time around was April/May so nearly impossible! Totally agree that it’s not just baby though, my bumps were massive both times but bubbas were only 6lb 8oz and 6lb 12oz respectively.

@MillieMoon94 it's okay. It was a couple of years ago now. Just not meant to be I suppose. But as I said to pp I'm so grateful to be pregnant again and am keeping my fingers and toes and everything crossed!

Nothing wrong with a massive bump I bet it's the proudest feeling ever!

@BabyBlueBella it really is! Everyone wanted to touch it though! 🙄
From about 32 weeks I couldn’t go up and down stairs because the bump got in the way so much! We were in a first floor flat by my second pregnancy so I was constantly praying the lift didn’t break 😂
Great feeling though, I loved it even though it was exhausting.

BabyBlueBella

I bet you find it reassuring to have the scans, glad you are being looked after. Wishing you a healthy pregnancy (and a big bump very soon ! )

Thank you @Perfectly1mperfect ! It is so reassuring. Can't wait to make it to 12 weeks! A heartbeat at 10 weeks can only be a good sign though. Now just for nuchal scan and I'm in trimester 2

Ah lovely! I so can't wait!

I think if you are normally slim and don't carry weight, the you get hormonal bloat, your tummy will stick out. I would call that showing!

On the other hand if you are veyr fit with very good stomach muscles, youmay ot show for months. Ballet dancers fro example apparently can look flat at 5 months

@steppemum I am slim and have fairly strong stomach muscles but by no means a washboard stomach! Think I'm going to make a conscious decision to rock my bloat as soon as people at work know I'm pregnant! 3 weeks and counting....

I think if you have quite weak stomach muscles and get really bloated it can be possible to look a bit rounder and think you're showing early. But in the first trimester your uterus is still fairly small and the baby is a few cm so it's more the result of all the changes, which is why a lot of people think it's not really showing.

I didn’t show so that others noticed until I was over 20 weeks but then once the bump was out, it grew quickly and by the time he was born I was enormous! I looked as though a beach ball was up my top!

I think so! With my 1st I didn't show until 16 weeks+ (I remember going to my 16 week appt and looking down as MW did the doppler to finally see a small bump!) This time round I've been showing since 10 weeks. DS is only 1 and apparently its quite normal to show earlier in subsequent pregnancies, especially if you've recently been pregnant as muscles are already weaker and haven't had time to properly repair!