From the moment you become pregnant, youre probably constantly watching your belly, waiting for signs that youre showing. That baby bump finally appears, and you get even more excited, knowing youre that much closer. Chances are youre wondering about the size of your baby bump, and comparing yourself to other women, as well.
There are some important things you need to know about the size of your bump:
Your bump is likely to be smaller on average and tighter with your first pregnancy.
As you have more children, those muscles tend to stretch. So will your baby bump.
The size of your baby isnt the only thing that affects the size of your baby bump. Its also affected by the amount of amniotic fluid, the babys position, and of course whether youre having multiples.
Underweight women won become pregnant are at a greater risk of having a low birthweight baby (and smaller baby bump) than other women. Its important that you get the right amount of nutrition during pregnancy, so that you and your baby can come through safe, sound, and healthy.
Conversely, overweight women nayhave different problems. Your baby bump may actually show more. There are a number of significant health risks, such as diabetes and preeclampsia, when you have a high BMI during pregnancy. However, you still need to be gaining some weight during pregnancy; if youre not, it can cause problems for your baby.
A larger baby doesnt always mean a harder or more painful labor. Labor difficulty has a lot more to do with your babys position and how relaxed your body is than the size of your baby.
Smaller babies arent easier to birth, either. In fact, quite the opposite: many small babies can take longer to be born than larger babies.
If youre concerned about the size of your baby bump or the health of your baby, talk to your doctor. She can help make sure your baby is developing properly, and identify any potential difficulties and treat them before they become a problem.
