If it's your first pregnancy or not, you may be wondering when your swollen belly will turn into a baby bump and your pregnancy will start to show. Short answer: It can be different for everyone for a number of reasons.
When do you start appearing during pregnancy?
First-time moms usually start showing between 12 and 18 weeks. Most women expecting their first child said they started showing between 12 and 18 weeks, while those who watched it very closely said their swelling appeared between 18 and 24 weeks.
Every woman and every baby is different, and there's no definite time when you'll start to "show", which is what happens when your growing uterus starts expanding above your pubic bone. This usually starts around 12 weeks pregnant; before that, the uterus remains in the pelvis and is usually not visible.
Even at week 12 of your pregnancy, any "lump" you start seeing in your belly is actually just your intestines that used to be in your pelvis, now being pushed higher up in your belly. "Showing off" starts with your belly looking fuller, and at the end of the day you find yourself needing to unbutton your pants. From there, a distinctly uterine-shaped lump will appear within a few weeks.
Several factors play a role in how and when you start showing:
Your body shape and size. Shorter women may start to appear earlier than taller women, and leaner women may see a prominent baby bump before plus-size women.
Your core muscles. Women with weak core muscles may start to show earlier than those with a stronger one.
The location of your uterus.
Whether this is your first pregnancy. Mothers who are already pregnant often start to show their second pregnancy earlier, as the uterus and abdominal muscles are stretched from a previous pregnancy.
Sometimes, you may think you're in the early part of the first trimester, but this is most likely pregnancy bloating, a lump that can make your pants tighter. Bloating is one of the early signs of pregnancy, along with gas and constipation.
Should I be worried if I haven't started showing the pregnancy bloat?
If you haven't started showing yet and you feel like you don't look pregnant, don't worry. There are a number of completely normal factors that can contribute to how pregnant you look. Showing up late doesn't automatically mean your baby is too young. In the second trimester, the obstetrician or midwife will start monitoring your hip height to monitor your baby's growth, and if you have any concerns, they will do an ultrasound to check progress. Babies who are smaller than expected for their gestational age are frequently monitored to make sure they are doing well.