Bump isn't growing!

[AmeliaEarhart]

I'm 17 weeks + 2 days with my first. I had to buy maternity jeans at 14 weeks as I couldn't fasten my regular ones anymore, and by 15 weeks I had a nice, neat, noticable little bump (enough to even get offered a seat on the tube during rush-hour!). But it doesn't see to have got any bigger since then! Even DH commented on the fact this morning.

I'm not too worried - I heard a good strong heartbeat at my 16 weeks appointment last week - but I am a little anxious. I haven't felt any movement yet either.

Any wise and reassuring words on offer?

Bumps grow gradually and it is very difficult for human perception to cope with gradual changes.

I am 28 weeks now and have a decent sized bump, but I never noticed the change between one week and the next.

I get bump envy when I see women at about the same stage with better (bigger) bumps than mine. I have to remind myself that I have 3 months to go so if it was big now, it would be huge and uncomfortable later. It probably will be anyway

I am currently 18+6 and have a little bump, to people that know they can tell, to people that don't they just think I should pay a visit to the gym. I had a bloated bump from 12 weeks that appeared to be huge in the evening but tiny during the day.
My bump is still soft and flab like.

I also haven't felt any noticeable movements either.

This is my 2nd, and if I am honest I can't remember when I felt my first kick or looked pregnant with my first.

If your midwife was happy last week I think all is probably well. you probably noticed a sudden change when your uterus popped up over your pelvic girdle - thats when the jeans stop fitting!

Its normal not to feel movement yet, or only to feel it occasionally as the baby is freely floating around.

its very difficult to tell the difference between wind and baby movements at this stage of PG. after giving birth, I felt phantom kicks which I think were just wind!

Mine wasn't too big for the first few months and didn't seem to grow noticeable, then I turned into a whale and risked getting beached wherever I sat down!

You were probably completely bloated at 14 weeks, rather than a proper bump and gradually this has become a real bump and the bloating has subsided (I had terrible bloating for first 3 months). And 17 weeks is early for a first timer to feel something, so don't worry about that.

A few weeks ago I felt that my bump was not growing much (am 20 weeks now), and literally over that weekend my belly button popped out. And I stepped on the scales last night, and had a complete shock as had been hovering just below 10 stone for a few weeks and was quite pleased with myself, and had suddenly jumped to 10 stone 4! What I am saying is that it can suddenly creep up on you.

I have a good bump now, but could get away with not looking pg if I wore a baggy t-shirt of DH's or something. Also, when I sit down, tbh it feels more like a layer of flab, and in the morning it still looks smaller.

So please don't worry - if your midwife had any concerns she would have voiced them at your 16 week app, so your uterus must be the right size for your stage.

I second DG's thoughts re bloating. I haven't really got any bigger since about 11/12 weeks and am now 21 weeks. This is my 2nd and I was really bloated early on and I think the bloating has just been replaced by baby!

Thank you all for your kind and reassuring words. I was just a bit nervous as the bump had popped up so fast then not really done anything since. The bloating explanation sounds plausible though - I think at 15 weeks my belly was about 90% gas, 10% baby.

I shall now relax and enjoy being able to reach my toes while I still can.

I was going to post on here this morning about my bump worry too actually.

I will be 18 weeks exactly on Saturday and really dont feel that I have a bump at all! I suppose my belly looks a little bloated, but nothing that resembles a proper bump. Its really getting me down. This is my first pregnancy. I'm a size 8 or 10 dress size and average height so everyone keeps telling me that I should show really quick and be really big coz I'm only small. But bump seems to be non-existant.

I just desperately want a bump!

People keep saying that they cant tell I'm pregnant at all. Which I find quite depressing at nearly 18 weeks!
I know they say you show later with your first, but because of my small frame, I really thought I would be showing by now.

When I was pregnant first time round, I didn't start showing until I was around 6 months. When I went for scan at 20 weeks I still couldn't feel definate movements. By 9 months I had a really round neat bump but nothing huge. My ds was 7lb 9oz so a perfectl normal weight!

My bump seemed to suddenly appear at 20 weeks, now a few weeks later it still isn't all that noticable.
I think your body shape will affect how big your bump looks, I seem to be carrying all the way around, try measuring your waist, you'll probably find you are growing in inches, it's just not all at the front.