Should I Be Concerned With a Small Tummy During Pregnancy?

(Photo : Photo by Ignacio Campo on Unsplash)

Pregnancy is a moment of great happiness for all women. But that doesn't mean there isn't loads of stuff that moms-to-be worry about - and one of the many, is the status of her growing baby bump.

A pregnant woman may be bothered by her too big or too small belly for the respective week of pregnancy. After all, she can't look inside her womb, so the only daily hints she has of her growing baby are what she can see and feel.

This new concern can either make you feel very special or irritated by getting too much unwanted attention. You may even feel awkward when somebody starts touching your bump, and you feel like they're trespassing in your personal space without even asking first.

If you're expecting and find yourself depressed about the size or shape of your baby bump, keep in mind that you are not alone. All women carry uniquely, and odds are, everything is normal about the way your baby is developing.

Sizable Critiques

Being pregnant draws a lot more attention from other people - well, especially from older women or our co-mothers. They can't help but be intrigued by your pregnancy (yes,  it can be annoying sometimes, but it's inevitable.) 

The first question they normally ask is, "How many weeks/months are you?" Then, of course, tailgated by remarks such as "Oh, you're quite big!" or "You're very small."

While some ladies feel fulfilled that they are carrying and growing a strong, healthy baby, others are happy that they 'look slim' while they're heavily pregnant. In most cases, these good-hearted criticisms consume a woman's self-confidence, letting doubts sneak in. They may think that perhaps their size, or lack of it, means something wrong.

Belly Size Is No Pointer

No one can accurately estimate how far along a woman is by simply looking at her bump. In fact, not even the most experienced midwife or doctor can do it - unless she lies down and her bump is examined thoroughly.

We humans have our own unique features and body. The size and shape of a pregnant mom's bump will depend on various factors (even at the same stages of pregnancy) including:

• Whether it's your first baby or not.

• Your weight and height.

• Your baby's lying position.

• If you're carrying twins, triplets or more.

As you notice yourself change and taking a closer look at other pregnant ladies, always remember that every female's body is unique in how she develops and reacts during pregnancy.

Carrying Small

Though you're eating well, doing maternal exercises, and attending regular checkups, people may still say that you seem small for your pregnancy term or ask if you're eating enough.

The same as babies, your baby bump may appear in various shapes and sizes. Your midwife or doctor is observing your baby's size in line with your due date. Also, they monitor the size of your cute bump with regular screenings, like measuring your belly at every visit upon reaching 15 to 20 weeks. This measure indicates how much your bump is growing. The average growth rate once a woman starts showing is about 1 cm per week.

If your abdominal muscles are firm and tight, they can limit your growing womb from sticking out as far as you or other observers might anticipate. Tall women's bumps also tend to look more petite than that of a shorter lady whose belly holds the exact same size.

Huge Bump

You may appear to be carrying big due to the way your baby is placed in your womb or even how your body is built. A baby bump can seem to be overly large on a small woman.

If this isn't your first pregnancy, you probably noticed you popped much more advanced than you did during your first. That's for the fact that after one pregnancy, your muscles have expanded a bit and will give in to the pressure of your expanding uterus more quickly.

Your midwife or doctor should be measuring and observing the size of your belly during every visit.