While pregnant, when did you REALLY start to grow and gain?

Question

My wife is 21 weeks along and over the first 4 months lost 11 lbs and then at her 5th month Dr.'s visit she had only gained 1 pound. The doctor says everything is alright AND she is visibly growing. But my wife is worried that she has not gained enough, that she is not big enough for being 21 weeks along. (My wife was slightly over-weight prior to getting pregnant, so we know that she should not show as much as thinner women.)

During your pregnancy, at what stage did you really start to show? I know it is different for every woman, but I feel like if I can find some others who had similar experiences to my wife, it will put her mind at ease.

Answer 1

I'm not small either and my tummie started to get harder and rounder about 17 weeks i can tell I was pregnant and now im 22 weeks 3 days and i cant hide it but my tummie is still kinda squishy when i sit down but when im standing its round and hard .. so werid i know
I have gained 21 pounds so far
but i have asked a question like this before to friends and family and on this site and have gotten the answer that most ppl dont really pop out till 6 or 7 months..
as long as ur baby is doing good no worries :)
and good luck with everything congrads on the new baby :)

Answer 2

My first pregnancy at 4 1/2 months, now in my second at 2 months. My cousin was the same as you wife lost 15 pounds, but during her 8 month she gained all her weight and she just had a healthy girl yesterday. My best friend walked 3 miles a week on the thread mill and worked out and she only had gained 10 pounds throughout the whole pregnancy. I think if the doctor said your wife if fine that she is. Good luck to the both of you.

Answer 3

With my first I never gained until about almost 6 months along, and I didn't show really until past 7 months. I was small to being with have always been petite and by the time I hit 9 months I looke dlike I was only 7 months along. My son was 6lb 11 oz.
My daughter, I never showed again till about 7 months again, I"d lost alot the first couple of months and started to put on around 5-6 months. She was born 5lb 10 oz.
On my third right now, 30wks, and have only gained 10lbs, but have a nice rounded little ball. From the front you can't tell from the side you can. Though I feel like a beached whale...and can't wait till it's over.

Everyone starts showing at a different stage, they gain different too, can't expect everyone to be the same, there's always that one that gained from teh start, or that one that gained very little and came out without ever growing very big.
Your wife is going along just like she should, int he next couple months is when the pounds start adding on. It takes 9 months for that baby to grow, you can't expect it to happen all in the first few months. Even if she lost weight, that doesn't mean the baby wasn't still growing, her body lost some weight, while baby was feeding off of her stored nutrients. As logn as she's healthy that baby is growing just the way it should be.
Congrats to both of you!

Answer 4

With my first pregnancy I didnt start to gain weight and visible show until i was 5 months pregnant,and even then i only showed with a little pudge,nothing much..at 6 months i started to gainw weight gradually and pretty quick and started showing more and people could definitely piunt out i was pregnant...with my second i started showing at 16 weeks visibly and started gaining weight around the same time. With this pregnancy #3 i started gaining weight at 7 weeks and started showing at 12 weeks...women who are pregnant with there first baby do not show as early as women who are pregnant with there second and third...its completely normasl and many many women lose weight before they start to gain..she will start showing a great mount of deal when she hits 24 weeks,so i would start buying the maternity clothes now becauser the showing will come so suddenly almost looking like it came overnight.

Just reassure her that this is normal and her baby is still growing normally at a good rate and she will get her baby belly very soon..just keep making sure she is eating an extra 300-500 calories a day for her baby and getting her milk,water and juice...good luck and congrats!!

Answer 5

With my first I lost weight during my first trimester. It wasn't until about 25 weeks that I really started to gain and look pregnant.

If your doctor isn't convincing you or your wife, then ask for a second opinion. It won't hurt to do so.

Though, as someone who has been around a lot of pregnant women (pregnancy massage therapist), your wife's concerns are not out of the ordinary. Her weight is probably shifting, from being overweight it is becoming baby-weight. Remember, right about now, your baby is very tiny. If the doctor were concerned you'd be made aware right away.

My suggestion is that she talk about her fears with her doctor. It is best to keep that communication open always. Talking with other women can sometimes increase her fears.

Answer 6

I am 24 weeks and 2 days and I have only gained about 8 lbs. I am still not showing that much. It depends on your body, pregnancy weight etc. Every woman is different,. My girlfriend was very pregnant looking by 24 weeks, others are not. As long as the doc said everything is fine, do not worry about it.

Answer 7

I didn't look pregnant with my daughter until I was about 34 weeks. I had gained weight, but it was not showing in my belly. At 36 weeks, I looked like many of my friends had at about 25. I was slightly overweight too, so I'm sure that's why. This pregnancy (I am almost 20 weeks) I seem to be getting a belly a little sooner, but nothing huge yet.

Answer 8

This Is My 2nd Pregnancy and I had severe morning sickness, lost 15 Ibs, I had morning sickness uptill my 4th month. Now I'm 20 weeks went to the doctor and gained a total of 10 Ibs (I was worried also) but my doctor told me, as long as she is taking her prental Vitamins and drinking liquids the baby will be fine and is getting nutrients from your wife.

Answer 9

I was thin to start with (not overly) and gained 25-29 lbs with each of my 3 children. I didn't wear maternity clothes till around 28-30 weeks with any of them. They were all full term healthy babies weighing from 6lb 7oz - 7lb 13oz. I was back in my regular size 5 street clothes with all 3 kids by the time they were 6wks old. If youre eating properly getting good prenatal care and enough excercise you'll do fine. Congratulations and most importantly DONT STRESS!

Answer 10

Being a curvy girl myself and have been through 2 pregnancies, I can say what your wife is going through is completely normal. I started to notice a difference myself between 5-6 months.