| 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. All content is fact-checked by professional journalists prior to publishing. Show We believe you should always know the source of the information you're reading. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. on August 9, 2021Latest update:See moreStocksy  When I found out I was pregnant with my first baby, I pictured my future self with a big belly that looked adorable in floaty dresses and empire-waist tops. Even though my stomach was still flat and completely un-pregnant-looking at the time, I never thought about how my body would make the transition from normal-sized tummy to one that looked like I had swallowed a watermelon. Turns out, it’s a pretty slow progression. Getting from point A (for Absolutely no bump) to point B (Biggest bump ever) has lots of in-between stages. What’s more, those stages brought up all kinds of questions and feelings I never saw coming. Can other people tell that I’m walking around with a teeny person inside of me? How much longer will my favorite jeans fit? And why do I suddenly feel so self-conscious? If you're expecting your first baby, you might be wondering some of the same things. Here are some thoughts pregnant moms have about starting to show. 1. I don’t look pregnant at all. Wonder how long this will last? Probably not for very long! Despite the fact that you’re probably bursting with excitement, enjoy this very short period. It’ll be gone before you know it. I found out I was pregnant when I was around 5 weeks along. And to me, my belly only stayed looking like its normal self for another two weeks or so. During that time, I made an effort to wear all my slim-fitting, high-waisted pants as much as possible, because I knew it would only be a matter of time before I’d have to pack them away for a good, long while. 2. My stomach looks different. But I don’t think anyone else notices, do they? Chances are, they don’t. Hormone-related bloating can start to give you a slightly rounded belly when your baby is still teeny-tiny. (Like, the size of a pea!) I started noticing the change around 7 weeks. It sort of looked like I had eaten a huge meal … all the time. Unsurprisingly, those aforementioned pants were starting to feel uncomfortable. Continue Reading Below More Things Only Moms-to-Be Understand11 Pregnancy Emotions Expecting Moms Have Your Pregnant Belly Size and Shape 11 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before Giving Birth 11 Pregnancy Emotions Expecting Moms Have Your Pregnant Belly Size and Shape 11 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before Giving Birth Could anyone else tell? The few family members we'd broken the news to insisted that I looked the same. (But they weren’t seeing me in my underwear, obviously.) Even my husband said he barely noticed anything, but part of me thinks he was just being nice. 3. I can still hide this, but it’s getting kinda tough. Even in the second half of the first trimester, most moms-to-be can easily keep their belly (and pregnancy) under wraps with the right clothes. By 10 weeks pregnant, my stomach was really starting to stick out, and only a handful of my loosest pants, skirts and shorts still fit. This wasn’t just because of the bloating and my slowly expanding uterus. Pregnancy had also made me totally ravenous. I was eating nonstop, and I’d already gained a few pounds. At this point, being able to hide my pregnancy came with some perks. My husband and I still weren’t ready to make a big pregnancy announcement to our friends and extended family, and I doubt many of them suspected we had a baby on the way. Another thing: We could still sit at a bar (with a non-alcoholic drink for me, of course) and not get any weird looks. That was nice. There were some downsides too, though, like when I had to fly cross-country and got stuck in the middle seat. I knew I was going to have to pee a lot, but I felt slightly weird asking the person sitting in the aisle to switch seats with me. I explained to her that I was pregnant, but what if she thought I was making it up just to get a little more legroom? That might have been a bizarre thing to worry about, but it crossed my mind. 4. 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. It wasn’t noticeable when I wore loose tops. But it was around then that I put on a stretchy knit dress to go out to dinner and noticed a very clear outline of a tummy that hadn’t been there before. 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. That first time was fun, but part of me was glad that I could still turn my pregnancy “off” in public when I wanted to. So for a few weeks, I switched back and forth. When I wanted to feel like regular me in public, I’d put on something flowy. When I wanted to try on pregnant me again, I’d reach for something form-fitting. 5. My bump has officially arrived. Let’s show this thing off! 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 16. I don’t know if I would have noticed the change on my own, but a picture that my mom posted of us on Facebook confirmed it: I definitely had a baby bump. 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. And I started to look forward to that moment when I’d really start to pop, by about month 6 or 7. 6. The whole world is now majorly interested in my baby bump, and it’s kind of too much. I don’t mind when close friends or family touch my belly, even if they don’t ask first. 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. What does a pregnancy belly feel like early on?How does a pregnant belly feel in early pregnancy? For most of your first trimester, you may not feel much, if any, difference in your belly. It will probably be soft and look a little bigger – similar to when you get bloated during your period or after you've eaten a large meal.
How do you know you are pregnant by touching your belly?While you won't be able to tell that you're pregnant by physically touching your stomach in the early stages of pregnancy, there are some early pregnancy symptoms which you may feel internally in your abdomen area, and these could give you an early sign that you're pregnant.
How early can you show a pregnant belly?Typically, your bump becomes noticeable during your second trimester. Between 16-20 weeks, your body will start showing your baby's growth. For some women, their bump may not be noticeable until the end of the second trimester and even into the third trimester. The second trimester starts in the fourth month.
What does a belly look like 1 week pregnant?Week 1 pregnant belly
There won't really be a baby bump during the first week of your pregnancy, or really, for the next few weeks. Since you'll be menstruating during this week, it is possible that hormonal changes might make you feel a bit bloated due to fluid retention.
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What does a belly look like in early pregnancy
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