2nd pregnancy size

[Gerani]

Hi I am currently 22wks into my 2nd pregnancy and we are expecting a baby boy. My 1st pregnancy was to a girl. I'm just wondering people's experiences and symptoms of their 2nd (or 3rd etc) pregnancies, as my symptoms during this pregnancy are very different to my 1st. This pregnancy I feel absolutely huge at 22 weeks compared to this stage during my 1st pregnancy. Is it normal for bump to grow faster/bigger with boys? Also my bump had shown alot sooner than my first, which I expected but last time i felt like my bump was so neat, now I just feel like a blob 🙄 I'm being very good food wise and continuing my exercising etc. I just feel so self conscious at times, especially with the summer time heat at the moment and we are going on holiday abroad in two weeks. Trying my best to embrace it as much as I can, but also feeling incredibly body conscious too 😞

Nothing to do with sex of baby, everything to do with the fact that this is your second pregnancy.

All of your muscles have been stretched before and you tend to show a lot sooner. In my case I was massive early on but eventually averaged out to be the same size as I was at an equivalent gestation with dc1. I can’t remember when the midwives start measuring the bump - is it 26 weeks? - but by that point you should be average sized again.

It is normal though for second babies to weigh more than first babies, and for boys to weigh more than girls, so you are likely to have a slightly bigger baby this time.

I had a girl first time and she was 7lbs at birth. Second DC was a boy and nearly 9lbs at birth so yes, my bump was much bigger second time round! As PP says, the skin and muscles have already stretched in previous pregnancy so it’s normal for the bump to appear sooner and to look bigger, as there is already space (looser skin etc) for the baby to expand into. And maybe this baby will be bigger than the previous one.

I’m sorry you’re feeling so self conscious, I was exactly the same with my second pregnancy and felt like I was hiding myself behind baggy clothes.
I also felt huge with my second pregnancy compared to my first but my baby boy was a couple of oz smaller than my little girl.

The midwife explained to me that my stomach muscles weren’t as strong the second time around so you tend to show a lot earlier and have a slightly bigger bump.

Thank you for your replies, I'm glad i am growing which means the babies thriving & growing healthy, im just not used to being bigger, it sounds so vain but I am abit paranoid of weighing more etc. I haven't gained weight anywhere else, as in my arms legs or face or anything, it is all just round the bump at the moment. Just having a down day about it I suppose 😪 wondering if I should have a chat with my midwife but I'm just worried they'll start to think I have some kind of body image issue.

Being paranoid about weighing more while pregnant is really sad 😔 If there is one time in life it shouldn’t matter to a woman what she weighs, it’s pregnancy (obviously unless there are concerns about the mother or baby’s health). Personally I enjoyed not caring about my weight during my pregnancies, and eating more than usual! (Yes I know ‘eating for two’ isn’t really a thing but I pretended to myself that it was 😂) Speak to your midwife by all means and hopefully she will have some reassurance for you. But this might just be a case of having to accept that you’re going to be bigger and heavier because you’re growing and carrying another human!

I get it. I’m pregnant with dc3 (only 6 weeks) and dreading what it will do to my body.

I put on loads of weight in pregnancy and then am one of these unfortunate people who can’t lose the weight until they stop breastfeeding, so with both my kids I had a long time of feeling fat! But in both cases I did get back to pre baby weight eventually so just need to trust the process and be grateful to your body for growing a baby!

Girl then boy here too! First pregnancy with DD was an absolute dream - neat bump, no pain or swelling, shiny hair and glowing skin. I threw up most days until 24 weeks but only once or twice. DS pregnancy was a nightmare! I had full blown hypermesis, was enormous, had PGP, loads of dodgy test results (he’s a healthy toddler now thankfully)… just awful. Both times though I snapped back pretty quickly and felt good post birth. No after pains with either but breastfeeding was easier second time. Congrats!

@Gerani pleased to see you post. Currently 23 weeks pregnant with #2 and feel HUGE. My bump now is the same size as full term than #1. I'm not one who "enjoys" pregnancy.

My first I was small, I'm inky 5ft2 and baby was 5lb8 at 10 days over due.

People keep saying "oh you're getting big/bigger" I don't like it!

Like you I'm trying to eat healthy and still running (slowly). I kinda want to raise with midwife but unsure how she'll take it.

Not sure it helps that I lost a lot of weight during covid so struggle with weight gain. Not weighed myself but feel a blob!

Lots of differences in second pregnancies: with a vaginal birth you have these horrid things called after pains almost worse than labor!