After how many days does the belly grow in pregnant women. What can "tell" the tummy of a pregnant woman

Thoughts about pregnancy often lead to the appearance in the subconscious of a picture depicting future mother with a large belly, where the baby is comfortably located. Having decided to give birth to a second child, every woman is puzzled by how much earlier than the first time, she will begin to corresponding changes in appearance, and when the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy.

What explains the interest of a woman in the volume of her abdomen?

These questions arise for several reasons:

  1. It is interesting when others find out about a woman's pregnancy.
  2. By the time the tummy appeared, one can judge whether the pregnancy is proceeding normally.
  3. Some, by the size and shape of the abdomen, hope to find out the sex of the unborn child.
  4. Every woman wants to know at least roughly what month she will need special clothes for.

General features of bearing a second child

All this is very important for the expectant mother. You should figure out what exactly affects the period when the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy.

Photos of women awaiting the long-awaited birth of a baby and who are at the same time show differences in volumes. During the first pregnancy, an increase in the abdomen occurs on average at the 16-18th week. Slender lovers of tight-fitting clothes are "declassified" immediately. But others may not be aware of changes in the position of a magnificent woman until she goes on maternity leave, that is, almost until the 25th week. It turns out: despite the fact that the uterus increases in everyone according to the same laws, outwardly this manifests itself in different ways.

Why is the belly bigger the second time?

There are several more reasons that affect the increase in the circumference of the abdomen and, as a result, the change in the appearance of a woman:


Anatomical specifics of a woman giving birth again

All of the above is fair and objective. And yet, the scenarios for the development of the first and second pregnancy are different. The first childbirth brings irreversible changes to the female body. This fact allows us to identify the reasons that affect the change in the circumference of the woman's abdomen.

Wanting to know when the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy, you should not take into account the reviews of mothers who have already given birth again. As well as when carrying the first child, for each pregnant woman, the timing of the appearance of the tummy can vary significantly. However, basically during the second pregnancy, the belly will become noticeable earlier by about 4-6 weeks, that is, others will be able to enjoy the changed position of the woman a month faster.

The reason for this is that the uterus does not return to its original state after the first birth, which is quite normal. Therefore, in thin women, the tummy will begin to be visible at 12 weeks. And let friends and relatives vied with each other about the gender of the baby to be born!

Location of the uterus

In addition, it is impossible to say unequivocally when the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy (a photo by week helps to see a noticeable difference in the increase in volumes) is impossible.

But changes in the position of the abdomen will certainly affect the timing. The uterus will now be located much lower than in the first pregnancy. As mentioned above, during the first pregnancy, the muscles of the pelvic floor, abdominal wall and ligaments were severely "suffered" before and during the first birth, and they no longer hold the stomach so cheerfully. On the one hand, this alleviates the situation of the pregnant woman: she is less bothered by heartburn, nothing makes breathing difficult. On the other hand, the lower spine and pelvic bones suffer. A bandage can help here, which you can buy only on specialized sites or in a pharmacy. And only the one recommended by the doctor.

Everyone is different: reviews of pregnant women

When the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy (reviews from women can be an invaluable source of information), many also note differences in the shape of the abdomen. On the forums they write that, basically, for the owners of a narrow pelvis for the second time, it sags more and looks gentle, and it drops much later. This discourages those who like to tell fortunes on the sex of the child according to the shape of the abdomen. None of them can assume that it is not a girl, but, on the contrary, a male baby that comfortably develops in a rounded belly that greatly increases the mother's waist.

Moms themselves claim that it is more difficult for them, pregnant for the second time, to hide their position, since the belly becomes noticeable earlier than the first time. This is confirmed by the women themselves. They admit that when the belly begins to grow during pregnancy, the second baby becomes the object of congratulations earlier for a whole month.

Negative experience from a previous pregnancy

It happens that the previous gestation of the fetus is interrupted, and the woman fails to give birth to a baby. It is no coincidence that, worrying about the current baby, mom, being on early dates, will look forward to changes in their own appearance, and at the next appointment with the doctor will ask when the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy after a miscarriage. Usually, there are no differences in the volume and timing of the appearance of the abdomen, depending on the outcome of previous pregnancies.

Mandatory trips to the gynecologist

Women try to calculate when the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy. And not always their desires are connected with the desire to find out the sex of the child or to acquire appropriate clothes in time. The doctor is very interested in this information, whose attention pregnant women should in no case be neglected. To give birth healthy baby, you need to regularly visit the receptions of the gynecologist leading the pregnancy, on which he will feel the tummy, measure it with a tape and a special device.

And all the above signs will help him not in guessing the sex of the child, but in deciding how the pregnancy is proceeding, whether there are reasons for concern and a threat to the baby. It was the first time and it will be so in all subsequent pregnancies. Every mom, regardless of whether this happens for the first or second time, should go through this period under the supervision of a doctor: take tests on time, observe a diet and physical activity.

A few words at the end

If the changes that occur with the uterus comply with accepted standards, neither the size nor the shape of the abdomen will in any way affect the health of the mother and her baby, and even more so will in no way affect his gender.

For parents looking forward to the birth of a baby, it does not matter at all whether it will be a girl or a boy. And when the belly begins to grow during the second pregnancy with twins, there is definitely no limit to the happiness of expectant mothers and fathers. By the way, this happens quite early, and it will not be difficult to guess why. And yet, the main thing for parents is to help every baby be born healthy and on time.

Expecting a baby for women is one of the most tremulous periods. Any information matters, such as the degree of uterine enlargement and visualization of pregnancy. Changes depend on the characteristics of the body, the weight of the expectant mother and other things. In addition, it matters whether a woman has given birth before.

At what week does the growth of the abdomen begin during the first pregnancy

While waiting for the birth of a baby, the belly of a pregnant girl increases due to several factors:

At what time does the belly start to grow? This is a very delicate matter. For some women, it increases already in the first months, while others manage to hide the fact that they are preparing for the birth of a child for a long period. Gynecologists believe that the belly should be visible after the 16th week of pregnancy. If the ultrasound has identified twins, then roundness may begin to appear 3-4 weeks earlier.

A woman who is preparing to become a mother for the first time may develop a belly much later than those who are going to give birth to a second child. The size increases longer due to the muscles that actively resist stretching. In addition, the growth rate of the abdomen may depend on other factors. Sometimes it becomes noticeable that a woman is going to become a mother, only in the later stages. Muscle stretching occurs much faster in those who have already gone through childbirth.

When does the belly start to grow in pregnant twins?

Another question of interest to expectant mothers concerns multiple pregnancies. Noticeable roundness, if two fetal eggs were visible in the ultrasound photo, appears earlier. In this case, the volume of amniotic fluid increases faster, so the changes occur about a month earlier. Pregnant women already in the third trimester have a tummy that is visible to the naked eye.

The uterus during multiple pregnancy increases a few weeks earlier than when carrying a single child. The total body weight of the mother is also growing faster. However, a large belly is not necessarily evidence that a woman will have twins. Sometimes this is a sign of an incorrect calculation of the timing of pregnancy, a large fetus, or the formation of amniotic fluid in a significant amount. The position of the future baby also matters.

At what time does the belly begin to grow during the second pregnancy

It is believed that the child of a mother who became pregnant a second time is slightly larger. The size of the tummy matches this. Doctors confirm this fact. The fetus during the second pregnancy grows in height and gains up to 500 grams more weight than while waiting for the first child. The skin with muscles is stretched faster, the navel is twisted, already for a period of four months, the roundness is clearly visible.

The growth of the uterus in each woman is individual. If the waiting period for the first child remains invisible to others for a long time, then the second pregnancy becomes visible earlier. The abdominal muscles after the first birth are already stretched, so the process goes faster. It is important to consider the physiology of the future mother, especially the structure of the pelvic bones. An expectant mother with a narrow pelvis “rounds” faster during pregnancy than women with a wide skeleton.

At what stage of pregnancy does the belly start to grow? Until the tenth week, visual changes may not occur. After that, a slight roundness appears, growing every day. The most active period of fetal development begins from the thirteenth week. After the first pregnancy, the wall of the abdominal muscle is no longer as elastic as before, so it may seem that the "interesting position" appears visually faster.

For every woman, becoming a mother is a huge change in her life. Therefore, they want to know everything about this, especially how the fetus should develop correctly, in what month does the belly appear in pregnant women? These questions are asked quite often, especially by those who are preparing to become a mother for the first time.

First, let's explain the definition of "tummy". In the first months of pregnancy, a woman's belly may grow, the reason for this is malnutrition or gas formation. In these first months, the uterus is not yet enlarged.

Pregnant women have a moment when they begin to think: “at what time does the stomach begin to grow?”. Let's try to answer this question. The uterus begins its growth only at 16 weeks from the moment of conception. Therefore, the belly will be visible to other people only at the 20th week of pregnancy. If a woman goes in for sports, i.e. if she has a developed press, then the tummy will become visible much later.
Also, the appearance of the tummy depends on which pelvis the pregnant woman has. In the event that the expectant mother's pelvis is wide enough, then her tummy will become visible only by the 4-5th month of pregnancy. In obese women, it will be possible to notice the “position” even later. In women who give birth for the second time, the belly may appear earlier. The number of embryos can also affect the size of the abdomen, namely, increase it. This is the only thing that can really affect the month in which the belly appears in pregnant women. If the expectant mother has triplets or twins, then the belly can be noticeable already in the first 3 months.

In general, the answer to the question of what week of pregnancy the belly begins to grow will be as follows. If a woman has one fetus and its development is going well, then the stomach should appear only at the 12th week of pregnancy. Already at week 16, your tummy will become noticeable not only to you.
And by the 27th week of pregnancy, the question is - at what time does the stomach begin to grow? - will not be relevant, because by this time it will be impossible to hide your baby under blouses and other clothes.
At the same time, the expectant mother should be interested not only in how long the belly begins to grow, but also in how her baby should develop correctly.
At 8 - 10 weeks of pregnancy fertilized egg reaches a diameter of 22 mm.
At the time when it is necessary to register, namely, by 12 weeks, the length of the fetus will be seven centimeters, and its weight will reach 20-25 grams. At this time, having come to the ultrasound, you can see that the fetal egg almost completely filled the uterine cavity.

By the 17th week of pregnancy, the fetus will reach a length of 12 cm, while its body weight will increase to 100 grams. By this time, the question of how long the stomach begins to grow disappears by itself, since all the excitement associated with it is already behind. The tummy has noticeably grown and rounded.

By week 20, the length of the fetus will reach 25 cm with a weight of about 300 g. At 24 weeks, your baby will have time to grow significantly. By this time, its length will be almost 30 cm, and the weight will vary from 600 to 700 grams.

By week 28, the length of the fetus, as a rule, is 35 cm with a body weight of about 1.0-1.2 kg. At the 32nd week, body weight will increase to 1.5 kg with a fetus length of 40 cm.
At week 36, the baby is practically formed, and by this time his indicators will be as follows: weight - 2.5 kg, and length - about 48 cm.

However, it is impossible to say that these indicators are the same for everyone. They are quite individual, because the baby in the womb of each mother is formed in its own way. Therefore, the above data is very average, and your baby can reach large sizes or be a little less effective individual features.
The body weight of the fetus by the date of delivery, as a rule, is 2.6-5.0 kg, and its length can reach 54 cm.

Thus, it should be important for the expectant mother: to bear the child for the entire required period and provide him with everything necessary for proper growth and nutrition, and the tummy and its size are not the most important thing.

Many expectant mothers who have barely found out about their new position are looking forward to when the tummy, which is noticeable to others, finally begins to appear. They regularly examine themselves in front of a mirror, compare their appearance with the appearance of other pregnant women and even get a little upset if the rest of the expectant mothers' belly grows faster than their own. It often seems to such pregnant women that if their waist circumference does not increase, then this indicates that the pregnancy is proceeding incorrectly, so they seek to find out in which month of pregnancy the belly appears.

How and why does the belly increase during pregnancy?

No matter how much the expectant mother would like to see how her stomach grows at the earliest possible date, for some reason this remains impossible, and for a long time only she herself will know about her excellent condition.

When conception occurs, the fertilized egg is implanted in the wall of the uterus. From this moment, the cell begins to grow and very soon turns into an embryo. As the embryo grows, so does the uterus. The placenta is formed in it, amniotic fluid appears, and the organ itself begins to rise up, taking up more and more space in abdominal cavity. This whole process takes place gradually, so the stomach is also not rounded immediately.

It is quite difficult to say exactly when the belly appears in pregnant women: the body of each is too individual, and the period of bearing a child proceeds differently for everyone. On average, significant changes in this area become noticeable at 16 weeks of gestation (at 4 months). Someone has a visible belly during pregnancy already at the end of the 1st trimester, and someone manages to hide their position up to 6-7 months of pregnancy. Several factors influence how many weeks the belly appears, which we will talk about a little later.

By the way, the girth of the circumference of the tummy of a pregnant woman is the most important indicator of the normal course of pregnancy, which is why in the 2nd trimester the gynecologist will begin to measure the volume of the abdomen using a regular centimeter tape. Of course, a barely appearing belly will not tell him anything, so the doctor will take measurements from 19-20 weeks.

The specialist compares the obtained readings with generally accepted standards, and if a significant difference is suddenly found, this will be the reason for further examination.

Often, women are interested in when a belly appears during pregnancy in order to determine whether she will soon have to update her wardrobe. I must say that often, even in the absence of a tummy, already in the first trimester, the expectant mother becomes cramped in her usual outfits, and sometimes it is completely impossible to wear tight trousers. This is explained by the fact that already in the early stages of bearing a child, restructuring begins in the body, including an increase in weight and a slightly transformed figure.

In addition, the intestines begin to work differently, and the woman notices that the excessive pressure of clothing becomes unpleasant and uncomfortable for her. By the way, at this time it may seem to many pregnant women that they already have a visible belly, especially noticeable in the evening. But doctors explain it simply - bloating and unstable work of the gastrointestinal tract. You can verify this by looking in the mirror early in the morning: the evening volume in the waist area will disappear.

What affects the growth of the abdomen during pregnancy?

As already mentioned, there are several factors that affect how the belly grows during pregnancy and at what time it becomes noticeable. Among them:

  1. The number of pregnancies. During the first pregnancy, the belly grows slowly and is usually noticeable to others towards the middle of the second trimester. If a woman is already pregnant for the second time, the volume of the tummy increases quite quickly, and the “interesting position” ceases to be a secret by 12-14 weeks. In addition, the belly during the second pregnancy is usually larger than during the first.
  2. The number of fruits. The tummy of expectant mothers who are expecting twins grows much faster and appears much earlier than those who bear one baby.
  3. Mother's collection. In thin people, roundness in the waist area becomes noticeable at an earlier date, but full ones can successfully hide pregnancy up to 7 months. In addition, the appearance of the tummy largely depends on which pelvis the pregnant woman has: if it is narrow, then roundness will appear early.
  4. Heredity. If the mother and grandmother of the future mother had a big belly already at the beginning of the 2nd trimester, then it is possible that the pregnant woman herself will notice changes at the same time.
  5. The position of the fetus and placenta. The placenta can be attached to the uterus in different ways: along the anterior or posterior wall, in rare cases, blocking the uterine os. If the placenta is located on the back wall, then the fetus will be located closer to the mother's spine, which means that a prominent belly may appear later than it happens in other pregnant women.
  6. Condition of the abdominal muscles. If before pregnancy a woman regularly went in for sports and has strong abdominal muscles, then with a high degree of probability the volume of her waist will not change significantly until 5-6 months. Weak or stretched abdominal muscles (this happens, for example, if a woman is already pregnant for the second time) cannot resist the load for a long time, so roundness appears earlier.

As you can see, quite a lot of factors influence the growth of the tummy in a future mother, and it is simply impossible to foresee them all. That is why it is so difficult to give an exact answer at what month of pregnancy a growing belly becomes visible.

Why is my belly not growing?

Pregnant women tend to worry about even the smallest things, and if they notice that their tummy does not want to grow in any way, then the excitement threatens to turn into a panic.

The factors that affect the increase in the abdominal area in pregnant women have already been said before, but besides this, there are situations in which it is really worth worrying why such important natural changes do not occur.

If the abdomen does not grow for a long time during pregnancy or grows too slowly, and its volume does not correspond to the period, this may indicate some pathologies, including:

  • oligohydramnios;
  • deficiency of body weight of the fetus;
  • breech presentation of the fetus.

Do not be afraid: a small girth of the abdominal circumference is not yet a reliable sign of deviations, and the doctor will definitely send you for an additional examination. In addition, it must be remembered that all these conditions are subject to correction, if they are noticed in time and all necessary measures are taken. That is why the gynecologist regularly measures the circumference of the pregnant woman's abdomen and observes the changes. Oligohydramnios and fetal malnutrition are successfully treated in a hospital setting.

As for the breech presentation of the fetus, you need to remember: throughout the entire pregnancy, the baby will change its position in the mother's womb more than once, and it is likely that by the time of birth it will turn its head to the cervix. Nevertheless, with the breech presentation of the fetus, the pregnant woman is carefully monitored.

Before the child is fixed in the pelvis, there is still an opportunity to influence its position in the womb.

For this, there are special exercises, thanks to which the baby can turn his head to the "exit". If this was not achieved, the pregnant woman will be scheduled for a planned caesarean section.

Thus, do not worry about the fact that your tummy has not yet begun to grow. Perhaps this is due to heredity or the features of your figure, and you just need to wait a little more. To be completely sure that nothing threatens you and your baby, visit your gynecologist regularly and tell him about all your doubts.

Anatomical features of a woman play an important role in this matter. So women with a narrow pelvis will see an increasing tummy in a shorter pregnancy than expectant mothers with wider pelvic bones.

If a woman has a wide pelvis, then in the early stages of pregnancy, the fetus can be located between the bones.

The number of pregnancies preceding the present also affects the timing of the appearance of the abdomen. Usually, in women expecting their first child, the tummy begins to grow later than in subsequent pregnancies. This is due to the fact that initially the abdominal muscles of a woman are stronger than after childbirth.

The baby can be located both at the back wall of the uterus, and at the front. It is easy to conclude that in cases where the fetus is located closer to the back, the tummy begins to appear later.

If during pregnancy the uterus produces enough a large number of amniotic fluid - the woman's stomach looks more voluminous.

One of the factors that influence the appearance of the tummy is heredity. Often, the mother's pregnancy proceeds in a similar pattern. However, this does not always happen.

When a woman gains enough weight during pregnancy, a woman's belly begins to grow earlier. This is due not only to the size of the unborn baby, but also to the layer of adipose tissue that appears on the belly of a pregnant woman.

The size of the baby plays an important role in this matter. The baby is growing actively, therefore, the stomach is growing at a faster pace.

The timing of the appearance of the abdomen

The average time for the appearance of the tummy is the 16th week of pregnancy, that is, at 4-5 months, others will be able to notice that the woman is expecting an addition to the family. However, very fat woman the abdomen may not be noticeable until the last dates.

But women who are expecting will be able to see a rounded tummy already at 2 pregnancies. The fact is that the uterus in this case grows much faster.

If you have any doubts about whether everything is normal with the course of your pregnancy and whether the size of the tummy corresponds to the gestational age, it is better to consult a doctor. With the help of ultrasound, you can dispel any doubts and fears associated with this issue.

Having learned about their position, many expectant mothers are interested in the question of when the belly begins to grow during pregnancy. Let us consider in more detail such a parameter as the circumference of the abdomen and find out what affects its size when carrying a baby, how the abdomen changes externally by weeks of pregnancy.

What determines the size of the abdomen during pregnancy?

The belly during pregnancy grows gradually and in each pregnant woman this happens in a slightly different way. There are a number of factors that determine the pace of this process. Among them:

  1. Anatomical features of the physique of the mother. It has been established that thin women with narrow hips often have a small belly, with the normal weight of the unborn baby.
  2. Diet and rate of weight gain. Weight gain during pregnancy is a physiological norm. However, the process itself can proceed at different speeds. In addition, an improvement in appetite in women in position is also reflected in the size of the abdominal circumference - an increasing fat layer makes it visually larger.
  3. Location of the placenta. When the child's place is attached to the back wall of the uterus, the belly of the expectant mother is small. It looks much larger if it is attached to the anterior uterine wall.
  4. The volume of amniotic fluid. Insufficient or excess volume of amniotic fluid is reflected in the size of the abdomen.
  5. Functional state of the abdominal muscles. In physically prepared expectant mothers, the stomach is smaller, looks taut, which makes it look smaller in appearance.
  6. The number of pregnancies. In nulliparous women, the uterus is smaller, so the belly is small. This is due to the state of the muscular apparatus of the genital organ.

At what stage of pregnancy does the belly start to grow?

No gynecologist can definitely tell the expectant mother at what week of pregnancy the belly begins to grow. These features of the gestation process are strictly individual. For some ladies, it has a small size throughout the entire period. However, there is an average. It is equal - the time when the stomach is already visible to the mother herself and those around her. However, it begins to grow a little earlier. An active increase in the circumference of the abdomen begins from the end of the first trimester - from 12-13 weeks. By this time, all organs and systems are formed, their growth of the body begins.


When does the belly start to grow during the first pregnancy?

During the first pregnancy, the increase in the abdomen occurs more slowly. This is due to the fact that the uterus and abdominal muscles have not yet experienced strong stresses before and are in their physiological state. The muscle fibers of these organs are not stretched, they have the correct tone. Over time, as the fetus grows, their lengthening is noted - the abdominal muscles stretch under the pressure of the baby's body weight and amniotic fluid. The growth rate of the abdomen depends directly on the values ​​of these parameters - they determine when the abdomen begins to grow during pregnancy.

Answering the question of pregnant women regarding which month of pregnancy the belly begins to grow, gynecologists point to 4 months from conception. However, this does not mean that every expectant mother notices this phenomenon directly at the indicated time. Everything is individual, and some women change outwardly even at the 3rd month of gestation. Particularly visible is the small tummy thin women with low stature. Dense women, with rounded shapes, manage to “hide” their position from others for longer.

When does the belly start to grow during the second pregnancy?

Talking about when the belly begins to grow during pregnancy with a second child, doctors note an earlier start of this process. This is due to the stretching of the uterine ligaments, which change their size after the first pregnancy. In addition, the muscles of the abdominal wall also relax - the stomach becomes sagging, loses its elasticity and flatness. Because of this, even a slight increase in its volume is outwardly noticeable. On average, a change in the circumference of the abdomen associated with pregnancy is noticeable in multiparous as early as 13-14 weeks.

When does the belly start growing in a multiple pregnancy?

Due to the increased growth of the uterus, with multiple pregnancy, the abdomen increases a little earlier. So when the belly begins to grow during the current pregnancy, there is only 12 weeks of gestation. Gynecologists directly indicate this period, answering the question regarding when the stomach begins to grow during pregnancy with twins. Even close people can notice the changes taking place. At the same time, the stomach itself is growing at a rapid pace - by the 17th week, some pregnant women experience inconvenience during sleep and rest.


Where does the belly grow during pregnancy?

Wanting to control the changes that occur with the body when carrying a baby, women often ask doctors where the belly begins to grow during pregnancy. Its increase occurs first slightly above the pubis. This is due to the growth of the uterus in the area of ​​​​its bottom. This is where the first changes take place. This area is also palpated during palpation of the anterior abdominal wall, which is carried out for the first time when a pregnant woman is registered for a period of 12 weeks.

Why doesn't my belly grow during pregnancy?

When the belly begins to actively grow during pregnancy, it is noticeable to everyone. But often women complain to doctors - the belly does not grow during pregnancy. This is noted in expectant mothers who have a dense physique, magnificent forms. In such cases, a small increase in the volume of the abdomen is imperceptible. When the growth of the abdominal circumference does not occur in thin, short women, it is necessary to exclude pathology. The discrepancy between the size of the abdomen and the gestational age may indicate such complications of pregnancy as:

  • malnutrition - a violation of processes prenatal development;
  • - discrepancy between the volume of amniotic fluid to the norm;
  • incorrect, transverse arrangement of the fetus;
  • Attachment occurs outside the uterus, which is why the stomach does not grow.

During the gestation of the fetus, the tummy of the expectant mother quite naturally begins to grow. Not all women, especially primiparas, understand at what week of pregnancy the belly begins to grow. This interest is by no means idle - a pregnant woman needs to understand what changes await her body, and at what speed this important process will take place. It's also important to know how much weight you can put on and when you need new, more comfortable clothing.

What determines the different growth of the abdomen during pregnancy

Since each woman is individual, everyone's tummy grows differently, some faster, some slower. Some already acquire an impressive belly by the middle of the second trimester, while at the same time there are such phenomena in which pregnancy is invisible until the very birth. Why it happens?

There are a number of reasons for this:

  1. Of great importance is whether a woman gives birth for the first time or she already has children. In a multiparous mother, the body managed to adapt to changes during the bearing of a baby, and the skin and ligamentous tissues have more pronounced elasticity, so their stomach becomes noticeable much faster than in primiparas. In girls giving birth for the first time, there is a deterrent, because the muscles are not yet adapted to such a strong stretch - because of this, the rounding of the figure is slower.
  2. If future mother eats for two, which is really not worth doing, it is not surprising that she will quickly see the result of such efforts in the form of an early-appearing belly. Excessive nutrition will lead to excess weight after childbirth, and it will be very difficult to get rid of these kilograms. So it is worth remembering that it is not the quantity of food that is important, but its quality, both for the mother and for the child.
  3. Undoubtedly, the belly will be large if this is a multiple pregnancy, and there are not one, but two or even three children in the womb. It does not matter that these children weigh less than the normal weight of over three kilograms at birth. All together they, in any case, exceed the weight of one, albeit a large child.
  4. A certain type also introduces its changes in the growth of the abdomen. female figure. If a woman herself is thin and slender, even a small belly will be very noticeable against the general background of the body. And not at all because it grows faster, as some people think. At the same time, in relation to a full woman, it can be concluded that she simply gained weight while she was pregnant.
  5. And finally, heredity - a lot depends on how the mother and grandmother endured the period of gestation. Daughter and granddaughter, most likely, waiting for a mirror repetition of all stages of pregnancy, including the rate of growth of the abdomen, its size and other details.
  6. By the way, there is another factor - how the fetus is located in the mother's womb, can make her stomach invisible or, conversely, conspicuous. It happens that it is presented to the front of the uterus or near the spinal column. It is easy to guess that in the first case, the tummy will be more pronounced.

The opinion of doctors on this matter is unanimous - no matter how quickly and what size a woman's stomach can reach in position, the main thing is that there are no deviations in the development of pregnancy, and the expectant mother is healthy.

Do not forget about such a parameter as the activity of a woman during the period of bearing a baby. In a woman who is professionally involved in sports and has a strong trained press, a pleasant roundness can appear almost at the 7-8th month, that is, in the third trimester. Strong muscles of the peritoneum restrain the stretching of the skin, and therefore the pregnancy becomes distinct, in fact, just before the birth. In addition, there is a physiological predisposition to a large belly in women with a narrow pelvis.

When studying the question of what week of pregnancy the belly begins to grow, it is necessary to build on these criteria rather than on the intensity of growth, which is approximately the same for all women. Moreover, it also depends on the size of such an organ as the uterus.

At what week of pregnancy does the belly start to grow?

A gynecologist who leads a woman during childbirth is obliged to monitor all the changes that occur with her body. In this regard, the doctor regularly examines the expectant mother, measures the size of her uterus, and also monitors the formation child's body in the womb. Roughly speaking, the uterus is constantly measured in length, which increases by one centimeter every week with a successful pregnancy.

The volume of the abdomen, or rather, its circumference, is also measured. But this parameter can change dramatically due to an increase in fatty tissue, the total amount of amniotic fluid, very often when the position of the child in the mother's womb changes, this indicator also changes, becoming more or less.

A small belly can become noticeable as early as the beginning of the 12th week. The standing of the uterus at this time also reaches 12 centimeters. But only the woman herself will notice this. A clear increase will begin at four months, and the volume will begin to be added one centimeter in 7 days.

It turns out that the main reasons for the growth are:


In 9 months, if there is no premature delivery, the uterus should grow to one kilogram in weight, the amniotic fluid before childbirth is about 1.5 liters, the child can weigh differently - from 2.5 to 4-5 kilograms, reaching 40-50 centimeters tall.

As for the uterus, about the third month, it begins to be clearly felt through the septum of the peritoneum and gradually move up. That is why the medical record does not indicate its size, but the height of its location in the body.

When in the fifth month it rises even higher, and the upper part can be defined just below the navel, the abdomen becomes especially prominent.

At nine months, the body reaches its highest point, and before the upcoming birth it falls - in 7-10 days. This means that in the near future a baby will be born.

Women with multiple pregnancy give out their interesting position already in the first 12 weeks, because their uterus begins to grow almost a month earlier. A large belly may not necessarily seem due to a large child. At nine months, the amount of amniotic fluid reaches its maximum and this also adds volume to the female abdomen. The maximum amount of liquid is 1,500 ml, which is an impressive figure.

Big belly: safety rules

In addition to the growth of the abdomen, its shape can also change. If others can find in this signs of the future sex of the child, then medical workers the shape determines the state of the uterus and the position of the fetus.

The shape is especially important after the fourth month, since during the normal development of the embryo, the stomach should be in the shape of an egg. If it is round and more like a ball, this may mean a large amount of amniotic fluid.

By the stomach, you can determine whether a woman is giving birth for the first time or already has offspring. A sharp, slightly raised tummy clearly indicates that the first birth is coming, this is especially noticeable in mothers with a narrow pelvic structure. When the stomach sags a little, it is safe to say that this is the second and even third birth.

Be that as it may, a big belly is a big responsibility and a woman needs to be extremely careful not to harm herself and her unborn child.

In order for the pregnancy to pass without problems, the future woman in labor will have to adapt to her not very comfortable position. At this time, it is recommended to follow simple safety rules to avoid complications:

  • A pregnant woman should not sleep on her back, since with the addition of the weight of the fetus, involuntary pressure occurs on the vessels located next to the uterus. Because of this, the baby’s blood circulation, its nutrition and the supply of necessary oxygen can worsen.
  • Of course, it is strictly forbidden to fall asleep on the stomach, as this can harm the child. In addition, it would never occur to mom herself to fit in like that, since it is simply inconvenient.
  • The expectant mother will have to part with heels and uncomfortable shoes. Firstly, it can provoke a fall, and secondly, due to a violation of orientation in space. Since the proportions of the body are no longer what they used to be, it is difficult for a woman to coordinate her movements, and if there is still no stability due to shoes, then there is always a risk of unforeseen injuries.
  • To make it comfortable to walk, and the weight load is distributed more evenly on the woman's body, doctors recommend wearing a special prenatal bandage provided in this position. But you need to wear it occasionally with the necessary walks. Permanent wearing is not provided, since the press must still perform its muscular function.
  • Also, for women, when their tummy has noticeably grown, it is better to exclude such an activity as driving personal vehicles, especially in the last months of the third trimester, when a woman has reduced coordination and attention.

By clearly imagining at what week of pregnancy the belly begins to grow, and how one should behave in a difficult time for her before childbirth, a woman will be able to protect herself and her baby from unnecessary problems. You can also advise to strictly follow the instructions of the doctor, who will tell you what to do and how to behave if the situation suddenly gets out of control.

Weekly pregnancy development: video


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