When do you start showing in pregnancy?

So while every  baby bump will be unique to the mother and the baby, in this article we’ll explore why that’s the case and offer insights to help you understand what you can expect during this chapter.

When do you start showing in pregnancy?

On average, pregnant women start to show toward the end of the first trimester or the beginning of the second trimester. It’s normal to gain little to no weight during the first trimester, but at some point during your second trimester, you’ll likely notice your waistline expanding from that baby bump. [1, 2]

In one study of over 130,000 pregnant women, 92.5% of them were able to recognize their pregnancy within 12 weeks of conception. [3] This doesn’t necessarily mean that they all noticed a belly bump at that time — other signs of early pregnancy were also likely taken into account such as:

• Missed periods
• Nausea
• Cravings
• More frequent urination
• Low energy

Generally, we can say that most women know that they are pregnant at about 12 weeks, which is also the end of the first trimester.

How many weeks does it take for your pregnancy to start showing?

While the 12-week mark was suggested in the previous study, you may start showing anywhere from about nine weeks up to well into the second trimester, especially for women who have a larger BMI or long torso. 

Pregnancy lasts for about 40 weeks on average from the first day of your last menstrual period to birth. These 40 weeks are divided into three trimesters to help us understand the pregnancy progression:

1. First trimester (week one to week 12): The embryo is still in early growth stages, beginning to develop organs and bodily structures, and is typically about an inch or less in size (learn more about what happens in your body at conception and for the first 12 days post ovulation here). While the embryo is quite small, the uterus is growing a bit to accommodate the growing placenta, extra fluids, and fetus. Because of this, you may notice a slight bump during this trimester. You also may notice more bloating than usual due to excess progesterone levels — this bloating can be confused with showing.
2. Second trimester (week 13 to week 28): The fetus can grow up to about three inches during this trimester. Your uterus also expands to provide extra nutrients to the growing baby. These extra inches from the fetus, the extra fluid in the area, the growing placenta, and the expanded uterus create the “baby bump,” not necessarily just the baby! You may notice gradual weight gain and the need for maternity clothing during this trimester.
3. Third trimester (week 29 to week 40): The baby continues to grow up to its birth weight and your uterus continues expanding to accommodate it. Most full-term babies weigh somewhere between 6 pounds, 2 ounces and 9 pounds, 2 ounces (2.78 kg to  4.14 kg), and are about 19 to 21 inches long (48 cm to 53 cm). Remember that healthy babies come in many different sizes, though. Listen to your healthcare provider for guidance and information throughout your pregnancy and beyond.

Again, while every pregnancy is unique, these timelines can help us make sense of the journey and have some idea of what to expect as it progresses. [2,4]

What does it mean to "show" in pregnancy? 

When people use the term “showing” in relation to pregnancy, they typically mean the bump you get in your stomach when the baby starts to grow inside your body. As the uterus expands to hold and nourish the developing baby, it actually moves your internal muscles and organs around to make room. 

In a non-pregnant body, the uterus is in the pelvic area (the area in between your hips). The stomach, bladder, abdominal muscles, and more are housed in the stomach or midsection of the body.

As the uterus expands during pregnancy, it moves up from the pelvis into the stomach, pushing other organs and muscles upwards or backwards to create space. All of this changes the size and shape of your body to support the growing baby, and the uterus shifting upwards contributes to the appearance of a baby bump. [5,6]

When you start to show, your healthcare provider will start to measure your bump in terms of “fundal height.” This is the measurement from the top of your public bone to the top of your baby bump, and it’ll help the doctor monitor how the baby is growing every few weeks. It’ll also help you understand the bump and how much you’re showing over time. [7]

Why do some pregnant women show late?

While most women can expect to start showing between weeks nine to 16, you may not show until well into the second trimester. It depends on multiple factors such as genetics, height, weight, whether or not you’ve been pregnant before, and more. Let’s go through how those factors can affect when you start showing:

The most common reason why some women show later than average is that it’s their first time being pregnant. First-time moms often show later because it takes more time for all of those organ and muscle shifts to happen. The muscles in the abdominal wall also haven't stretched like this before, so it’s tighter than it would be if you had been pregnant before. Pregnancy is one of the most extreme changes that a human body can go through, so when it happens for the first time, the body usually needs more time to adjust 

Another reason why some women show late in pregnancy is if they are heavier or have a high BMI, or if they have a body shape that naturally would make the bump less defined — obese women may not see a baby bump until the third trimester [8].

Why do some pregnant women show early?

Along the same lines, if you’ve been pregnant before, you’re more likely to show early. Your body has a certain “memory” of the last time you were pregnant and the way the connective tissue and abdominal muscles stretched to accommodate the pregnancy, so it might be able to adjust a bit faster if this is your second pregnancy or beyond. If this is the case, the uterus is able to move up into the stomach more quickly causing the baby bump to show. 

Quick note that sometimes that stretching of the connective tissues and muscles causes something called diastasis recti, a condition where the abdominal tissues and muscles are separated. This condition affects about 30% of women at 12 months postpartum. [10]

A mom of twins is also more likely to show earlier, and there is anecdotal evidence that shorter women or women with shorter torsos tend to show early as well. Finally, the angle of your uterus also plays a role in how early you start showing. If you have a uterus that points forward (also called an anteverted uterus), you’re more likely to show early. [8]

When do people show with second (and third) pregnancies?

For second, third, fourth, or more pregnancies, you may start to show earlier than you did with your first pregnancy, as we mentioned above. But remember that each pregnancy journey is different. Factors such as lifestyle, stress levels, the baby’s progression, and more can make any one pregnancy very different from the last. [4]

Should I be worried if I haven't started showing yet?

While most women will show pretty prominently by their third trimester, there are a lot of variables that can affect when you start showing. Regular check-ins with your healthcare provider are key to understanding your pregnancy. If you have any concerns about your health or the baby’s, consult your healthcare provider for peace of mind. Just remember that every body and pregnancy is unique — some of us will show less prominently but still deliver perfectly healthy babies. [8]

When to see a doctor

Any time you have a concern about your pregnancy, reach out to your healthcare provider for more information. They can assess your unique situation and chart a course of action to make sure you have the healthiest (and stress-free!) pregnancy possible.

Plan and follow your pregnancy with Natural Cycles

Thanks for reading, we hope you’ve learned lots about when you start showing in pregnancy! If you’re exploring the possibility of pregnancy, or looking for tools and resources to help you feel more empowered in your conception journey, Natural Cycles is built to support you from birth control and beyond. Switch between NC° Plan Pregnancy and NC° Follow Pregnancy free of charge, and Natural Cycles can even guide you in the afterbirth journey with NC° Postpartum. 

Research has shown that couples who use Natural Cycles to conceive get pregnant in three cycles on average [9], and women who become pregnant can follow along with the changes in their body and their baby with NC° Follow Pregnancy. See if a tool like Natural Cycles can support your pregnancy journey today.