There  is no set time for your pregnancy  to start  showing. Every woman is different. If you are a first time mom, you may begin showing around 12 to 16 weeks. However, other moms may begin to show sooner. This is because the muscles in the belly may have already been stretched from the previous pregnancy.

During early pregnancy, the uterus is pear-shaped. As pregnancy progresses ( after about 12 weeks), it becomes more rounded until it is about the size of a grape fruit. That is when you start to show. The growth of the bump is partly due to the baby growing.

Before 12 weeks, the baby is just an embryo and doesn’t need much space. Around 16 weeks, the uterus begins to stretch to accommodate the growing baby. That is when you really start to show.

Your age can also influence when you start to show. Older moms show earlier than younger moms. This is because younger  moms have stronger stomach muscles that tend to hide the pregnancy.

Genes may also play a role. Ask your mum, sister and other female relatives on your mom’s side when their bump showed. It will give you an idea of when yours will show.

Your size can also influence when your pregnancy belly will show. If you carry a little extra weight around your tummy, it will hide your bump in the early stages. As your baby gets bigger, you will start noticing a growing bump.

Reasons why your pregnancy may show earlier than expected

If your  belly gets  big sooner than expected, it could be due to one of the following reasons :

• water retention
• bloating
• your body laying down fat for your baby
• constipation
• carrying multiples

If you are showing later than expected, you may have retroverted uterus. This means  the uterus is tilted towards the back than front. This will not  affect  the baby’s growth. The backward tilt will be corrected as your uterus expands. The expanding uterus moves out of the pelvis and into your abdomen.

If  you have any concerns about your baby bump, talk to your health care provider.