WHAT DOES THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF YOUR BABY BUMP TELL YOU?
Written by Liza John
They say don’t judge a book by its cover and the same can be said for babies and pregnancy bumps. There are a lot of old wives’ tales regarding pregnancy in every culture. Some remain consistent across the board while others form drastic contradictions. An easy example of this is predicting the sex of the baby by looking at the size and shape of the baby bump. With an almost equal probability of predictions being accurate, some say that high and less visible bumps hold baby boys while low and protruding bellies shelter girls.
These beliefs change depending on whom you ask, and they have no proper scientific backing. Here’s the catch though, the pregnancy bump that everyone bases the health and sex of the baby on gives more information about the mother than the fetus. Even though the size and shape of the pregnant bellies cannot reveal the size and sex of the baby, here are a few things it can tell you for sure.
Mother’s Fitness
No pregnancy bump is the same because each mother’s body varies from the other. Experts suggest that abdominal muscles that are rather lax tend to form low and wide bellies. Those who exercise regularly and possess ab muscles, like those of fitness bloggers, are more likely to have high bumps or less likely to even have a huge pregnancy bump. This is because the abdominal muscles that are strong enough to support the growing fetus in the uterus are less prone to sag under its weight.
In addition, tall mothers have more chances of presenting with high and less protruding pregnancy bumps, thanks to their longer midsection. The longer is the distance from the pubic bone to the top of the abdomen, the more space there is for the baby’s weight to be distributed. This is why petite women often have huge pregnancy bellies even halfway through gestation.
Number Of Pregnancies
The human body is designed to be prepared for changes, the best example for this is the phenomenon of muscle memory. Once a body goes through pregnancy, it is more attuned to the related hormones next time around. The abdominal muscles give way much easier and result in low and wide bellies. Besides, since pregnancy loosens abdominal muscles to a certain extent, the second and third baby bumps are more visible than the first one.
Position Of The Baby
A watermelon or ‘D-shaped’ baby bump is the most common kind, but a few end up with a ‘B-shaped’ one. This is owed to the position of the baby. Usually, babies curl with their heads down with their arms and legs tucked in. This way, their back is towards the mother’s belly button and the baby is in a fetal position.
Other times, babies align themselves back-to-back with their spine next to the mother’s spine. Here, their legs and arms face outward and result in a less smooth bump. Such positions are temporary since babies toss and turn often. Thus, the D or B-shape of the tummy can tell you something about how your baby is lying.
Mother’s Health Status
When an expecting parent starts showing in the first few months, it is common for the belly to lose its roundness on some days. Due to the distressing bowel movements and flatulence of the digestive system getting used to pregnancy hormones, the first trimester is marked by a pregnancy bump that comes and goes.
First-time pregnancies also possess higher risks for benign growths and fibroids in the uterus, such changes can bring on a sudden difference in the size of the bump. In some pregnancies, the abdominal wall of the mother splits open gradually due to the growth. This is called Diastasis Recti and causes the belly to sag while in an upright position and appear pointy while lying down. If this side effect is developed during pregnancy, a bump that leans away from the abdomen is presented and gets worse each time.
Final Thoughts
Pregnancy is exciting news for the family and everyone around. People line up to touch the bump and forecast about the baby. All this can be fun but remember to take only a certified professional’s words seriously. Be sure to eat healthily and have regular check-ups for a safe pregnancy.