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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

16 weeks but no proper bump? I'm worried.

64 replies

wheretogofromhere12 · 31/01/2022 10:44

I know some people don't get a bump until later but I'm really worried. I keep seeing posts online of people who are also 16 weeks pregnant with a proper bump. I have bloating which I always have anyway.
And then slightly above my pelvis a smaller hard bit of a bump that hasn't really gotten bigger.
I've had 3 losses before so I'm really worried it could have happened again and it's another missed miscarriage.
People are even posting videos of the baby kicking! And you can see it on their tummy, they're also 16 weeks.

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ClutterofStarlings · 31/01/2022 10:46

I’d be v sceptical of anyone being able to film a 16week bump with kicks tbh. My first I didn’t get a bump til 20-22 weeks. The second was more like 18 weeks I think. You sound more normal than them to me!

Luckygreenduck · 31/01/2022 10:47

I think it depends on so many things so try not to worry. Some women barely get a visable bump at all- it depends on your size and shape.
16 weeks is still relevately early, I think most people can hide it at that point and often it depends what your wearing. People only post bump photos once they have a bump so its a bit of a self selecting group.
Have you had your 16 week midwife appointment, they may be able to reassure you.

brunonononono · 31/01/2022 10:51

I was completely flat until about 25 weeks! Even when I got overdue I had the tiniest neatest bump that I could easily hide. Perfect healthy baby :)

timeisnotaline · 31/01/2022 10:54

I was looking at photos of my baby bump wirh ds1. I shared one on Fb at 5 months. I could easily hide a pregnancy, it was hardly a bump at all. It’s pretty different now with my 3rd

Original poster

wheretogofromhere12 · 31/01/2022 10:58

Thank you for the reassurance. I have an appointment this Thursday so I'm hoping they'll do a scan or something to check everything is ok. They've said they might do a scan because of the previous losses so I really hope that they do. It's been such an anxious time so seeing all these bumps was making me feel like maybe something is wrong.
Thank you for your replies. It's good to hear that it seems relatively normal and it can take much longer for a bump to develop.

OP posts:

Dyra · 31/01/2022 11:00

At 16 weeks as a FTM? It's not some people getting bumps later, it's most of them!

I always look at bump photos with a hefty dose of salt. People exaggerating them by pushing out what they do have. People on their 2nd+ child, pretending they're FTMs. As for visible movements at 16 weeks... Yeah..... Maybe some women with absolutely no stomach muscles, not a FTM, posterior placenta, and an unusually large and strong 16 week foetus might have that. But they are incredibly in the minority. Or they're lying.

InvisibleDragon · 31/01/2022 11:06

I'm 20 weeks with no obvious bump yet. I also only felt any definite movements a few days ago. Had my 20 week scan on Friday and the baby is absolutely fine - on the big side, moving around a lot, stretching his legs out, rubbing his face with his hands etc.

I think we all just have different bodies that adapt differently to being pregnant. I'm sure in a few weeks we'll be moaning that our bumps are big and inconvenient!

aus12 · 31/01/2022 11:21

@wheretogofromhere12 I’m 20weeks this week & don’t look pregnant nor have I felt movements. I’ve had HG so I actually weigh less now than I did before I got pregnant so don’t worry about not looking pregnant, it will happen!

TopCatsTopHat · 31/01/2022 11:23

My neighbour recently gave birth to an 8lb+baby. I saw her 3 days before the birth, you wouldn't have even known she was pregnant! And she is a petite slim lady. I am still baffled where the Heck that baby was!?

TopCatsTopHat · 31/01/2022 11:26

For my first, I looked like I'd eaten a big meal at 22 weeks, wouldn't call it a bump. I was sporty and had great abs. For my second I looked ready to drop any day at the same point. Both completely normal.

BikiniB0tt0m · 31/01/2022 11:27

My bump appeared at 22 weeks I remember because I ordered a ball gown for a planned occasion before I knew I was pregnant and worried it wouldn't fit I had to wear it about 18wk pregnant it still fitted perfect from when I first tried it on. A month later it wouldn't of. So don't worry you will pop out. Congratulations

Original poster

wheretogofromhere12 · 31/01/2022 11:32

Thank you for all your reassuring replies. It helps to hear this and that I'm not alone in it!
I wish I didn't have these anxieties.
Each time I've been for a scan they've said the baby is measuring bang on the dates. But I haven't had a scan for 3 weeks which is building up the anxiety again. But your comments have reassured me this is normal.

OP posts:

BigWoollyJumpers · 31/01/2022 11:35

OP I am sure everything is fine. Everybody carries differently, some out front, others internally. Like many of the pp's I didn't show at all until 6 months, it was hilarious, people at work were "wtf", in fact most people didn't notice unless they saw me sideways!! Front on, I looked normal. Both DD's perfect and perfect size, weight. I'm not a big/tall person though, and neither are they.

Teaandcrumpets95 · 31/01/2022 11:38

For me, also a ftm, my very small bump didn't turn up until 19/20 weeks and then only if you knew I was pregnant would you be able to tell x
Hit 24/25 weeks and bam look really pregnant 😅
For movements, I have an anterior placenta so didn't feel much of anything really until 23/24 weeks and I've only seen external movement a handful of times since 26 weeks tbh x

MrsRubyMonday · 31/01/2022 11:46

I'm a FTM with an anterior placenta. At 16 weeks I looked a bit bloated occasionally, nothing more than that. By around 20 weeks I would have a bit of a bump some days but others I looked normal, mostly I just looked like I'd gained a bit of weight, more depended on what I had been eating (I was also quite constipated at times which didn't help). It's only now at 26 weeks that I'm really starting to look noticeably pregnant as opposed to chubby, but she's been kicking away for a few weeks now. I have severe anxiety and had a couple of early scans to reassure myself but now I'm feeling her move I feel much more relaxed.

Sailor2009 · 31/01/2022 11:48

Op I was wearing my normal size 12 jeans up until 22 weeks and then in the space of a week I looked like I'd swallowed a space hopper. I don't think I felt her move until just after my 20 week scan. No bump or a tiny bump at 16 weeks is perfectly normal. Most of those pictures will have been taken with an arched back. I know it's easy to say but please try not to worry.

Rangoon · 31/01/2022 12:01

If you have a tilted uterus your bump may show later. It's quite common. I recall the specialist talking about it when he was talking about my bump. I plainly did not have a tilted uterus as I sat there at 12 weeks looking noticeably pregnant!

Bonnealle · 31/01/2022 12:07

Honestly 16wks is so early, I’m not surprised you can’t see anything. I don’t think I showed until I was about 24 with my first. Like you I also had losses and couldn’t really get into the pregnancy until the 20wk scan, please stop trying to compare, it’s so different for everyone and just take each day as it comes.

Original poster

wheretogofromhere12 · 31/01/2022 12:08

I've no idea about the placenta or where it's positioned etc. Maybe they'll know from the next scan?
I'm only 5'2 so not tall. And a size 10.
Sometimes I look like there's a little bump or I can feel what could be a bit of a bump and then the next day it can look quite flat and I wonder where the hell it's gone...! So there's nothing obvious and no one would know I was pregnant unless I told them

OP posts:

Bunnybunny1 · 31/01/2022 12:11

I had no bump whatsoever at 17 weeks then at week 18 a very slight one.
5 years later, I have a bump but it’s just a good baby!

littlemissalwaystired · 31/01/2022 12:11

I'm a midwife so can reassure you it is completely normal to not look pregnant at 16 weeks. A large number of those people you think have "bumps" will most likely just be bloated. At 16 weeks your uterus is half way between your pubic bone and your belly button, so definitely not high enough to be having a huge (actually uterus & baby related) bump, or be seeing visible movements! Easier said than done but just try to stay calm, it all sounds fine

Bunnybunny1 · 31/01/2022 12:11

Food**

TulipsGarden · 31/01/2022 12:12

I didn't show until about 22 weeks - I went from just looking and feeling a bit bloated to 'BAM PREGNANT' in a week while I was on holiday :D I remember the looks of shock when I went back to work! I also started wearing maternity clothes at that point which probably accentuated it.

Also didn't feel kicks until at least 20 weeks, I had an anterior placenta and didn't really feel much until the last month.

Thinking2041 · 31/01/2022 12:12

I’ve always been a size 12 but only if I eat well etc. I always assumed I’d balloon with pregnancy. I had no bump at all until 25-28 weeks. My baby was perfect.
2nd pregnancy I shower earlier but still not huge. They kept asking me to go for growth scans as my bump was small. I knew this time around not to worry. Perfectly healthy sizeable little chunk emerged. Please don’t stress!

itsjustnotok · 31/01/2022 12:13

I was tiny until about 6 weeks before my due date. I never looked ‘properly’ pregnant.

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