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Original poster

Did your body barely change in pregnancy or should I expect the worst?

63 replies

reafl · 18/08/2022 13:34

I’m 27 weeks pregnant and in the last week I’ve had a bump properly emerge and sleeping is a bit achy. When I say bump has emerged, I still don’t look pregnant in most clothes

I had a very slim frame and apart from some sickness early on ive been ok. I’m suddenly panicking that I’m going to balloon and my body will go to shit. I’m wishing away the next few weeks as I’m genuinely scared that I’m going to be a physical mess soon. I know this isn’t a ‘problem’ im just feeling emotional today.

OP posts:
SickOfTheSpiders · 18/08/2022 22:54

It really does depend on the individual I think. I'm not skinny, but fairly slim (and very short). I've had twins and I barely even got a stretch mark! I was very lucky with how I carried them and never really "felt pregnant", even after 30 weeks. Other than my c-section scar, my body seems to be just the same as it was before. My mum was the same so perhaps genes play a part in it.

Watchthesunrise · 19/08/2022 00:07

It's not pregnancy that wrecks your body (you do get wider feet and wider hips though), it's motherhood!

One baby, fine, you can find time. Two or more kids? Well you'll probably have YEARS where it'll be hard to get to the gym or carve out decent time for exercise and other selfish pursuits.

2boysand1princess · 19/08/2022 00:21

I put on weight during my first pregnancy (stillbirth) was young then, but lost all the weight quickly. Didn’t really feel any different physically after.
After that went on to have 3 more babies, didn’t really put on more than a few kgs during pregnancy. Had decent bumps in last trimester and very quickly lost all the extra weight. One thing I noticed though was that after each pregnancy my body kind of went skinnier. Especially my boobs and bum just went flat. Don’t think that’s the norm, but for me and my sister we lost more weight after having babies. Haven’t really gained that weight back either. My eldest is 13 and I’m probably smaller than I was before having him. Was a size 8, but full body didn’t really look skinny looked more healthy. Now I’m 6-8 and feel shrivelled 🤦‍♀️

Change123today · 19/08/2022 00:45

With my first I didn’t really show till the last 6 weeks - post baby was back to pre-pregnancy weight. I did have HG throughout so I do think that affected me. I was fairly flat chested but during pregnancy they got big! And the only place I have stretch marks. And they stayed as a C/D cup ( I was A!)

2nd time around HG again - but I was a lot bigger & have struggled with losing the weight.

Remember your growing a baby & everyone is different. I had two pregnancy both differently affected my body - but all that mattered is keeping baby safe and once born enjoying the snuggles!

user1471538283 · 21/08/2022 13:03

I was tiny and didnt show until I was 6 months. It took me 5 months to lose the baby weight.

My body was fine after it all. It's only age that has given me a tummy.

adriftabroad · 21/08/2022 13:11

If anything I was in better shape due to no drinking at all, walked for an hour every night.

Already very slim, slimmer and fitter after pregnancy.

If at nearly 30 weeks you only just look pregnanty you will be fine, best of luck.

Prepare for a burst of growth just before birth. Baby is fully formed now (I think) but will put on weight.
Moisturise well, but it is mostly genetic.

SlouchingTowardsBethlehemAgain · 21/08/2022 13:13

One child at 38, no stretch marks and much better tits.

ABlindAssassin · 21/08/2022 13:59

I'm a slim build. I never really ballooned. My breasts didn't get any bigger. I didn't get any stretch marks at all.

The only major change was my ribcage expanding. And my arse going flat! Why does that happen?!

Fuzzyhippo · 21/08/2022 18:03

My body didn't change a bit after birth with my 1st, although I was only 17. Family members didn't know I was pregnant as kept it a secret. This time round 7 years later I'm still completely flat at 20 weeks so not expecting to get big, so hoping I'll bounce back with this one too. I am very tall though so babies usually spread themselves upwards rather than out 😂

sageandbasil · 21/08/2022 18:11

I didn't have a bump till about 26/27 weeks. I just looked bloated. My hips expanded massively and I put on a lot of weight on my face. Ive been back to my PP since DD was about 4 months as I was watching calories- breastfeeding burns alot too.
No stretch marks- I was really worried about that as I've got some from puberty. Used bio oil and mama Mia oil religiously. Other than my c section scar and my saggy boobs I look just as I did pre pregnancy thankfully! Other than my hips, they're still wider!

Skittlesthough · 21/08/2022 20:19

Had my 3rd 7 weeks ago and back to my prepregnacy self (apart from boobs cause I'm bf but I've done this twice before and not expecting much change from them) .... genetics is everything, look at your mum/aunts/sisters... how did they fair out?? I stayed small for all my pregnancies and have no scratch marks ... I think if your still small now you prob shouldn't worry, most pregnancy weight gain plateaus in the final month anyway... congratulations on baby ❤

DoItAfraid · 21/08/2022 20:23

I recommend Mamma Mio Tummy Rub to help with dodging stretch marks.

KatieLatie · 21/08/2022 20:49

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

roarfeckingroarr · 21/08/2022 21:01

Mine barely changed after pregnancy. My hips are a bit bigger and my breasts are a bit lower after two years of breastfeeding, but I'm the same dress size, I don't have a single stretch mark.

17 weeks with baby 2 now, so hoping I'll be as lucky this time!

Ladylovesbooks · 21/08/2022 22:16

DoItAfraid · 21/08/2022 20:23

I recommend Mamma Mio Tummy Rub to help with dodging stretch marks.

Might help for mild stretch marks but according to several doctors I saw it’s mainly genetics how the skin fibres react to stretching . Once they snap they cannot be repaired short of surgery and no cream will work
in my family all the women experiences sever stretch marks and non of them gained excessive weight .
for some women scars and stretch marks that remain are a normal part of motherhood
so many women who dodged stretch marks do not understand this
all depends on perspectives though , some don’t mind them a couple reallh have been upset with them … so depends

Ladylovesbooks · 21/08/2022 22:19

OP as you can see there’s a wide range of experiences for women and no one answer to your question
the best thing you can do is look after your health and appreciate that your amazing body is bringing your beautiful baby into the world

Echobelly · 21/08/2022 22:21

I'm not sure why people have got really caught up in the weight gain thing in the last few decades - I'm guessing it's a negative outcome of the otherwise good thing that high profile women (like actors or pop stars) stopped having to hide pregnancies in public, which is great but then meant everyone got obsessed with 'getting your body back'.

Like most mums I know, my body changed a bit, but not drastically - yes, very occasionally some women's bodies do change a lot but this is a rarity and not the norm. I was slim with a bit of a tummy, the tummy got a bit worse after two kids but as I'd never had a neat, trim waist anyway it didn't bother me.

DoItAfraid · 21/08/2022 22:53

Ladylovesbooks · 21/08/2022 22:16

Might help for mild stretch marks but according to several doctors I saw it’s mainly genetics how the skin fibres react to stretching . Once they snap they cannot be repaired short of surgery and no cream will work
in my family all the women experiences sever stretch marks and non of them gained excessive weight .
for some women scars and stretch marks that remain are a normal part of motherhood
so many women who dodged stretch marks do not understand this
all depends on perspectives though , some don’t mind them a couple reallh have been upset with them … so depends

Show quote history

@Ladylovesbooks

I was just making a recommendation of a product that worked for me.

Of course genetics, skin tone, ethnicity etc all
play a part. i was just sharing a product rec for something i have used personally that worked as an alternative to Bio Oil.

AprilRae91 · 21/08/2022 23:02

It varies massively, what will be will be. I look like a whale at 32 weeks and have the worst stretch marks I’ve seen on any pregnant woman (despite using all the creams). I was a size 14 to start with and I’m short though, I think taller slimmer women fare better.

Verbena87 · 21/08/2022 23:08

I got massive. I was back in my size 8 jeans within a month or so but with cracking boobs (breastfeeding) and looked great. However, fanny was shredded to ribbons and is permanently altered including two sorts of pelvic organ prolapse.

so basically, it’s not all about what you see, it’s blind luck, and whatever happens you do eventually get comfy in your skin again. Promise.

PermanentlyTired03 · 21/08/2022 23:18

I was a size 12 and only started showing at 5 months. Only put on about 8kg. No stretch marks either. Lost all the baby weight within a couple of months, just fell off somehow.
I thought I'd balloon as I put on weight very easily but apparently not with pregnancy! I do wonder whether some of it is genetics, I'm sure stretch marks are. I still used bio-oil religiously throughout though.

shazzybazzy34 · 21/08/2022 23:25

I am tiny but did have a huge bump
towards the end probably looked bigger because I am so small. I came home from
the hospital in size 6 jeans. Luckily no stretchmarks either. Same on baby no 2. Was a bit more wobbly on baby no 3 but snapped back after 2 weeks. 3 emergency sections. Ate what I liked but I do think genetics plays a part.

Ladylovesbooks · 21/08/2022 23:27

DoItAfraid · 21/08/2022 22:53

@Ladylovesbooks

I was just making a recommendation of a product that worked for me.

Of course genetics, skin tone, ethnicity etc all
play a part. i was just sharing a product rec for something i have used personally that worked as an alternative to Bio Oil.

Show quote history

Yes I understand I just wanted to make it clear to anyone reading that it’s not always possible to avoid . I was speaking to a woman who felt that the reason she had severe stretch marks was because she hadn’t used such oils yet as someone who did I knew it likely had zero to do with that
I think it’s just important we make sure women understand no cream is guaranteed to work and many do nothing . Many women will get them regardless and it’s through no fault of their own or anything they failed to do

DoItAfraid · 21/08/2022 23:59

@Ladylovesbooks

I really didn’t say anything of the sort.

you really didn’t need to @ me you could have just posted your comments as a stand-alone post.

Toosadtocomprehend · 22/08/2022 00:06

My daughter had massively strong abdominal muscles and even at 38 weeks didn’t have an obvious bump!! She was very lucky…am sure it will be a different scenario with her next pregnancy!! We are all different.X