2Nd Pregnancy

Hi,
I've had three boys. My guess is that since you already had one, the muscles are already stretched out and were easily re-stretched. I would not worry about it, just enjoy your pregnancy. Afterwards you can do some exercise to tighten those muscles back up.
TerryP

I see that you have lots of "me too" responses already, but I did think I would chime in with the fact that I was reading about that very thing just recently on one of the pregnancy boards, written by a doctor. It said that was something to EXPECT with a subsequent pregnancy- that you would show a lot sooner.
The good news is, maybe the awkward stage- where people just think you've gained a lot of weight- will pass a lot quicker!

Congratulations!!
-Manda

Hi N.,
This is very normal. I have had 3 kids and I am short too. With my first, I was in maternity clothes at 3 mths and with my other two it was 2 1/2 mths. Also, I am a labor doula, and alot of clients say they notice this too. It is because your body has already gone through a pregnancy and everything is stretched out from that, so you are likely to show sooner with other pregnancies. Congrats, by the way. That is great. When are you due? I also have a 3 year old son. Where do you live? I am in Aurora.

S. Bailey CLD
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

Yup - you're going to show much earlier. And, I'm happy to say - delivery is MUCH easier (and faster) than the first, too.
I pushed for about an hour and a half with my 1st - my second was crowning after about 6 good pushes.
The cool thing about my second pregnancy was that I didn't have as much anxiety as I did in my first about unknown changes that were happening - and I enjoyed things much more. And I could identify the fun stuff (like kicks and turns) because I knew what signs to look for and had already experienced those sensations before.

Good luck!
J. H.
____@____.com

Hi N.,
This is completely normal - it's just your body saying "oh yeah, this again". Your muscles are just remembering what it's like to be pregnant again - they probably never completely recovered from the first one.

K.

When I had my second, I felt like the minute I knew I was pregnant, I was in maternity clothes. With my first one, I did not show until I was about 6 months, with Payton, my second, I felt like I showed immediately. My sister was the same way and so was my girl friend, so I think it is normal for most people. I would not worry about it, I was showing by 13 weeks, I was in that awkward stage, is she getting fat or is she pregnant, that look. Anyway, it is normal, so dont worry.
M.

N.! You are singing to the chior! I am only 9 weeks along and seriously look like I did when I was 4 months with my first child. I was even down to my pre-pregnancy weight/in good shape and up to running 20 miles a week when I got pregnant this time...then whamo! I just laugh when people ask me how far along I am since last time you couldn't even tell I was pregnant at this stage.

I hope this helps knowing you're not alone with you're pouching stomach. Enjoy it and congratulations.

Indeed! My 2nd came 8 years after my 1st and I STILL had that problem. It's like my body said, "Oh, I remember THIS!!". The muscles that got stretched are just plain weaker. No matter how much you strengthen them, they are never going to be as strong as before. Between babies, I went on a fitness craze and I lifted weights etc. etc. and I was SKINNY, flat tummy and all! But no sooner did I get pregnant with #2 and there it was...loose pants by 12 weeks...Maternity by 4 months...but it is worth it in the end for that beautiful, precious baby.

Yup! I did find though that it slows down and you catch up...so in the end I wasn't any bigger than with my first.

Hi N.,

When I was pregnant with my first child (he is now 3yrs old), I didn't start showing until I was 6 months and people at work, with the exception of people in my department, didn't know I was pregnant until I was well into my 7th month.

With my second pregnancy, I started to show at 14 weeks and kept growing from there. My friends also experienced the same thing with their second child so no need to worry.

I wish you the best with your second pregnancy!

B.

Hi N.,

The same exact thing happened to me. My boys are 3 years apart almost to the month. When I was pregnant with my 2nd one, I "popped" quicker in my tummy and noticed that I had an upper stomach too all of a sudden. I think it's quite normal, PLUS it all depends on your age for the after delivery look too. Unfortunately, I was over 30 with my second one and after delivering him, I had an upper tummy pouch too to go along with my lower tummy pouch. You know, the little pouch you get in your lower tummy for a couple of weeks/months after delivering. Well it had a sister after the first one. Either way, don't do what I do and let it go, just do a ton of upper abdominal crunches (AFTER DELIVERING) or whatever is successful for you and you will be just fine. Good Luck!!

Your body already knows what to do with the 2nd one.. everything comes faster.. and my doctor told me that the pregnancy would be more painful/hard but labor would be easy and he was right! Those pains and aches and all that fun stuff come sooner with number 2, not to mention you are chasing after a kid this time around! But labor should be a breeze!!!

Enjoy it!!!