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

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 around 12 to 16 weeks —right before you’re due for a second-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? Seven physical 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 extra 10 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 mothers over 35 years old will typically begin to show earlier.

6. Your pregnancy history

If you’re on your second pregnancy, 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 a posterior 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 the baby’s sex affect your belly shape or size?

You’ve probably heard a few pregnancy myths about a baby’s sex affecting belly shape or size. However, according WHO growth charts published by 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, baby’s 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 diastasis see 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. This shape is usually created by weakened abdominal muscles or a high level of body fat. 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, your fundal 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 approximately 1 centimeter each week . Similarly, your weight gain should be 1 to 2 pounds per week from the second trimester until birth.

So, how will these changes look as you move through them? Below, you’ll find a timeline by pregnancy week 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 of early pregnancy, you might see and feel physical changes (and possibly a small baby bump) and early signs 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, your first trimester can bring uncomfortable pregnancy symptoms, like morning sickness, sore breasts, and fatigue. Make sure you contact your healthcare provider if any pregnancy 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. From week 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 a belly 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

As your body changes throughout pregnancy and postpartum, it’s natural to have concerns about how your belly will look and feel. Let’s clear up some common concerns:

Weight Fluctuations: Weight gain during pregnancy is both normal and crucial for a healthy pregnancy. Most women will gain between 20 to 40 pounds. Postpartum, it’s also normal to lose weight quickly, with up to 20 pounds shed within the first month due to the loss of blood and amniotic fluid. Breastfeeding can further accelerate this process.

• Track your progress: Using a pregnancy weight gain calculator can help you monitor your weight and ensure you’re maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

Pregnancy Belly Appearance: During pregnancy, you may notice physical changes such as stretch marks, scars, or a dark line down your abdomen (linea negra). Common changes include:

• Stretch marks and scars
• Linea negra (dark line on the abdomen)
• Discoloration

These changes are common and typically fade within 6 to 12 months after delivery.

Postpartum Belly Shape & Size: After giving birth, your postpartum body will take time to return to its pre-pregnancy state. It’s common to still look about four or five months pregnant for several weeks postpartum. Keep the below in mind during postpartum:

• The uterus generally returns to pre-pregnancy size within 6 to 8 weeks.
• Once cleared by your doctor, light exercises like walking and core workouts can help your body adjust.

C-section Concerns:
If you had a cesarean delivery, you might notice extra skin or flesh around the scar area. This is normal and with a few steps, you can heal properly.

• Gentle exercise combined with a balanced diet can help tone this area over time.
• Patience and self-care are essential as your body heals.

Grow Together with SneakPeek

Every week your pregnant belly grows and changes shape, so will your excitement. As the inches add up and you watch your baby’s development, 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 accuracy—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!

Editorial Policy

At SneakPeek, our commitment is to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable information to empower our readers. Our content is thoroughly researched, reviewed by medical experts, and fact-checked to ensure its credibility. We prioritize the well-being and education of our readers, and our editorial policy adheres to the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in all our articles.

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.

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