We all have a mental image of what a pregnancy looks like, the things that should happen, and basically, what to expect when we are expecting a new addition to the family. One of the things we associate with pregnancy is a growing belly, and it’s something very noticeable, so it’s normal to worry if it’s not happening, so here we’ll tell you why this happens and whether or not you should be worried.
You probably think that the growth of the belly is a result of the baby growing in your belly, and although this is true in part, there are other factors involved in this growth and how the pregnancy is taking place. Some of these factors are:
– The number of previous pregnancies: If this is your first pregnancy, it is expected that the growth will be noticeable between the 12th and 16th week of gestation, while those who have already been pregnant may show growth earlier, this because their abdominal walls have already been stretched.
– Height and weight: If you are taller than average, your belly may grow more slowly because there is more room in your body for the fetus due to your height. And if you are overweight, you may not notice belly growth until week 20.
– If you are having a multiple pregnancy, your belly will grow faster.
– Your baby’s position, which may be making your belly growth less or more noticeable.
– Musculature can also make your pregnancy belly more noticeable later.
Every body is different
You may get comments about the size of your belly, that it’s too small because you don’t eat right, that it’s too wide because you don’t walk enough, that the height of your belly is an indication of one thing or another, in short, a host of other misguided comments.
The reality is that belly growth is not directly related to your baby’s development or size, so your belly may grow at a different rate and in different ways, not like you’ve seen in other pregnant women.
Your belly may not be noticeable because of your baby’s position, because of your weight distribution, it may be growing more sideways or you may be carrying high or low, depending on the stage of your pregnancy and your body’s unique situation, so changes in the shape of your belly are to be expected.
When should i be concerned? Now, while it’s true that there is no right way for your belly to grow, there can be risks related to your belly not growing, such as intrauterine growth restriction, a condition where the fetus doesn’t grow normally inside the uterus. But if you have regular and timely checkups, ultrasounds and consultations with your doctor, any abnormalities will be detected early and treated.
