{"id":25026,"date":"2023-12-12T18:00:16","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T18:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/?p=25026"},"modified":"2025-07-07T12:11:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T12:11:15","slug":"the-evolution-of-your-belly-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.may.app\/en\/blog\/pregnancy\/the-evolution-of-your-belly-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"The evolution of your belly during pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"

During pregnancy, a woman literally transforms. Little by little, there is an impressive bodily transformation, centered around the belly, which gradually curves beautifully over the months! During pregnancy, when and how exactly does this belly change? May explains everything.<\/p>\n

When does the belly start to grow during pregnancy?<\/h2>\n

The appearance of the belly during pregnancy depends on a multitude of factors<\/strong> including the anatomy of each expectant mother, the baby’s position, and the number of pregnancies. For example, in a first pregnancy, the belly may not start showing until quite late, around the end of the second trimester<\/strong>. If you already have children, the belly might become noticeable as early as the first trimester<\/strong> of pregnancy. In short, as you\u2019ve understood, there are no rules because every pregnancy is unique!
\nThat\u2019s why it\u2019s important not to compare yourself to other pregnant women and not to pay attention to comments about the size of your belly!<\/p>\n

What are the stages of belly growth during pregnancy?<\/h2>\n

Throughout the three trimesters of pregnancy, you\u2019ll experience numerous bodily changes<\/strong>. However, we can’t really speak of “stages” here since the belly evolves progressively.
\n\"TheTo give you an idea of belly growth over the months, <\/span>around the 10th week of pregnancy, or 12 weeks of amenorrhea (WA)<\/span>, the uterus is located just above the pubic symphysis. <\/span>By the 18th week of pregnancy (20 WA)<\/span>, the uterus reaches about the level of the belly button.<\/span><\/p>\n

From 18 WA onwards, the growth of the uterus is tracked by measuring the uterine height<\/strong>. The healthcare provider following your pregnancy uses a measuring tape to measure the distance (in centimeters) between the pubic symphysis and the top of the uterus.<\/p>\n

What explains the progressive growth of the belly during pregnancy?<\/h2>\n

The evolution of your belly during pregnancy is linked to the growth of the fetus in the uterus<\/strong>! Indeed, your uterus grows along with your baby. In addition to a lifelike 3D representation, each week you\u2019ll find a comparison between your fetus\u2019s size and that of a fruit. For example, at 5 WA it is the size of a poppy seed, at 15 WA it\u2019s about the size of a lemon, and at 39 WA it\u2019s roughly the size of a watermelon! Clearly, the uterus has to adapt…
\nHere are some figures to help you grasp the impressive growth of the uterus:<\/p>\n

Before pregnancy<\/h3>\n

Weight of the uterus (grams): 50
\nSize (centimeters): 7<\/p>\n

Volume: < 4 mL<\/p>\n

After pregnancy<\/h3>\n

Weight of the uterus (grams): 1000
\nSize (centimeters): 35<\/p>\n

Volume: between 4 and 5 L<\/p>\n

In most pregnancies, your body adapts<\/strong> to provide the safe haven your future baby needs.<\/p>\n

So, it\u2019s completely normal to see your body change as your belly rounds out. However, be mindful of your weight gain. If it\u2019s excessive, it may increase risks such as vascular complications, cesarean deliveries, and contribute to long-term obesity. Conversely, insufficient weight gain can lead to low fetal weight and increase the risks of prematurity and perinatal mortality. To help track this evolution, it\u2019s important to know your starting point. You can refer to the table below and calculate your BMI (body mass index) at the beginning of your pregnancy.<\/p>\n

Grab your calculator: divide your weight (in kilos) by your height squared. For example, if you weigh 66 kg and measure 1.69 m, the calculation is as follows: 66\/(1.69 x 1.69) = 23.1, which corresponds to a \u201cnormal\u201d weight.<\/p>\n

\"The(According to the IOM Pregnancy Weight Guidelines (Rasmussen, Catalano, and Yaktine 2009))<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

What other changes occur in the belly over the months of pregnancy?<\/h2>\n

In addition to increasing in size, it is possible to notice other changes<\/strong> in your belly during pregnancy. Some examples of surprising physical changes?<\/p>\n