Published on March 1st, 2023 and Updated on April 11th, 2024
Check out SneakPeek Gender Test to find out your baby’s gender as early as 6 weeks at over 99% accuracy1!
During pregnancy, one of the most exciting and powerful transformations you’ll experience is your growing pregnant belly. As soon as that positive test gleams pink in your hand, you might be left wondering: When do you start showing pregnancy growth?
New mothers will typically show anywhere from weeks 12 to 16 of pregnancy, but other factors may change that timeline. In fact, your bump’s grand entrance could fall anywhere from 6 weeks to 20 weeks!
If anticipating your belly’s growth is creating a “bump” in your road to pregnancy, knowing what to expect throughout pregnancy week by week may help relieve those anxieties. This all-inclusive guide will break down the timing, influential factors, and progression that shape pregnant bellies of all shapes and sizes.
So….when will I start showing?
When someone says “pregnancy”, the first image that usually comes to mind is a beautiful baby bump. However, you might be left waiting a few weeks—or even months—for your tummy to start shape-shifting.
When you first see your baby bump, it’s actually your uterus creating that shape—not your baby. As the stages of prenatal development get in full swing, your uterus will expand outwards towards your abdominal wall. Typically, this growth becomes noticeable for moms-to-be between weeks 12 and 16, but a healthy baby bump can appear weeks before or after that window.
If you’re not sure whether that belly bump is a food baby or your real baby, check for these physical signs that accompany a baby bump:
- Your clothing becomes snugger, primarily around your waistline and hips
- You gain a small amount of weight (typically, up to 5 pounds during the first trimester)
- You notice skin streaks or stretch marks on your stomach
What factors influence how soon a pregnancy shows?
There are two main factors influencing your “show” date: your health history and current physical condition. Within these categories, your baby’s growth rate may be affected by:
- Previous pregnancies – Women who get pregnant after already having a child may develop a visible baby bump within the first trimester (before week 13). That’s because, during the previous pregnancy, the abdominal muscles may stretch and not return to their original size or strength. This allows a growing uterus to extrude earlier in a proceeding pregnancy.
- Your height – It’s more common for shorter women to show earlier than taller women. Short women have a shorter abdomen, which means there’s less space for a uterus to expand upwards. On the flip side, the long abdomens of taller women can “hide” a baby bump for longer, usually leading to a higher carry.
- Weight – The more fatty tissue on your belly, the easier it is for your baby bump to hide. Women with a higher weight will usually start showing later than women of the same height with a lower one.
- Number of expected children – Twins on the way? Then it’s likely you’ll start showing before your second trimester, even as early as 6 weeks. Your uterus will be accommodating more than one fetus, so it will have to expand more.
- Bloating – Bloating during pregnancy can exaggerate the appearance of a baby bump, making it appear earlier. This common pregnancy symptom can result from increased abdominal pressure or hormonal water retention during pregnancy.
- Diastasis recti – When the muscles on the abdominal midline separate due to pregnancy or other extreme conditions, it’s called diastasis recti. If you develop diastasis recti from pregnancy, aging, or other conditions, it may allow your uterus to protrude at a faster rate.
- Uterus shape – Uteruses come in all shapes and sizes, which can affect your baby bump. Retroverted uteruses (which tilt toward the spine) often show later, since the uterus has further to expand before pushing your stomach out. Meanwhile, anteverted uteruses (which tilt toward the stomach) often show earlier for the opposite reason.
How will my baby bump progress during pregnancy?
Watching your pregnant belly go from a subtle arc to a beach ball can be an exciting (and nail-biting) phenomenon to witness. Your doctor will be right by your side during this expansive time, tracking your bump’s progress by taking your fundal height (the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus).
From week 20 onwards, a healthy fundal height will be the same number of centimeters as the number of weeks you’ve been pregnant, give or take two centimeters. While not the most accurate medical marker, a fundal height that falls outside of this healthy range could indicate dangerous conditions like:
- Uterine fibroids
- Intrauterine growth restriction (slow fetal growth)
- Fetal macrosomia (a significantly larger-than-average baby)
- Oligohydramnios (too little amniotic fluid)
- Polyhydramnios (too much amniotic fluid)
- A fetus that dropped early
- A fetus in breech position
So, what will a healthy baby bump look like throughout pregnancy? Let’s dive into the timeline of changes you can expect as your belly and baby grow in unison.
First Trimester (Weeks 0 to 13)
For the first thirteen weeks of pregnancy, you might be left feeling…well, a little perplexed. Many first-time moms don’t feel like they “look” like a pregnant person during the first few months. However, don’t lose hope: your body is transforming behind the scenes (and possibly in other noticeable ways).
During the first trimester, you may experience any of these growing baby developments:
- Your uterus grows to the size of a large pear
- Your baby grows to a little over 2” long (about the size of a plum)
- Your fundal height reaches around 12 centimeters/4.7 inches
- You see a weight gain of 1 to 4 pounds
- You experience bloating and gas, which can cause a belly size to oscillate
- You develop a minor linea nigra (a dark line that forms down the middle of your abdomen)
Second Trimester (Weeks 14 to 27)
In the second trimester, you’ll likely start to look more like a pregnant woman (hello, baby bump!) while feeling less “pregnant” (sayonara, morning sickness!). The calmer second trimester often takes away bothersome first-trimester pregnancy symptoms and replaces them with a visible reminder of your beautiful child on their way.
This might look like:
- Your uterus growing to the size of a papaya
- Your baby growing to about 14.5” long (about the size of a big leek)
- Your fundal height reaching about 27 centimeters
- You see a maternal weight gain of 14 to 28 pounds
- You get stretch marks across the stomach and other body areas
- You field growth pains on the side of your baby bump, also called round ligament pains
Third Trimester (Weeks 28 to 40)
As you reach the home stretch of pregnancy, your belly (and baby) continues to grow in speedily fashion. This can bring physical changes like:
- Your uterus growing to the size of a pineapple
- Your baby growing to about 20” long, about the size of a small pumpkin
- Your fundal height reaches about 40 centimeters or more (about 1 centimeter per week)
- You see a weight gain of 9 to 18 pounds (less than your second semester)
- Lightening or a “belly drop”, or when your baby moves down toward the birth canal
- Aggravated digestions issues (e.g., heartburn, constipation, and gas)
- A “popped” or protruding belly button
Tips for Handling a Growing Belly
For many moms, watching their baby bump grow is one of the most joyful parts of pregnancy. For others, this massive physical transformation can be a tough experience—and that’s completely normal.
To help you feel more confident and comfortable in your body, take these tips for handling a growing belly:
- Step off the scale – Your OBGYN will take care of all your weight tracking. For now, try leaving that scale under the bathroom sink (or throw it out altogether).
- Embrace maternity fashion –Maternity fashion clothes is more than elastic-band sweatpants and tees. You might enjoy strolling (or scrolling) through the maternity aisles to find cute outfits in styles that make you feel like a million bucks.
- Exercise – Unless your healthcare providers say otherwise, exercise is highly recommended during pregnancy (take a look at these exercise programs for pregnancy). Gentle, low-impact workouts like prenatal yoga can help you feel better in your body while relieving stress.
- Reach out – Sometimes, a little support goes a long way. Express your discomfort and feelings to your partner or close friends, or even seek out mental health providers to navigate this difficult time.
When you’re moving through such monumental (and hormonal) changes, it’s not uncommon to find your moods fluctuating too. But if you can gently encourage yourself to discover those parts of pregnancy that give joy, that’s when the journey becomes about even more than your baby or your bump—it becomes a personal journey of growth.
Grow Together with SneakPeek
As you start down the road of pregnancy, your growing belly will be one of your most exciting companions—and for those moments when you need a little extra guidance, SneakPeek can lend a hand with our At-Home Gender Blood Test.
At just 6 weeks pregnant, our #1 OBGYN-recommended test can predict your baby’s gender. That’s long before your baby bump could show and weeks ahead of your 18-week gender reveal ultrasound! Simply send your blood sample to the SneakPeek lab, and we’ll return your physician-reviewed results with over 99% clinically proven accuracy1—and a refund guarantee if we’re proven wrong.
Your belly is magical, but don’t let it be your magic eight-ball. Join over 1 million moms who trust SneakPeek Test to learn more about the little one inside your belly.
Sources:
- ACOG. How much weight should I gain during pregnancy? https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/ask-acog/how-much-weight-should-i-gain-during-pregnancy
- Cleveland Clinic. Fundal Height: Measurement, What It Means & Accuracy. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/22294-fundal-height
- Cleveland Clinic. Why Do Belly Buttons Pop During Pregnancy? https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-do-some-womens-belly-buttons-pop-out-during-pregnancy/
- Dermnet. Linea nigra. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/linea-nigra
- Healthline. When Do You Start to Show? Baby Bump Progression. https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/when-do-you-start-to-show
- Insider. When Do You Start Showing in Pregnancy? Baby Bump Guide. https://www.insider.com/guides/health/reproductive-health/when-do-you-start-showing-in-pregnancy
- Mayo Clinic. Fundal height: An accurate sign of fetal growth? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/fundal-height/faq-20057962
- NIH. Pregnancy and Body Image. https://orwh.od.nih.gov/research/maternal-morbidity-and-mortality/information-for-women/pregnancy-and-body-image
- Verywell Family. What Is a Pregnant Belly? https://www.verywellhealth.com/pregnant-belly-5116657
- Verywell Family. When Will My Pregnancy Start to Show? https://www.verywellfamily.com/when-will-i-start-to-show-2759757
- Verywell Family. Why You May Show Earlier in Your Second Pregnancy. https://www.verywellfamily.com/why-you-may-show-earlier-in-your-second-pregnancy-5184938
- What to Expect. 10 Things to Know About Your Baby Bump. https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-health/things-to-know-about-your-baby-bump/
Shop Our Products
SneakPeek Gender Snap
Learn if you’re having a boy or girl with the #1 OBGYN-recommended at-home baby gender test, over 99% accurate1 at 6 weeks into pregnancy. Get next-day results!
SneakPeek Fetal Doppler
An easy, portable way to hear your baby’s heartbeat in between doctor visits, starting at 16 weeks into pregnancy.
SneakPeek Gender at Walgreens
Skip the wait for shipping and pick up SneakPeek Snap at a local Walgreens. Just look for the kit in the pregnancy aisle, and take your test today!
SneakPeek aims to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information to help our readers make informed decisions regarding their health before, during, and after pregnancy. This article was written based upon trusted scientific research studies and/or articles. Credible information sources for this article are cited and hyperlinked.
