Pregnancy bump when does it start showing

That might have been a bizarre thing to worry about, but it crossed my mind. I look sort of pregnant … depending on what I wear.

By week 13, my belly had grown enough to where I looked visibly pregnant … sometimes. After weeks and weeks of trying not to draw attention to my stomach, letting it all hang out felt strange. I was excited that this moment had finally arrived, but I also felt a bit vulnerable and self-conscious.

I had moved through the world with this secret for so long, and now any stranger who looked at me would be able to guess it. So for a few weeks, I switched back and forth. My bump has officially arrived.

My doctor predicted that I would likely start showing between 16 and 18 weeks. And just like that, my belly began really rounding out in earnest by around week Suddenly, everyone was commenting on how cute I looked. Some friends and family started gently touching my belly and greeting my baby when they would see me, which was kind of endearing.

The combination of being on the receiving end of all that positive feedback and getting more comfortable in my pregnant body made me feel better about showing my baby bump off when I was out and about. But I have a feeling that as I enter my third trimester and finally start to look like that woman I pictured from the beginning, more people might decide to share unsolicited advice, or comment about how huge I am, or put their hands on my stomach.

The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Registry Builder New. Fact-Checked by Catherine Donaldson-Evans Fact-Checking Standards What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and relies on credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, highly respected health organizations and experts in various fields.

Continue Reading Below. Your Pregnant Belly Size and Shape. If you're a first-time mum, you'll probably notice your waist starts to be a bit thicker around 11 weeks, but other people won't see any difference just yet. At about 13 weeks, you may see a small bump. If you're already a mum, you may start showing sooner. This is because the muscles in your womb uterus and belly may be stretched from your previous pregnancy.

In the early days of pregnancy , your womb is the shape of a pear. Over the first 12 weeks, it gradually becomes more rounded, until it is about the size of a grapefruit.

This is when your bump may begin to form. This early growth of your bump is only partly caused by your growing baby. Before 11 weeks, your baby is still an embryo. He doesn't need much room yet! Your womb thickens out to support your tiny baby, which is why you may feel a bit bigger round your middle. Enter your due date or child's birthday dd 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 mm Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec yyyy Trying to conceive?

We use your health information to make our site even more helpful. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. Changes in your body during pregnancy: First trimester. American Academy of Family Physicians. Changes in your body during pregnancy: Second trimester.

Mayo Clinic. I'm pregnant with my second child. Can I expect any differences in my second pregnancy? Stages of pregnancy. Office on Women's Health. Stanford Children's Hospital Stanford. Small for gestational age. Prenatal assessment of gestational age and estimated date of delivery. Join now to personalize. Photo credit: Katie Rain for BabyCenter.

When does pregnancy start to show?