Could I Be Showing Too Early?

Hi P.! Congratulations on your 3rd child!! I have three daughters, with 3 years being between my 2nd & 3rd. I started feeling my clothes getting tighter within 4-6 weeks of getting pregnant with my youngest baby girl...this was much sooner than with my other two girls. I think there is less tone in the belly after multiple children...which makes you feel the presence of your baby sooner. Hope this helps and good luck with everything!

Typically with each pregnancy your body learns more of what it needs to do, so showing earlier is normally a common symptom in subsequent pregnancies. I'm about 6 weeks too and I know my pants are tighter than they were.

~M.

i've heard women say that with the 3rd by the time the stick turned blue (or whatever) they needed their maternity clothes. so dont worry. congrats!

Yes it's normal. Especially when it isn't your first pregnancy, many people say it seems like their bellies pooch out almost immediately. Congrats!

With my first child, I started outgrowing my clothes after a month. Guess I was just too skinny. No one noticed I was pregnant until about month five, but that was likely because I wore loose athletic clothes and t-shirts until the end of the semester - didn't want to think about pregnancy or childbirth until my research paper was over with, LOL.

With later pregnancies, your body knows what to do so it gets into gear quicker; plus you're already stretched out so your body expands.... When I was buying maternity clothes this time around, the sales clerk at the consignment store reassured me that it's completely normal to show more and sooner with later pregnancies than with the first. Expect to go up a couple sizes at least before you're done. First time around, all the stores said that you just buy your prepregnancy size... Yeah, right! I was a small when I started out, and ended up a large. This time around I'd gotten down to a medium (9 months post-partum) and now I'm up to X-large and hoping I don't have to buy anything new in the next three weeks!

Hi P.,

I recently(08/2008) had my 3rd child and totally understand how you're feeling! I started buying my maternity clothes when I was 2 months. My coworkers found it strange and thought I brought them too early. Nevertheless, I brought what was comfortable for me. You know your body better than anyone else! I encourage to wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. P.S. I was glad I did buy my maternity clothes early because my third child was my LARGEST!!! My first, a girl was 4 lbs.15 ozs., the second, a boy was 5 lbs 9 ozs, and now the third was 7 lbs. 11 ozs. She was pretty big considering the size of the other two!

For my third pregnacy, I had to start wearing maternity pants at 6 weeks. The good news was I gained the least weight for that one! It will probably balance out. Best of luck!

It's completely normal! I'm in the same boat. I would recommend a tummy sleeve my motherhood. It is just a piece of spandex that you slip over your pants so you can leave them unbuttoned and your pants will still stay up. I absolutely love them! It is perfect for the first few months when the maternity clothes are too big and normal clothes are getting too tight (and for after the baby).

It's bloat. Oh, and women with previous pregnancies will show sooner. But this is just the accumulation of stuff that your body needs to start growing a baby - who, right now, is probably about the size of the head of a pin.

Congratulations! check out natal hypnotherapy for your labor. I was smiling, laughing and walking around in transition thanks to it.

During my first pregnancy I had to switch to maternity clothes by three months, but I really didn't start showing until six months, I just gained a lot of weight during my first trimester.

I showed that early with my first pregnancy! I was 7 weeks pregnant when my sister got married, and I had to have my matron-of-honor dress taken in at the waist. I was so hungry my first trimester, I ate all the time and gained 10 lbs during it, so anything can happen.

I was like you when I became pregnant with my 4th child. I started showing early and couldn't get into some of my clothes. My doctor informed me it is normal when you have had other pregnancies due to your stomach muscles not being as tight. Don't worry about it. Good luck with this one.

First of all...congrats!!! With my 3rd and 4th pregnancies, I was already showing before I got a positive pregnancy test. LOL. Thats how I figured it was time to take one. It is totally normal and you have nothing to worry about. Just enjoy your time with your baby belly.

When I was pregnant with my DD I was in my 20's and I didn't show much until I was 6 months pregnant. Of course, I could tell, but other people told me I didn't look pregnant. Years later I had 2 miscarriages and then I got pregnant with DS. I was in my 30's at the time. I don't know if it was because I was older or because I had been pregnant before, but I needed maternity clothes at 8 weeks. From reading everyone else's posts, I think it must be normal.

A. :)

My boys are 13 years apart. For the first, I did not wear maternity clothes until I was almost 6 months along. For the second, I was in maternity clothes by the time I was 3 months along. We are all different, but I think that is perfectly normal.

S. Miller

Hi P.,
It is different with all women. Are you short and have a little frame? I am only 5 feet tall and I showed very early and got really big. People would frequently ask if I was having twins since I showed so early and got so bid. My babies weren't that big.. My first one was normal 7 lbs, my second was 8-2. Don't worry about it. As long as you take care of yourself, you have nothing to worry about. If your short, the baby and all its goods :) have nowhere to go except for out in front...

My doctor told me it was common to start showing early in you second/third pregnancy. My husband started noticing my weight gain even before I found out I was pregnant with my second child. Your stomach muscles are not as strong after your first pregnancy.

well I started showing real early in all my children (four)I never saw my feet past the third month unless I held them out in front of me but if this one is different that could be a sign that this may not be a girl check with your doctor he or she will know for sure good luck

You will definitely show sooner with each pregnancy just because of body changes/elactisity. With my 2nd child, I thought I MIGHT be pregnant but if not a diet was on the way. Since you're older also your metabolism has changed and you'll gain weight faster. It is really hard to keep those pounds off. I could hardly control my hunger so I started snacking on yogurt, moz. cheese, lots of sugarless gum (really helps when you just feel like you want something to eat between meals) and eating small meals more often rather than 3 large ones. Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!

Hi P..

You know i was wondering the same thing. I am only 26 years old and i am very petite. I found out i was pregnant with my 2nd child over Christmas. My first child is 6 yrs old. So its been 6 years since i have done this. I am almost 9 weeks and i remember looking in the mirror thinking "WHAT IN THE WORLD?" My stomach is definitley expanding!! I have also been very constipated so i thought that could be it. But i know a constipation belly and a baby belly.

I cant believe it though!!

M.