Pregnant Rapid Belly Expansion

From LoveToKnow Pregnancy

Pregnant rapid belly expansion is just one of issues some women have to deal with during pregnancy. Learn why this may happen and get some ideas that can make your life easier.

Your expanding belly will be unique to your body and pregnancy.
Your expanding belly will be unique to your body and pregnancy.

When Does Pregnant Rapid Belly Expansion Occur?

How big and how fast your belly becomes during pregnancy depends on different factors. Typically, a first time pregnant woman will not experience a pregnant rapid belly expansion, although she very well could. A quickly growing belly is simply less common in first time mothers.

What’s average is that around the third month of pregnancy, your clothes will become tight around the waist. Most pregnant women need adjusted clothing or maternity clothing by the fourth or fifth month.

Reasons why you might experience a more rapid belly expansion include:

  • You were overweight before becoming pregnant. Women who are overweight going into pregnancy are more likely than average-sized women to gain extra pregnancy weight.
  • You can also experience rapid belly growth if you eat too many calories and gain weight too quickly – even if you were of average size before you became pregnant.
  • You’re carrying multiple babies.
  • You’re normally very slender and/or petite. On smaller women, their bellies aren’t truly getting bigger than normal, it’s just that on a smaller frame it can look and feel that way.
  • Second time and subsequent pregnancies can result in a more rapid belly expansion than a first time pregnancy. This is not always the case, though.
  • Bloating can cause your belly to appear much bigger than normal. You can have good old normal pregnancy bloat, often caused by not drinking enough water, or you could have a health problem. Some liver problems and cysts can cause what appears to be a rapidly growing pregnancy belly. Your health care provider will be on the lookout for such issue though, and these sorts of issues are rare.

All of the above can cause pregnant rapid belly expansion. However, keep in mind that all women and all pregnancies are unique. How your belly grows during one pregnancy may not indicate how it will grow in the next, just like you can’t compare your belly to your best friend’s belly.

Note that it’s always perfectly fine to bring up any belly expansion concerns with your health care provider. That’s what they’re around for and they won’t mind that you ask questions.

Problems of Rapid Belly Expansion

If you happen to be a woman who does experience rapid belly expansion, there are some issues that could pop up. Some of the potential situations surrounding rapid belly growth during pregnancy include:

Stretch marks. The faster your belly expands, the more likely you are to get stretch marks. Stretch marks can be itchy and some women are really bothered by how they look. If you’re having problems, ask your health care provider about a safe stretch mark cream to use. Asking first is important because medicated creams, even over-the-counter, may not be safe for your pregnancy.

Body image emotions: You may feel more self-conscious about a rapidly expanding belly, especially if you haven’t told everyone that you’re expecting. You might just feel fat and frumpy. These are perfectly normal feelings to have. Being pregnant is an adjustment; being suddenly huge is an even harder adjustment for some women.

You can try wearing clothing that minimizes your belly – maternity boutiques are really good about helping you to find flattering maternity fashions. Don’t forget that in a couple of months, you’ll look more pregnant and not just big in the belly. Just hang on. If you feel really upset, talk to your health care provider.

Shortness of breath and backaches: Shortness of breath and backaches can both be caused by a rapidly expanding belly. One, you’re just not used to carrying around this extra weight. Two, the odd placement of weight around your middle can make you slouch in all sorts of new ways that can harm your back.

The best cure for this is to stay in tip top shape with proper pregnancy exercise. Ask your health care provider which exercises are safe for you during pregnancy. Another great way to reduce back pain is to sit on a birthing ball whenever you sit. When watching television, typing, at work, while eating dinner, and more. A birthing ball allows for proper body positioning and can reduce back and other aches..



 


Comments

Catlina, every woman gains weight differently during pregnancy so as long as your doctor isn't concerned, you're fine. Sine you are already growing out of your clothes, you might want to check out a Maternity Belt, which can help your clothes expand along with your belly.


-- Contributed by: HollySwanson

oh gosh!i'm a first time mother to be and very eager to know everything about pregnancy!i'm quite slender before pregnancy, with height 163cm and weight of 45kg.i'm 4 weeks pregnant now and my weight is putting up 3 kg!(i'm 48kg now)is it normal?most of my jeans n pants are aither cannot fit me anymore or if i wear it , it make me very uncomfortamble because of the tightness at the waist.and i also dont have history of twins in my family n my husband's.

-- Contributed by: catlina

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