pregnant-belly-shapes

Pregnant Belly Stages: Shapes (Carrying High vs. Low), Sizes & More

Published on March 15th, 2020 and Updated on February 6th, 2024

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pregnant-belly-shapes

One of the most exciting parts of being pregnant is watching your belly grow. But like many parts of pregnancy, it’s hard not to fixate on how your body’s changing.

If you’ve been wondering Is my belly shape normal?, Should I be bigger or smaller at this stage?, What does my belly shape even mean?—pause, and take a breath.

The first thing to understand about pregnant bellies is that each one of them is unique. While there are medically acceptable size ranges and growth patterns, you might deviate from the norm—and that’s okay. Your individual belly is part of what makes your pregnancy special.

That said, knowing what to expect from your growing belly trimester-by-trimester can put your mind at ease and help you adjust to each new development as it comes. In this baby bump guide, we’ll walk you through everything there is to know about pregnancy belly shapes and sizes before (and after) your baby is born.

When will my baby bump start to show?

While there’s an average pattern to belly growth, every pregnancy has its unique milestones. Typically, pregnant bellies will become visible around12 to 16 weeks—right before you’re due for asecond-trimester checkup. Even so, some mothers begin to show a little sooner or later into their pregnancies depending on their unique physicality and how their pregnancy is progressing.

So, what factors will determine your pregnant belly’s size and shape? Sevenphysical traits play a significant role in shaping your belly throughout your pregnancy journey:

1. Your height

A mother’s height can impact how high her bump sits on her body. Taller women tend to “carry high,” meaning their bump rests closer to their chest, which gives the baby more room to grow vertically. Shorter women often “carry low,” meaning their bellies spread low and wide because there’s less room for vertical development.

2. Your weight

The higher your BMI or pregnancy weight gain, the larger your pregnant belly will appear in the end. That said, high body fat can actually obscure a bump earlier in pregnancy. In comparison, women with low body fat may show much earlier.

3. Your muscular structure

Your abdominal and pelvic muscles are responsible for supporting your uterus throughout your pregnancy. The tighter these muscles are, the longer it can take your belly to stretch and show. This is why athletic women often show later and carry their baby higher. Similarly, pregnant women who develop diastasis may show earlier.Diastasis is a common pre and post-partum condition where the abdominal muscles separate to make room for your growing baby.

4. Number of babies

If you’re carrying more than one baby, your belly will accommodate your bounty.Twin or triplet pregnancies will often show earlier than single-child pregnancies, adding an extra10 to 15 pounds per baby to mom’s pregnancy weight.

5. Your age

As we age, the abdominal and pelvic muscles tend to weaken. This means pregnant mothersover 35 years old will typically begin to show earlier.

6. Your pregnancy history

If you’ve already had a child, your muscles and ligaments will have an easier time reverting to the shape they assumed during your first pregnancy. This means that second or third (or greater) pregnancies typically show sooner than first pregnancies.

7. Your baby’s position

Babies can grow in almost any direction, leading to many different belly shapes—and sensations. For example, if the baby is in aposterior position (with his spine parallel to his mother’s), her belly may feel tender to the touch, and she may feel kicks against her middle abdomen. In contrast, when a baby is in the anterior position (with his belly facing his mama’s spine), mom’s belly button may protrude, and she may feel kicks near her diaphragm.

Does baby’s sex affect your belly shape or size?

You’ve probably heard a few myths about a baby’s sex affecting belly shape or size. However, according toWHO growth charts publishedby the CDC:

  • Females in the 50th percentile weigh 7 lb 2oz and are roughly 49.1cm in length
  • Males in the 50th percentile weigh 7 lb 6oz and are roughly 49.9cm in length

With boy and girl babies may differ by 4 ounces and 0.8 cm, gender doesn’t account for the visibly different tummy sizes of pregnant women. So, it’s safe to say you cannot guess your baby’s sex based on your belly size.

Types of Pregnant Belly Shapes

Each pregnant belly is unique. That said, there are some ways childbirth professionals assess pregnant belly types that can help serve as benchmarks for a healthy, happy pregnancy. Most baby bumps fall into four descriptive categories:

Small vs. large belly

Often, belly size comes down to optics. This is because the same sized baby bump may look enormous on a short woman and inconspicuous on a tall woman. Measurable size differences generally result from multi-child pregnancies, though in rare cases, uncommonly large babies can create larger bellies.

Pointed vs. wide belly

Wide or “spread” bellies are common for tall women, who tend to have more space in their torso. In contrast, short women and women with diastasissee their bellies taper to a “point.” In turn, belly width can also indicate the position of your baby in utero. Wide bellies may signal a transverse lie (when your baby lies lengthwise in the uterus), while pointed or protruding bellies could mean your baby’s spine faces outwards.

High vs. low carry

Your physical build is the biggest factor when it comes to carrying high vs. low. Athletic or young women, women with longer torsos, and women with tight abdominal muscles often carry high in their bellies. In contrast, less active or older women, petite women, women with weaker muscles, and women who have been pregnant before tend to carry low in their bellies. Carrying low also means that the largest part of your abdomen is sitting low and closer to the pelvis.

B-shaped belly

When a pregnant belly develops a crease across the midsection, it’s known as a B Belly. Usually, weakened abdominal muscles or a high level of body fat create this shape. Most healthcare professionals will give extra attention to B-shaped bellies because they correlate with a higher risk for gestational disorders (e.g. miscarriage).

A Timeline of Pregnant Belly Stages

Pregnant baby bump types run a wide spectrum, but all follow a single trajectory over those nine months: continual growth.

In your first trimester, yourfundal height (the area between your pubic bone and the top of your uterus) should steadily grow every week. By week 20, your fundal height will grow approximately1 centimeter each week. Similarly, your weight gain should be 1 to 2 pounds per week from the second trimester until birth.

So, how will thesechanges look as you move through them? Below, you’ll find a timeline of what to expect throughout each stage of your stomach’s evolution.

First Trimester: Weeks 0 to 13

Technically, your first trimester begins on the first day of your last period (as opposed to the date you conceived). Over the next 13 weeks, you might see and feel physical changes (and possibly a small baby bump) that hint at your growing baby, such as:

  • Any fundal height growth up to 4 centimeters
  • Maternal weight gain of 1 to 4 pounds
  • Fluctuating belly size & shape (due to bowel distension and gas)
  • In some women, a linea negra (the dark line that can form down the middle of your abdomen)

Even with no belly growth, know that your body is undergoing tremendous changes during your first trimester. (For instance, during this time, your uterus will reach the size of a grapefruit).

Because of these changes, yourfirst trimester can bring uncomfortable symptoms, like morning sickness, sore breasts, and fatigue. Make sure you contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms interfere with your appetite or well-being.

Second Trimester: Weeks 14 to 27

Often considered the “eye of the storm,” the calmer second trimester replaces bothersome first trimester symptoms, like nausea, with belly growth.

During this time, your body will develop traits like:

  • Fundal height growth of up to 17 centimeters (about 1 centimeter per week)
  • Weight gain of 14 to 28 pounds (1 to 2 pounds per week)
  • Enlarged uterus size (approximately the size of a cantaloupe)
  • Stretch marks across the stomach, legs, and other body areas

As your belly growth picks up speed & changes shape, your healthcare provider will begin to track your fundal height. This typically starts around week 20. Fromweek 24 until your due date, your fundal height may mirror how far along you are in your pregnancy (i.e., at week 26, your fundal height should measure approximately 26 centimeters).

Third Trimester: Weeks 28 to 40

For your belly growth & shape, your third trimester is the home stretch.

Throughout the third trimester, your belly will continue to grow (up until your due date), and you’re likely to undergo physical changes such as:

  • Fundal height growth up to 26 centimeters or more (about 1 centimeter per week)
  • Weight gain of 9 to 18 pounds (1 to 2 pounds per week)
  • Enlarged uterus size (reaching the size of a pineapple)
  • A “popped”belly button

Another important note: many pregnant women experience abelly drop, also known as “lightening,” in the third trimester, which can create a lower carry. This is completely normal, signaling that your baby is a few weeks away from delivery.

Pregnancy Belly Concerns

Weight Fluctuations

Weight gain is a common concern among pregnant women, but it’s important to remember that weight gain is a normal part of a healthy pregnancy. On average, a healthy woman should gain between 20 to 40 pounds during her pregnancy. Losing weight is also a normal part of postpartum. You’ll shed some baby weight rapidly—up to 20 lbs. by your first month—as a result of blood and amniotic fluid leaving your body. If you’re breastfeeding, you may shed weight even more quickly.

Pregnancy Belly Appearance

You may notice stretch marks, scars, discoloration, or linea negra (a dark line that runs from top to bottom along your abdomen) during and after your pregnancy. These typically fade between 6 and twelve months after delivery day.

Post Partum: Your Post-Pregnancy Belly Shape & Size

As you settle into parenthood, it’s important to be as gentle and patient with yourself as you are with your brand new baby—and that includes adjusting to your postpartum body.

It’s normal to still look like you’re four or five months pregnant for a few weeks. Between6 to 8 weeks after delivery day, your uterus will shrink back to its pre-pregnancy dimensions. Once your doctor has given you the green light for light exercise, it’s recommended to start with gentle activities such as walks and core workouts.

C-section Concern

If you delivered your baby by cesarean, you may notice some extra fleshiness overhanging your c-section scar. With time and a healthy dose of patience, this may be tightened up by combining gentle exercise with a balanced, wholesome diet.

Grow Together with SneakPeek

Every week your pregnant belly grows and changes shape, so will your excitement. As the inches add up, it’s easy to begin wondering, who will my baby become? And will they be a boy or a girl?

Luckily, SneakPeek’s At-Home Early Gender Blood Test can give you the answers your belly shape can’t provide.

At just 6 weeks into your pregnancy, our test can predict your baby’s gender with over 99% clinically-proven accuracy1—that’s before your 18-week gender reveal ultrasound and even before your baby bump surfaces.

Accurate, easy-to-use, and recommended by OBGYNs, our data-protected test kits are trusted by over 1 million moms. To get the science-backed answers to who your belly bump is hiding, order your SneakPeek Test today!

 

This post has been reviewed for accuracy by the following medical professional:

Katie Smith, MSN, APRN, CNM

Katie Smith is a seasoned Certified Nurse Midwife and a nurturing mother to six children, offering a unique blend of professional expertise and personal experience. She is the founder of Birth Your Way Midwifery and Women’s Wellness Center in Bay County, Florida. Katie's comprehensive approach to care is informed by her hands-on experience in motherhood and her passion for empowering women through their birthing journey. Her dedication extends beyond her center as she actively engages in community wellness and family health education.

Sources:

American Pregnancy Association. Weight Gain with Twins
https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/multiples/weight-gain-with-multiples/

CDC. Growth Charts – Data Table for Boys Length-for-age and Weight-for-age Charts
https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/who/boys_length_weight.htm

CDC. Growth Charts – Data Table for Girls Length-for-age and Weight-for-age Charts https://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/who/girls_length_weight.htm

Cleveland Clinic. Advanced Maternal Age (Geriatric Pregnancy): Definition & Risks
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22438-advanced-maternal-age

Medical News Today. What the different baby positions in the womb mean during pregnancy
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323099

Cleveland Clinic. Diastasis Recti (Abdominal Separation): Symptoms & Treatment
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22346-diastasis-recti

Cleveland Clinic. Why Do Belly Buttons Pop During Pregnancy?
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-do-some-womens-belly-buttons-pop-out-during-pregnancy/

Global News. Baby bumps aren’t the same size — here’s why
https://globalnews.ca/news/5236861/baby-bump-sizes/

Healthline. Baby Dropping: When Does It Happen?
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/baby-dropping

Healthline. Pregnant Belly: Does Size Matter?
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/pregnant-belly-size#Measurements-

Healthline. What Is a B Belly During Pregnancy and Why Does It Happen?
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/b-belly-pregnancy

Insider. When Do You Start Showing in Pregnancy?
https://www.insider.com/guides/health/reproductive-health/when-do-you-start-showing-in-pregnancy

Kids Health. Prenatal Tests: Second Trimester
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/tests-second-trimester.html

Mayo Clinic. Fundal height
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/multimedia/fundal-height/img-20008049

Verywell Family. 5 Concerns About Your Pregnant Belly
https://www.verywellfamily.com/concerns-about-your-pregnant-belly-2759765

What to Expect. Your Pregnant Belly Size and Shape
https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/ask-heidi/week-31/size-and-shape.aspx

Healthline. Saying Adieu to Your Postpartum Belly (but Celebrating It, Too)
https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/postpartum-belly#timeline

Baby Center. Everything you need to know about your post-pregnancy belly
https://www.babycenter.com/baby/postpartum-health/post-baby-belly-how-long-you-might-look-pregnant_1152349

Pregnancy and Postpartum TV Youtube. Postpartum Recovery (Stretches and Postpartum Kegel Exercises For The First 6 Weeks Postpartum)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue4wcRcRGik

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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.

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