When did you start showing?

[prechrswife]

My first pregnancy, I could tell a difference in the 4th or 5th month, but people who didn't know me well really couldn't. I think I was probably close to 6 months before I really looked pregnant. My feet started swelling in the 8th or 9th month--just miserable. My second pregnancy, I started showing much sooner, but I didn't have the foot swelling issue too much. I could still wear my regular sandals. My first was a girl, and my second a boy, if that makes any difference at all.

[gemini9961]

I'll be 16 weeks tomorrow and to those that don't know can't tell. I still don't really have much of a pregnant belly, just looks like I ate too much. I am in maternity clothes though since my pants were too uncomfortable and dug into me.

[Cataholic]

I showed by my 4th month, to others.

I wore work looking flip flops the entire summer, I had barely discernible sausages on the ends of my feet, and 'cankles' (no ankle/calf distinction).

I swelled in my wrists and had to have injections to calm the nerves in my wrists.

I nearly rolled into court the Friday before I delivered (on a Tuesday).

Now, I am just fat. At least I had an excuse for it back then.

[finn's mom]

I was between 5 and 6 months, I think, when I started to really show. It was pretty obvious when I did, because I only carried the weight in my tummy. From the back, I actually looked thinner than before I got pregnant! I didn't have the little back rolls I've had for years (I still don't, yay!). My butt got smaller, too. When I was ready to deliver, I looked like I had a bowling or basketball in my shirt. Everyone is so different, though, and even the same woman can look totally different with each pregnancy, it's neat!

I never really had swelling in my feet until after Clara was born. Then it was like, wow! I have sausage toes. They felt very strange, I've never had a problem with water retention before, so it was a new sensation. I drank twice as much water as usual to help ease it because it honestly grossed me out!

I didn't buy any maternity clothes. I used a band around my waist to cover my unbuttoned/zipped pants. My mother had bought me a few items, but I never got big enough in the bust to wear the shirts she bought (luckily she got them on super clearance, so I didn't feel badly for not getting to wear them). I did wear three pairs of pants that she'd bought, and still do actually, because they're cute and comfy.

[wolfsoul]

I was quite thin when I became pregnant (usually the thinner you are, the earlier you show) but people didn't start to notice I was pregnant until I was about 8.5 months along (and I never did "pop," it was very gradual), and even then my friends all told me that it just looked like I had gained some belly fat -- I didn't actually look pregnant. So don't be surprised if no one notices for months. I was extremely grateful for it -- now that everyone can tell, I can't go anywhere in public without people talking to me and asking me about it (and I'm a shy person so I hate this). Or random people will come up to me in public and rub my belly. I don't mind if they ask (I think it's really sweet when men walk up to me and ask if they can put their hands on my belly), but some people just walk right up to you and rub you without even asking, it's really annoying. So be thankful!! lol. And the less you show, the less stretch marks you might get.

[finn's mom]

Not everyone has a problem with strangers touching their belly, but I didn't really appreciate it. Many times I would rub their belly in return. Got lots of shocked expressions, but I just asked "What's the difference?". I was never super nasty about it, but I think I got my point across. I usually did it with humor. I had never approached pregnant women before and touched their belly, so I still don't really get why people think it's appropriate. I did love all the attention I got, though I appreciated it more when it was just verbal.

[Genny]

I was quite thin when I became pregnant (usually the thinner you are, the earlier you show) but people didn't start to notice I was pregnant until I was about 8.5 months along (and I never did "pop," it was very gradual), and even then my friends all told me that it just looked like I had gained some belly fat -- I didn't actually look pregnant. So don't be surprised if no one notices for months. I was extremely grateful for it -- now that everyone can tell, I can't go anywhere in public without people talking to me and asking me about it (and I'm a shy person so I hate this). Or random people will come up to me in public and rub my belly. I don't mind if they ask (I think it's really sweet when men walk up to me and ask if they can put their hands on my belly), but some people just walk right up to you and rub you without even asking, it's really annoying. So be thankful!! lol. And the less you show, the less stretch marks you might get.

Do you always get stretch marks when you have a baby???

[Asiel]

With the first I looked ready to deliver at 5 mos - not good. And yes, the maternity clothes in my days helped hide the fact that we were huge. I kind of miss the looks of the old time maternity clothes, guess that really ages me doesn't it?

[DJFyrewolf36]

No one could really tell with my pregnancies unless I told them right up until the last month. I sure as heck knew! lol My weight distribution definately felt off and I thought I was perpetually waddling from about month 6 on.

Hubby says I looked wonderful though

[Cataholic]

Do you always get stretch marks when you have a baby???

Nope. I have none, and can tell you I gained a lot of weight. A lot. LOL.

[beeniesmom]

No, I didn't get any either. I used palmers lotion religiously though. Not sure if that made a difference.

[prechrswife]

Do you always get stretch marks when you have a baby???

I got none with my first pregnancy, but I did with my second.

[finn's mom]

I didn't get any stretch marks, but my mother did horribly with my brother. She was only 95 pounds when she got pregnant and gained nearly 70 with my oldest brother, most of it was belly. Her waist was 62 inches around and he weighed 10 pounds and was 24.5 inches long. She always hated her stretch marks, and they are still there, although she is used to them, now, and they have faded, but are still very noticeable. I think it would bother me, regardless of whether I exposed my stomach to anyone or not. I'm not terribly vain, but I didn't want stretch marks, either. I don't think the lotions I used help 100% but I'm sure they didn't hurt.