I feel so small!

drmrs2015 · July 2016

I am 18w 3d and I feel like my bump is so small! It is there and firm and an appointment last week confirmed everything is OK, but I just don't really feel pregnant. I know everyone is different, but is any one else out there still not really showing?

queenklau · July 2016

Hi! If you check out the HDBD this week (and previous weeks), you will see that everyone pops at different times/rates. I had a coworker that didn't look pregnant until 7 months. Everyone is different, I would not worry about it since your LO is doing fine in there!

LinziLoo09 · July 2016

I barely showed with my first until at least 20+ weeks. I think I also figured out around that time that, out of habit, I was still clenching my core muscles pretty constantly. Once I relaxed and gave in to the bulge, I realized I did have a bump. This early, most of the visible bump is organs that have been pushed up, so it still may not feel like that normal, hard baby bump, if that makes sense.

jenlynne0624 · July 2016

I didn't show with my first until like 24 weeks. Your body is taking its time to stretch out. I will tel you that this number two popped before ten weeks and I'm currently the size now as inwas around 30 weeks with my first. You'll get there then wonder why you were so excited to have a human on your bladder and waddle everywhere.

tinattt23 · July 2016

@jenlynne0624 That's what my FI says to me all the time. I complaine I want to bump to be real. He tells me he doesn't want to hear it when I'm complaining I'm too big

Trying to enjoy being comfortable while it lasts and to stop wishing it away.

1MommyRunner · July 2016

With my first, I didn't really start to show until 24-25ish weeks? With this one, I'll be 20 weeks tomorrow and had a kid tell me today that I didn't look pregnant. A very open kid! Lol even though my family definitely noticed a couple weeks ago. Like PP's said, everyone shows at different times. Just enjoy the journey, we will all be penguin like soon enough

em01092 · July 2016

I don't know if I will ever feel like I'm showing. I've always been "thick"/curvy and struggled with my body image, but I'd never had a tummy until about 2-3 years ago when I gained a bunch of weight in my middle due to PCOS and not working out as much as I once did. I'm afraid people are always going to think I'm fat and not pregnant. Sad face.

Kacie209 · July 2016

FTM and still not really knowing how I should look, and I'm in my 20th week!

Comparing Week 15 and Week 18, I have popped out some... there is a noticeable difference in pics. But, like you, I feel small but have gained about 13lbs. already. With this rate, I will a little over the average in weight gain for my height/starting weight. But, only time will tell.

Obviously everyone is different, and I figure this is just how my body reacts to being pregnant. And it's OK. I have to wear maternity pants, but a lot of my looser blouses still fit perfectly fine and actually hide my bump well enough. That is kind of nice; saves money shopping.

I know I'll pop more going forward, but enjoying this time now.

jenlynne0624 · July 2016

Here's my comparison pictures. This one I was 18 weeks in both. First pregnancy on the left obvs I cropped out my name which is why it's not symmetrical

jenlynne0624 · July 2016

This one I'm 24 weeks on the left and still 18 weeks w this one on the right. Your body adjusts and will pop differently depending on which number pregnancy and where the baby is sitting. You'll get a bump eventually trust me.

littlebirdie28 · July 2016

@drmrs2015

don't feel bad. I am in the same boat. I am 5'10", a FTM, and very athletic. At 18 weeks, I can still easily hide the bump with my regular clothes. I see it at home, but I get a lot of comments from people saying they can't believe I am expecting. I try to look at it from the positive side; I haven't had to spend any money on any maternity items, with the exception of a belly band, as some of my pants are a little uncomfortable when zipped because of how they rise. It will show up eventually!

PensiveCrayon · July 2016

I forgot about this thread, but I'm glad it's around. I feel like my bump has stalled out in the last month! Maybe it's because I gained so much weight in the first trimester that it created a false bump, I'm not sure. This is 14 weeks versus 18 weeks. I think the only change is in the size of my love handles!

dmontgo · July 2016

Yeah I just posted this on another thread where I thought my bump had popped (19 weeks), but then I pooped this morning and now you can't see it when I wear T-shirts. I have to wear form fitting clothes to see it, but even then people apparently haven't been able to tell unless I tell them. Pffffttt.

ashleaf2018 · July 2016

I'm 4'11". Nowhere for this bump to go but out. Hang in there mama, you'll get your bump soon enough!

SaraRose83 · July 2016

@ashleaf2018 exactly. I'm shorter as well. Torso length I would think has a little bit to do with it too, as well as body type. I started showing very early in my first trimester, but my bump hasn't grown in at least a month. It's like I popped and then it stopped. But my torso is very short. Some of my tall friends didn't really look pregnant for sure until around 25+ weeks.

yellingbanana · July 2016

I'm short, and even with that, my first didn't really pop out until 20-22 weeks.
I'm 20 weeks right now with my 3rd and I look like 30 weeks. The first pregnancy takes longer to pop, then after that it pops sooner with each one.
Enjoy it! I feel like I'm 7 months pregnant already! Just look at my crappy morning bathroom pic!

and that is me on my children's stool.

temmetime · July 2016

Kacie209 said:

FTM and still not really knowing how I should look, and I'm in my 20th week!

Comparing Week 15 and Week 18, I have popped out some... there is a noticeable difference in pics. But, like you, I feel small but have gained about 13lbs. already. With this rate, I will a little over the average in weight gain for my height/starting weight. But, only time will tell.

Obviously everyone is different, and I figure this is just how my body reacts to being pregnant. And it's OK. I have to wear maternity pants, but a lot of my looser blouses still fit perfectly fine and actually hide my bump well enough. That is kind of nice; saves money shopping.

I know I'll pop more going forward, but enjoying this time now.

I feel exactly like you do! I have gained 15 pounds, but don't look it at all. This is the first week I've gone to maternity pants and I could've definitely squeezed a little more time out of my regular loose jeans.

I love your attitude - enjoy it now!

KatieJo1205 · July 2016

@Kacie209 and @temmetime - I have the opposite problem. I have lost 6 LBS since my BFP but I look like I've gained 15-20! I am only 5'2" and had a pudgy belly to begin with and now the actual baby bump has just pushed all that pudge forward!

ashleaf2018 · July 2016

@KatieJo1205 I have kind of the same issue, I lost about 20 pounds from BFP to beginning of July, I've gained back 3-ish pounds and I'm at least maintaining my weight now. But I'm short and any weight gain shows A LOT; it's not necessarily even weight gain at this point but just the baby pushing my organs up and out of his way. But that still makes me look like I've gained 20 pounds.

tinattt23 · July 2016

I'm short, too (5'0") and thought I'd show early because of it. Not the case. Few weeks ago I swore it felt like the bottom of my rib cage was stretching. Though lt for sure baby had used up all verticals space and must pop soon. But now I'm just getting wider side to side. My waist is disappearing. This little one just refuses to grow out for some reason.

I I like to believe it's because I have abs of steel. At least that's what I tell myself

littlebirdie28 · July 2016

dmontgo said:

Yeah I just posted this on another thread where I thought my bump had popped (19 weeks), but then I pooped this morning and now you can't see it when I wear T-shirts. I have to wear form fitting clothes to see it, but even then people apparently haven't been able to tell unless I tell them. Pffffttt.

bahahaha how many of us have been there! I've had some of those days

Kacie209 · July 2016

I started off about 8lbs. over where I am super comfortable due to some weight gain in the last year that would just not budge no matter what I did. I can see it in my face in pictures, and around my waist. Although now, I still have some love handles and a little belly.

I am fairly active, and have been doing as much as I can when I feel like it. But, did attend a regular core class at least 2X a week for the last 2-3 years so I think that helped build up my abs underneath, even with the layer of fat above - or at least that is what I am telling myself. *lol*

I own maybe 1 maternity shirt that I have bought, as the smalls are a tish tight but the mediums are too big in the stretch area. I plan on waiting until I'm a little bigger to go major shopping for that, at least tops for work (business casual). It's nice having a capsule wardrobe for maternity clothes right now, ha.

PensiveCrayon · July 2016

@Kacie209 Your first paragraph is ME! We went to Kansas City over the holidays and drank ALL the beer, and I was never able to lose that Christmas weight.

SaraRose83 · July 2016

Ok maybe I'm just telling myself I popped early from being short. It could possibly also be from the pudge I gained after my wedding being pushed out further. Or from not having rock hard abs. But I feel much better about myself if I file it under #shortpeopleproblems so I'm going to stick with that

Kacie209 · July 2016

@PensiveCrayon Yup! It started after our honeymoon, whichw as 4 months after our wedding (my profile pic). I guess I can't just sit on a beach and eat/drink whatever for a week with no physical activity. *lol*

yellingbanana · July 2016

@SaraRose83 #shortpeopleproblems are real! I'm with you!

zubenescamali · July 2016

Am I the only one who feels like this is a drive by AW? 2 discussions, no replies, I'm just here to say how amazing my abs are to keep from popping out early?
Cmon, post a pic at least so we can judge your tiny bump! Clearly she's seen HDBD and thinks we are all so big- if she's bothered to read any of our posts.

cjt121413 · July 2016

zubenescamali said:

Am I the only one who feels like this is a drive by AW? 2 discussions, no replies, I'm just here to say how amazing my abs are to keep from popping out early?
Cmon, post a pic at least so we can judge your tiny bump! Clearly she's seen HDBD and thinks we are all so big- if she's bothered to read any of our posts.

We seem to have an epidemic of drive-bys.

LinziLoo09 · July 2016

Good point @zubenescamali...OP is very suspicious.

Image: https://i.giphy.com/pUgwLxmGW3S7K.gif

Though while we're on the subject, my amazing abs have been in top form this pregnancy too.

DiFazette · July 2016

Can we start being snarky???? PLEASE??

There's been enough comments on this board that we're happy we aren't bitches so I don't want to be the one that changes board culture, but some of these deserve snark. AMIRIGHT?

sourlemon · July 2016

I'm totally ready! Bring on some (well deserved) snark. Random snark = not cool. Totally deserved snark is needed sometimes!

ashleaf2018 · July 2016

I definitely think snark has to be earned, as in you really have to deserve it. So we don't have to be needlessly snarky but if it's called for... Count me in

DiFazette · July 2016

@ashleaf2018 for sure! I think at half way through our pregnancies we can feel confident that nobody here is nasty for the sake of being nasty. But sometimes a little 'check yoself' is needed.

LinziLoo09 · July 2016

Sometimes my baby is really snarky, and it has no filter when posting on the interwebs. Kids!

slartybartfast · July 2016

I posted my snark opinion on FFFC - but I say post what your gonna post, we don't all need to be on the same page. If you're worried it's going to come across as nasty, don't post it. We don't need to be a mob about it. Snark balance is hard. I think impossible if everyone is like "let's all snark" or "let's all cuddle" all at the same time!

drmrs2015 · July 2016

@zubenescamali - or maybe I just started actively using these forums and have been unable to respond to this thread for the last few days because I had a medical emergency and was hospitalized for two days. But you should probably question my motives without knowing me anyhow. Seems fair.

cjt121413 · July 2016

drmrs2015 said:

@zubenescamali - or maybe I just started actively using these forums and have been unable to respond to this thread for the last few days because I had a medical emergency and was hospitalized for two days. But you should probably question my motives without knowing me anyhow. Seems fair.

I hope you and your LO are okay. Since you just started using this forum, maybe a good step would be to browse the pre-existing threads and get an idea of how things work around here? There is SO much support on this board, but sometimes we do get random threads from people who want to get support but have no interest in giving any. Your post kind of seemed that way. If not, we hope you'll stick around!

zubenescamali · July 2016

drmrs2015 said:

@zubenescamali - or maybe I just started actively using these forums and have been unable to respond to this thread for the last few days because I had a medical emergency and was hospitalized for two days. But you should probably question my motives without knowing me anyhow. Seems fair.

well you haven't given us much to go on since this was your one and only post on this board. perception is reality on the internet, and you might have reconsidered the topic of your first post. we welcome newbies here and if you post on the intro thread and start contributing I think you will find good support (even from me <gasp>!) not everyone posts every day, I certainly don't have time post daily, but we know the regulars. so join in if you want, tell us a bit about yourself, maybe share why you were hospitalized- and you will get out of this board what you put in.

LinziLoo09 · July 2016

You're on the internet, so of course nobody trusts you when given such limited information on you. If you lurk around a little more, you'll notice that we do get drive bys from people who don't stick around to give support fairly often, and they can be frustrating for regulars who provide information and support on a one way basis. Add in the occasional internet troll, and it's only natural for us to become skeptical in these situations.

That said, you should definitely hang around and participate more. You'll meet some awesome women who are incredibly supportive when the relationship is mutual. During my last pregnancy, I fell and had a partial placental abruption and was in the hospital for three days while they tried to stop contractions, and I can't tell you how amazingly supportive this forum was for me during this time. This is a great resource if you stick around, read the rules, and participate somewhat actively. Our board is seriously ridiculously friendly, and any snark I've seen is good-humored and accompanied by entertaining gifs - so win win win

I hope you and LO are doing okay.

Austenista · July 2016

I'm sorry you were in the hospital for your medical emergency. Hope everything is okay now? Don't let this little blip discourage you. Let me welcome you to our December board, I'm glad you've decided to join us. Don't run off, there is SO much we've been talking about. We've got a board dedicated to just about everything. We were getting a lot of random fly-bys and you just got "lucky," I suppose. Anyway, lets have that be water under the bridge!