We are not supporting this browser

Pregnancy

      Reasons why bump size DOESN’T equal baby size

      Texting

      As soon as your bump is noticeable, everyone and their mother suddenly have an opinion about the size of your baby. There you are, feeling proud of your baby bump until someone comments on how big or how small it is- which can send you into a spiral of worry. And then the questions creep into your head:

      is the baby growing properly?’, ‘have I been eating healthy enough?’ or ‘will I be able to get this baby out? ‘.

      But there’s really no need to worry. Pregnancy bumps come in many different shapes and sizes. Here are some of the reasons why;

      Your height

      If you’re tall your baby has a more growing space than someone who is small. Your womb will tend to grow upwards rather than push outwards, resulting in your bump looking smaller. If you’re shorter, there’s just less space, which means less room for the baby to grow upwards, so they grow outwards instead. Result: your bump will show earlier and look bigger.

      If you’re a first time Mum

      If it’s your first little one (how exciting!) you’re likely to have a more compact bump because tummy muscles haven’t been stretched before- holding your baby snug and high. If it’s not your first- you might notice your bump showing much earlier and looking bigger. This doesn’t mean your baby is a different size, your body has been through this already.

      Your baby’s position

      Little one’s move around and change position often in the womb. And as they grow, your tummy will change shape and size depending on the position your baby is in.

      When it gets over-crowded

      Sometimes it can be easy to forget that it’s not just your baby in there- it’s your baby, placenta, umbilical cord and amniotic fluid. And then there are the rest of your organs that need to fit in there somewhere too!

      Baby’s Size

      Obviously the actual baby size affects the size and appearance of your bump! The size of your little one at any stage during pregnancy is down to genetics. If both parents are tall, then the baby will probably have the same traits. If both are average size, the baby is more likely to be petite and not very long.

      The truth is, no-one, not even a doctor or midwife can judge the size of your baby simply by looking at your bump. As your body changes at each different stage of pregnancy, you can’t compare yourself with other women either. Every pregnancy is unique. Every pregnancy is different.

      So try to ignore the opinions as best as you can, and don’t worry!  The size of your bump doesn’t  reflect the size of your little one.

      Any more questions?

      Our specialist baby advisors and experienced mums are here to talk and ready to help whenever you need them. You can call us or reach us on Live Chat 8.30am-5.30pm Monday-Friday.

      Join the C&G baby club today

      Join the C&G baby club today

      • Weekly emails with tips and advice for your stage
      • 1-to-1 support from our dedicated Careline team, 8.30am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday.
      Join us now

      More from pregnancy

      Your privacy is important to us and therefore we would like to explain how we use cookies on this website. With your consent, we will use cookies to measure and analyse how our website is used (analytical cookies), to tailor it to your interests (personalisation cookies), and to show you relevant advertising and information (targeting cookies) we think you will like. For more information please read the cookie statement.

      Privacy Settings

      You can choose your preferences anytime for cookies and tracking. For more information please read our cookie policy

      • Strictly necessary

        They are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services (setting your privacy preferences, logging in, filling in forms, etc.). You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.

      • Analytical cookies

        They allow us to count visits and traffic sources, to measure and improve the performance of our site. They show us which pages are the most and least popular and how visitors move around the site. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.

      • Personalisation cookies

        They enable website’s enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third parties whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, some or all of these services may not function properly.

      • Targeting cookies

        They may be set through our site by our advertising partners, to build a profile of your interests and to show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.