Did You Show Alot More Your Second Pregnancy Versus Your First?

Updated on May 25, 2010
C.C. asks from Crown Point, IN
15 answers

Just curious - my first pregnancy I really didnt start showing until I was past 5 months. I am almost 14 weeks and although I've only gained 4lbs my stomach looks like I'm already 5 months along!! Is this common with second pregnancies and is it because your stomach has been already streched out from the first??

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.C.

answers from Dayton on

Same here with the second pregnancy. Didn't show at all until 6 months with my first son, then about 5 with the second. The third? I looked like I was pregnant with twins about 15 minutes after I peed on the stick. I was as big as a barge and super duper fast.

I don't know why...maybe because all the parts have already been stretched out. I do believe you carry boys and girls differently, though. My first two were boys and I carried them all out front. My third was a girl and I swear I carried her all over my body. I think I even had pregnancy weight in the back of my neck. My boobs mutated to an abnormal and unflattering size and sadly they never went back to remotely close to normal. I am seriously considering trading them in....

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.P.

answers from Boston on

I found this to be the case as well, I am pregnant with our second child - (due in a couple of weeks) and I swear when I was 12 weeks along I looked like I was four months preggers! I think it's a combination of things - How long ago did you deliver your first child? I think that plays a huge roll - my children will be 23 months apart so my body was thinking "I just did this woman!" Also it could be in our heads, a lot of my friends and co-workers swore that I wasnt showing until the 4th month. But they do not see your body the way you do....Good Luck and Congratulations on your 2nd pregnancy!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.B.

answers from Houston on

Yep! Your muscles have already stretched out - and, well, no matter how much you excercise; your muscles are easier to stretch the 2nd, 3rd, etc time around!

M.M.

answers from Chicago on

Oh good Lord, yes! I'm preg with #2 right now, and I started showing at 12 weeks! I've looked 7 mos pregnant for 4 months!!! (I'm 28 weeks now, actually).
I'm short, so my belly has been big with both kids. I go straight out front, so it's like Pinnochio and just keeps going! I'm only up 18lbs at this point, and it's all in my belly.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.C.

answers from Dallas on

Yes, I showed more and quicker, I gained more weight, and the pregnancy seemed to go faster as well

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

I was the same as Julia. I wore my regular clothes until 5 months with my first, but with #2 I was in maternity shirts by 3 months. I'm only 5 weeks along with #3 and my stomach is already bloated out quite a bit.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.T.

answers from San Francisco on

Are the pregnancys close together? My kids are 8 years apart, So I didnt show that much, but with the 3rd pregnacy I showed very early.. ( they were only 18 months apart)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.K.

answers from Seattle on

Yes... I didn't show til I was almost 6 months w/ my first and started showing quite a bit after 4 months w/ my second. Your abdominal muscles just don't have the same tone that they did pre-pregnancy and your body already knows what to do so it kicks in to gear a lot faster. Even though I gained about 5lbs less w/ my second than my first, I was much larger, belly-wise, w/ my second.
...and in case you were wondering; the labor prgressed faster w/ my second (6 hours of active labor vs. 4 hours of active labor), as well as, the pushing in general. (30 minutes for my first and two pushes for my second). GOOD LUCK!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.1.

answers from Boston on

Oh Yes!!
I think I started showing when the test came back positive :-)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

W.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Yes, I hear it's common. And I hear the second baby's bigger too! I thought I was showing within the first month of my second pregnancy! To people who really knew me, I was showing a lot earlier. To others, it was hard to tell because I'd lost almost 20 lbs after my first pregnancy (chasing an active boy was my weight loss regimen). And I gained the exact same amount with both pregnancies. Congratulations!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Dallas on

I felt like showed earlier but didnt gain as much weight or have as big of a baby with my second pregnancy.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

YES to both. I saw an article that said it's because ab muscles never recover from the first pregnancy. I know, Brittany Spears makes us all think we could go back to the way things were, but we can't! I'm currently nearly 6 months pregnant, and I'm HUGE! I actually haven't gained any weight - only girth! ^_^

A.G.

answers from Pocatello on

I just think everyone is different. I didn't really start to show until I was 6 or7 months with my first and it was the same with my second. I really don't know if this makes a difference but I work hard on my abs and did so after I had my first. So I had really strong abs again when I got pregnant with my second. So for me no I don't show any sooner but I have heard lots of my friends say they did.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.P.

answers from Jackson on

Yes, it is common. I couldn't figure out why I couldn't fit into a bridesmaid dress that had just fit me perfectly w/ plenty of room just a month before. It turned out that I was about 3 or 4 weeks with my second child and didn't know it. I was a good five months pregant with my first before anyone could tell. I had to start telling people I was pregnant by 10 weeks with my second because it was so obvious.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.B.

answers from Redding on

With my first baby, no one could even tell I was pregnant at 6 months. Unless they saw me naked which was pretty much dad and my mother. I have a picture taken of me 3 days before my baby was born, in a bathing suit, and I just had this little bump.
With my son...completely different. I was huge immediately. All belly. And my boobs got humongous.
I don't know if it's necessarily a difference from first to second baby, I only have two kids, but I know all pregnancies are different. My second one was so different on so many levels.
As long as you and your baby are healthy, just enjoy it all.

Best wishes!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions