Bump size - nearly 18 weeks and no real bump...

[EvieBear]

I know bumps come in all different shapes and sizes but just wanted to get some reassurance as I don't really have a bump and I'll be 18 weeks on Tuesday... I'm slowly becoming more and more concerned. It is normal- is it? Some evenings I look quite big, others not, and am fed up with people looking down and going 'oh you're not very big at all' etc.... It's upsetting me.

PS my next scan is 23rd Feb which is quite a while away... Is there anything i can do to check all is ok? My midwife (live in Putney) is impossible to get hold of, you can leave a msg on a voicemail but never get a return call. She's community midwife and is always in diff places...

Is it your first baby?

I didn't show at all until about 20 weeks with DD1 (I was small and very slim with great abs!) then I sprouted and kept going. My bump was always quite neat though.

I also found my bumps were bigger sometimes than others, must have depended how the baby was lying.

Dont worry - It will come. People only started to notice I was pregnant at 6+ months, be thankful :-)
My bump is still pretty small & im due next week. Everyone differs, depends on tummy muscles too. If you are pretty fit it will hold baby in alot tighter.

Good luck with your pregnancy x

I was the same - I just looked a bit fat. It took till I was 26 weeks before I was obviously pg. It depends on your build and height - I always assumed that I'd show quickly because I was ver slim, but I am also tall. Apparently taller women have more space in the pelvis. When I was measured at 28 weeks by MW I was above the 'average' line.

My 1st pg bump became visible to me at 19 weeks if I stood in front of the mirror, arms up and leaned back . In clothes a bump was visible from 26/7wks but some ppl at work only noticed at 32wks. I also felt kicks relatively late from 24 weeks. with my 2nd everything happened about 2 weeks earlier.

Ok thanks guys, yes it is my first baby, and I am size 8-10 weighing about 54 kg (so slim build). It just feels weird when people look down, i feel bad saying I'm 17 wks or nearly 18 wks as I myself expect to see more too!

Same here with DD1...I didn't say at work until 23weeks and they were all shocked.

With my son I was nearly 30 weeks before I looked pregnant, this time I am 24 weeks now and showing and had a small hard bump from 12 weeks but I put that down to everything being stretched before

Only started showing at 26 weeks -- enjoy while you can... and don't listen to those who question your pregnancy. They'll be the same who suddenly can't stop telling you how big you are when you reach 30 weeks!!
As long as midwives/doctors are happy with the progress don't worry

Eviebear - everyone is different and it depends on various things. I'm 18 weeks on Monday but I'm the opposite to u but the midwife told me my baby is sat very far forward, if I poke around I can sometimes even feel it. But some ppl's uturus sits more internally so u don't see it quite so much.
Also, if your stomach is quite toned as well as bein slim your muscles will stop it from popping out.
My cousin was very slim and toned when she got pregnant and on her wedding pics she is 6 months pregnant but u could hardly even tell.
At about 5 months you'll prob just wake up one morning to find you've got a huge bump!

Eviebear - everyone is different and it depends on various things. I'm 18 weeks on Monday but I'm the opposite to u but the midwife told me my baby is sat very far forward, if I poke around I can sometimes even feel it. But some ppl's uturus sits more internally so u don't see it quite so much.
Also, if your stomach is quite toned as well as bein slim your muscles will stop it from popping out.
My cousin was very slim and toned when she got pregnant and on her wedding pics she is 6 months pregnant but u could hardly even tell.
At about 5 months you'll prob just wake up one morning to find you've got a huge bump!

Hi eviebear- please do not worry I had my dd 5 weeks ago and only put on 1.5stone in total. I ate loads and got back to my pre preg weight within 3 weeks. i remember the day before starting my mat leave (35 weeks) a lady at work saying to me that she did not think I was pregnant. Lots of people thought in my final weeks that I still had ages to go. It did bother me at the time but having lost all the weight and having a healthy child although fairly small (6lb 14oz) made it all worth while. Your 20 week scan will hopefuly set your mind at rest as they measure the baby.
Good Luck with your pregnancy

Could your GP offer to check baby's heart sounds via Doppler for your reassurance?

Other than that, I am with the other posters: bump sizes vary hugely , so try not to worry.

Good luck!

hi eviebear
I'm also 18 weeks on tue
My bu,p also comes and goes. It's my 3rd though so I have no muscles left to hold it in. Don't worry too much about it. A friend of mine could hide all her bumps at 40 weeks. People just carry differently.
On the plus side enjoy it while it lasts - it will take you longer to get to the waddling stage. (although I know especially with your first your dying to look preg - I was!)
BTW come and join us on the July 09 due thread here where we like to discuss such things