If you are pregnant, you probably want to know every little thing about your baby. There will be many changes in your body during pregnancy and when you reach the second trimester of your pregnancy, you will start seeing significant changes in your stomach. Your stomach size will start to grow and this is the time when you will not have to worry about your weight or your growing belly. However, you should know exactly what the size of the stomach should be during pregnancy. This article will give you information about the same.
Does stomach size really matter during pregnancy?
If you are pregnant, many of your friends and relatives would like to share their experiences with you. They will have their own opinion about weight, belly size etc. and they will share the information according to their experience, but the truth is that the size of the stomach during pregnancy does not matter. As long as you are not overweight or obese during pregnancy, there is nothing to worry about. Your stomach size should not be a concern for you. Do not forget to visit your doctor for routine checkup and get it checked at regular intervals, your doctor will keep you informed from time to time!
Can stomach size give an accurate indication of your stage of pregnancy?
The size of your abdomen may not be an accurate indication of the timing of your pregnancy. Whether you have a small or large belly, you cannot accurately determine the duration of your pregnancy. All women have different stages of conception. If your friend’s stomach was very big in the sixth month of pregnancy, it does not mean that your stomach will be the same size in the sixth month of your pregnancy. If your stomach is small by that time and your doctor assures you that your pregnancy is going well, then you don’t have to worry about it.
Can stomach size give information about the sex of the baby ?
According to an old belief, the size of the stomach can also be ascertained whether the baby is a boy or a girl. If it is a boy, your baby will be facing downward and the abdomen outward. If it is a girl, then your weight will stretch more than your weight and it will stay in the upper part of the abdomen. But as stated earlier, this is just an old belief and there is no scientific evidence
The position of the baby in your abdomen during pregnancy cannot determine its sex. How you position your baby during pregnancy will depend on how tight your abdominal muscles were before getting pregnant.
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Why your baby bump will not be equal to the size of your baby?
No matter how big or small your belly is during pregnancy, it will not be equal to the size of your baby. The following reasons will determine the size of your stomach.
1. Your Length
If you are tall and have a long stomach, your stomach may not grow outward and your belly will look smaller. Due to your long stomach, there will be plenty of room for the baby to grow. As a result, your baby will grow upward instead of outward. On the other hand, if your height is small, there will be less space upwards between your hip and your lower ribs. So the uterus will grow outward and your belly will look bigger!
2. Your Child’s Status
You should be aware that your baby will travel a lot in the womb and if this is the last stage of pregnancy then you will be fully aware of this. Your baby’s movements in the uterus can change its position to an extent. Usually, by the end of pregnancy, the baby’s head should be in a downward position, but this position may change due to her movements. A change in the position of your baby can change the shape of your stomach.
3. Lack of space
As the uterus expands as your baby grows, the condition of some other parts of your body such as the placenta and intestine will be affected. They will be pushed forward as the uterus expands. This can make your stomach look larger or child-like. Also, if the intestines find a place near the edges of the uterus, the stomach may look bulging outward from the arm.
4. Your First Pregnancy
If you are pregnant for the first time, this will be the first time your body will grow or expand. This means that your muscles will be rigid which will allow your uterus to stretch less. Also, your abdominal muscles that were not stretched now will be pulled. Therefore, your stomach may look smaller than expected.
5. Pre-pregnancy
Abdominal muscles are usually stiff during the first pregnancy. If you are pregnant a second time, your abdominal muscles will loosen up and expand easily, which will allow your baby enough room to grow inside the abdomen. In this case, your stomach may look premature. However, this does not mean that your child will be larger in size. Rather it would indicate that your stomach is flexible enough to stretch.
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6. Amniotic fluid volume
The amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby may fluctuate during pregnancy. Too much and too little amniotic fluid can cause problems for your child. In the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, the woman’s body produces amniotic fluid, after which the baby growing in the womb develops to secrete fluid from the lungs. Thus, the amount of amniotic fluid of the stomach can also affect the shape of the stomach.
7. Baby size
Genetics will play a major role in defining your child’s size. If you and your husband are tall, your child may have these symptoms. In addition, the order of birth can determine the weight of your baby. The first child will not be as large in size as the second child. Your nutrition will also determine your baby’s weight. If you do not get enough nutrition, your baby may develop less and vice versa.
Size chart to clarify abdominal growth during pregnancy
Here is a size chart to help you understand your baby’s growth during different stages of your pregnancy. Find out how your stomach will look and feel as your child grows.
Week 1 – Week 4
Ovulation occurs.
Eggs are fertilized by sperm.
There is no noticeable difference in the size of the stomach because during this time the length of the baby is about 2 mm.
Week 4 – Week 8
The child grows up to an inch, but there is unlikely to be any major difference.
You may experience some tightness in your stomach.
Week 8 – Week 12
The child will be about 2.5 to 3 inches tall. You may notice an increase in your waist and your pants may be tight.
Week 12 – Week 18
Your baby will now be about 5 inches.
The bulge of your stomach will start appearing and this is the right time to give good news to people.
Week 18 – Week 22
Your baby will now be 7 inches.
Your baby bump can attract the attention of friends and relatives who may inquire about the status of your pregnancy.
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Week 22 – Week 26
During this time there will be rapid development, and your baby will grow to 15 inches tall.
Your stomach size will increase significantly.
Week 26 – Week 30
Your baby’s growth will now be steady and he will now be about 18 inches.
Increasing the size of the stomach will depend on the development of your baby.
Week 30 – Week 32
While the baby is still growing, the rate of development of the stomach will decrease slightly.
Your stomach may not grow that much but it will definitely feel as if it is running out.
Week 32 – Week 36
Your baby will now be about 19-22 inches.
During pregnancy your stomach will still grow the most. It will feel full but now your weight will not increase much.
The stomach will look big and round.