How early did your belly start to show?

[blondedoctor]

Morning ladies

I am 7 weeks today with bub number 1 and am unsure if my belly is bloated, starting to show, or just getting fat! I've always carried an extra 5 - 10 kilos but now my belly feels firmer than it used to. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable in my jeans - is it too early to start buying maternity clothes?

How early do most women start to show?

[Heaven]

It was just bloating for me until around 12 wks when I started to show. I have seriously never been so bloated in my life!! Most ppl start to show around the 12 wk mark and it can be later with first pregnancies

[~Debbie~]

i didnt show with my first preg till abit later, i cant remember when, however, i popped almost immediatly, just there where somethings i suddenly couldnt do the button up anymore on.
This preg completly different. WHilst my tum has got firm, still fit into everything, no popping no nothing.
I would hold off on the maternity cloths for abit yet. Try some belly belts for awhile, and some longer tops. I have a few 'long' stretch singlets that i wear under my summer tops. Also, you can get those boob tube things that go around your waist, to cover belly belts, or just undo buttons. can never remember what they are called.

[LaDeeDa]

I started to show at about 14 weeks and "popped" at about 16-17 weeks

Now I am steadily giving Shamu a run for her money ...LOL

[Snacks]

I get bloated before my period and both last time and this time it feels like that only worse!
I know where you're coming from. Go for some more loose-fitting stuff and be comfy.
Have you told people about your pregnancy yet? If not, bear in mind that wearing maternity clothes is going to be a dead give-away! LOL!

[blueiris]

My jeans started getting snug at 6weeks for me. I've been using a belly belt since 7 weeks & have been wearing maternity tops since then too.

I'm constantly getting told how massive i look right now considering i'm almost 12 weeks. Love getting told i look massive,not.

[blondedoctor]

Thanks for all the comments. I guess no matter what the cause of my extended belly, its still uncomfortable so I'm going to try the belly belt. I figure I'll need it eventually! Its just hard to tell when you are a little overweight to start with. I live in the sticks far away from family and friends - but the people around me here at work do know that I'm pregnant so I'm not worried about 'giving it away'! I just need to be comfy because I have a reasonably physical job.

This may be a silly question but what exactly does 'popping' mean? I gather that is something to do with your placenta's position?

[Snacks]

I think when people say popping they mean when your uterus gets big enough to show clearly, roundly & firmly through your abdomen, KWIM? For some people it sort of happens quite suddenly, hence the 'pop'. That's my understanding of it anyway
And I totally agree that you should be comfy. I've already got some non-button-up pants that I'm LOVING in my bloated state!

[fazzamum]

I'm 5 weeks and popping!!

[alioops]

This time I started to show at about 4 and a half weeks!!! at 6 weeks I am pretty big already!!! I was tiny before though. Only elasticised waists and 2 other pairs of larger pants fit me now, so I am using a belly belt and a bando.

To hazard a guess i would say that right now I am as big as I was at 14 weeks with DD1, and I think i was that size at 12 weeks with DD2, So this one has popped out quickly!!

[Miss E]

I hear you! I'm 9 weeks and none of my pants fit anymore – the belly belt is an absolute must! But choosing tops that hide it is tricky. I bought a bando which does make it a bit easier, but with more fitted things you can still see the outline of the open fly.

When do you start to buy maternity clothes? I tried on a pair of pants last week which didn't sit very well (not sure if it was a bad cut, or if I'm not big enough yet)...

[Snacks]

Do you have any looser-fitting tops, MissE? I tend to live in my big t-shirts when I'm not at work, and flowy tops when I am. I haven't brought out the mat gear just yet because it is tucked away in DD's cupboard, LOL. When I can be bothered I'll bring it out
I guess there's no harm in getting some mat gear early - at least you know you'll get some good wear out of it. Thing is that you don't know how big you're going to get quite yet, so the stuff you buy now may not still fit towards the end, KWIM?

[SophieRose]

i'm only 5-6 weeks and it's my first so i have nothing to go on, but my partner ashley was "kind" enough to tell me that i've gotten fatter...after he got the "death is coming for you quickly and painfully" look, he quickly said that i'm only getting bigger around my tummy and boob area.
It was only after he said it that i noticed it too. My pants are a bit tighter around the top and my shirts feel a bit tighter too.
Not sure if it's just bloated or by some horrible twist of fate.... it's quadruplets.
Any way, i've been living in my pj pants, soooooo comfy

[Visitor3]

My jeans started getting snug at 6weeks for me. I've been using a belly belt since 7 weeks & have been wearing maternity tops since then too.

I'm constantly getting told how massive i look right now considering i'm almost 12 weeks. Love getting told i look massive,not.

Aaaaw! Poor darling You made me laugh, only because I was looking quite bloated about 3 weeks ago and I'm just on 6 weeks ! Aah well, we're pregnant so lets be proud about our belly's I say !

[Serenitylee]

I'm 7 weeks and not showing but i have noticed i am bloated 24/7 and constantly feel full! It is terrible!