Congratulations—you’ve just learned that you’re pregnant! You may be wondering when everyone else will begin to learn of your condition by themselves—that is, when will you begin to “show”?
Before long, your body will begin to change shape. The changes will be most noticeable in your tummy, which will expand to accommodate your developing baby. Watching your stomach grow is a part of pregnancy that you may find as nerve-wracking as it is exciting. Some are 8 weeks pregnant and are already showing and they wonder if this is normal.
8 Weeks Pregnant Showing: Is It Normal?
Some say that those who are first time mothers typically show later, while those who are going to be mothers for the second time will show sooner. This tends to be true to some degree; however, when you show depends on a number of factors, including your body type, the time you conceived and your weight. The average pregnant woman will begin to show during her second trimester at some point between her 12th and 16th week of pregnancy.
Showing at 8 weeks pregnant is somewhat uncommon if you’re expecting your first baby; however, it is not that unusual with subsequent pregnancies. After your first pregnancy, your abdominal muscles may lose some of their ability to hold everything in, so your stomach could begin to stick out sooner. Even though 8 weeks is still somewhat early to begin showing, a lot of factors can influence that. For example if you have a small and thin figure and are pregnant with twins then you are surely showing!
Note that many women have what’s known as a “come and go” belly early in their pregnancies. A “come and go” belly may seem to expand one day; however, the next day, perhaps after you’ve had a bowel movement, it will have disappeared. While you may find this full-belly / flat-belly phenomenon to be a little unsettling, rest assured that it is perfectly normal.
8 Weeks Pregnant Showing: Common Reasons
- Miscalculated due date. You may be further along in your pregnancy than you think.
- Pregnant with twins or multiples.
- Excessive weight gain. Your larger size could come from your abdomen instead of your uterus.
- Lack of muscle tone. If you want to hide your pregnancy for as long as possible, having toned or tight abdominal muscles will work to your benefit. Those with less tone to their abdominal muscles tend to show earlier.
- Bloating caused by lactose intolerance or constipation. The hormones released during pregnancy tend to cause constipation. During pregnancy, many women also change their diets so that they consume more milk products.
8 Weeks Pregnant Showing: What Others Have Experienced
“Every woman shows at a different time. Just because it’s your first pregnancy doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t show at 8 weeks. When I was pregnant with my first child, I began to show at approximately 7-8 weeks. My doctors said that I was perfectly normal. Currently, I’m 9 weeks pregnant and there is no denying my stomach right now. It’s very obvious that I’m showing!”
“When I visited the maternity store while I was 9 weeks pregnant, a lady who was in her 20th week was in the adjoining dressing room and my bump was bigger than hers was! Some of this is definitely bloating, but if your frame was very petite before your pregnancy, you will probably begin to show quite early on in pregnancy. Even though the size of your baby is approximately equal to a jelly bean at 8 weeks, your body is still making much extra room while preparing for its growth. It’s also important to remember that no such thing as normal exists—there are only averages. There is difference in each pregnancy. I’m at 17 weeks presently, and most of the people remain shocked due to the fact that I’m not due until December. It is assumed by most people that I’m having my baby next month!”
“I’m only 6 weeks pregnant and I already have a pot belly! I am 5’2” with a small-medium build. I am not slender, but my tummy has definitely begun to protrude! I’m not able to pull it in and it feels somewhat solid! Secretly, I love it, but I’m going to need to hide it for another 6 weeks. I think I’m going to be huge!”
“I’ll be 9 weeks pregnant in two days and I’ve been lounging around in my pajama pants for comfort. My jeans do still fit; however, they are very tight and uncomfortable around the waist. I have just gone through a few very nasty weeks of nausea and vomiting that felt a lot like my first pregnancy. I even lose 14lbs! I’m currently on unisom, vitamin b6, folbecal (antinausea prenatal), promethazine (lotion form), and zophran. The combination seems to be working great! I feel so much better! While my pants are quite loose in the leg area, they’re still tight in the waist.”
Belly Changes Further into Pregnancy
Besides 8 weeks pregnant showing, your belly will go through a lot of changes during pregnancy. Your uterus is normally the size of a lemon. By the time you have been pregnant for 14 to 17 weeks, it will have risen above your pelvic cavity and expanded to the size of a small melon. At this point, your uterus will be visible above your waistline.
