Pregnant with Second Child

I was the same as the other moms. I was fit and tight my first pregnancy. The second time I was showing at a couple months. The third time, I was pregnant about 15 minutes and people could tell. Even now, if I'm a little gassy, it looks like I'm 5 months pregnant:)

My abs are wasted, but I've got the most awesome kids in the world. The celebrities can keep their flat bellies, I have what's really important.

Subsequent pregnancies do show much sooner than the first one. Just follow the reasonable rules about eating and try not to obsess. I know of women with 10, up to 21 children who stay trim, so it is in the genes, I guess.

I am also pregnant with my second. I had to start wearing maternity clothes at 8 weeks this time, as opposed to 12-14 weeks with my first. My doctor said I would start showing a lot sooner with any subsequent pregnancies. I remember when I was pregnant with my first, I worked with a woman who was pregnant with her fifth, and we were due at the same time. She was huge, compared to me, but gained the same amount of weight as with her other pregnancies. I have actually gained less weight this time around, and I started 5 pounds lighter than my last pregnancy, but my body is bigger than last time. It doesn't make sense to me, but that's what happened. I am due any day now. You could try cutting down on sweets and junk food if you are concerned. Good luck!

It is very common with second child to show much sooner - don't forget that those muscles and area of your body have already been stretched before for the 1st child - so it stretches easier the 2nd time. Good luck with the pregnancy.

MH

Continue to eat healthy and don't worry. I didn't look "look" pregnant with my first until 7 months but with my second I was in maternity clothes by 12 weeks. My weight gain was only about 5 pounds more with the second and my prepregnancy weight was about the same. As others have posted, your pelvic muscle are more relaxed and you just show sooner. Good luck!

Michelle,

The 4 lbs you have gained already is nothing to be concerned about. Unfortunately the body remembers being pregnant and you do show quite early. I remember that being something that bothered me also. Because with my 1st I didn't start wearing maternity clothes until 6 months and the 2nd and third almost right away!

I think if you just keep eating healthy and not indulging yourself (every once in a while is good), that the weight you gain will be all baby. Sometimes you have people tell you that you are "eating for two" and I didn't buy into that philosphy. I just ate what I thought was approriate for myself and the baby (tried to watch all the cravings for sweets & junkfood) and I did continue to exercise and walk my dog.

Good luck with the second child. Children are blessings from God!

Blessings,
L.

Don't worry about it and get the comfy pants out now verses trying to sqeeze into your regular clothes. It is normal to pop sooner. I remember getting out my materity jeans very unwillingly, putting them on and thinking "why didn't I do this sooner!"

It's very common with the secod child to start showing earlier - your muscles have already been stretched once. As for weight gain, just remember to keep eating healthy and getting exercise. You absolutely want to keep the "empty" calories to a minimum - desserts and junk food. It could also be that with the hot weather you are retaining water. Be sure you are drinking a LOT of water - water helps you flush out excess waste, etc.

Hi Michelle,

I am also pregnant with baby 2. I am about 8 weeks along and I am having to get out all my stretchy clothes. My doctor told me that I will show a lot sooner this time, but will probably end up being about the same size and gain as much weight as the first pregnancy. He just said that things will happen faster. I did gain weight right away too, but just got over being sick (I don't think it is because of the pregancy) so I actually lost a bit of weight. Hang in there, I think everything is happening normally.

Ahh. . . yes, everything happens just a bit earlier with the second child. I was scolded w/first pregnancy b/c I did not gain any weight till after the 1st trimester. (I was sick a lot) My second child I had noticed a more sensitive nose, and hummmh. Yup the test was positive. So expect to show sooner as well. Your body has been primed for the whole process and it responds a bit quicker. So if you haven't any maternity clothes from your previous, better skip on over to the mall!

It's very common to start showing much earlier with subsequent pregnancies. With my first, I didn't start really showing until I was about 6 months. It felt like it took forever to fit in maternity clothes. My 2nd & 3rd pregnancies I started showing by 2-3 months. I was out of my regular clothes soooo fast. My first pregnancy I gained 35lbs, 2nd a whopping 65lbs (girl), and 3rd 40lbs. My diet never changed from pregnancy to pregnancy. Every pregnancy is different as well as every woman if different. As long as you're mostly eating healthy try not to worry too much about the 'temporary' weight. If you maintain a healthly diet, that will continue after birth and the pounds will just melt away. Try not to make your monthly appts about the dreaded weight gain and focus on the progess of your developing baby.

After 3 pregnancies, I am back down to my prepregnancy weight.

BTW, It's my theory that when you're carrying a girl, you gain earlier, more weight and carry all the way around.

Exact same thing happened with my current pregnancy (second). Don't worry about it. It's normal. I couldn't wear my jeans by week 8, when the time before it was more like week 14.

Stop fretting...your stomach muscles are weaker because of the previous pregnancy and your body knows what to do this time. It's normal to get bigger faster than before. I've had three kids and I think my belly pops out as soon as I read positive on the stick.

Stop worrying about your weight. Your having a baby and having a healthy one is the most important thing...not your figure. If you are eating right, which it appears that your already have the right mindset for that, then who cares if you get bigger. You will get back into shape in no time after the baby was born.

I have gained well over 40 lbs with each of my pregnancies. My kids were 8 lb 14 oz, 7 lbs 3 oz, and 8 lb 15 oz....each time I ate plenty of good food for baby developement. I didn't worry about my weight because I was making a healthy baby. It obviously didn't matter what I ate since my babies were 8 lbs and then 7 lbs??? But they were all healthy and smart as a whip.

I got back into shape and now sit right at my ideal weight. I'll be starting over here soon.

Michelle, please don't worry. I am about to be certified as a Bradley Method birth instructor, and one of the things we tell our students is to eat when you are hungry, salt food to taste, and not worry too much about weight gain. Of course, you should be eating healthily, but I'm sure you know that. Weight gain during pregnancy is a very individual thing, and guidelines about how much you should gain don't mean all that much. If your doctor says you and the baby are healthy, you are healthy.

not uncommon. When I had my 4th child I swear I woke up the morning after with a belly.....I only gained 18lbs throughout the whole 9 months, but my tummy was as big as when I had gained 50lbs with one of the older children. I coped by purchasing some larger clothes (regular styles) which now days maternity wear is so form fitting it may serve you well to just give in and use what you have. Of course you will want to watch your weight gain, but unless you are overweight already, watching what type of foods you eat and getting enough exercise without dieting should do the trick. Congrats on the anticipated new addition to your family!

I have not read the other responses, but I too am pregnant with my second child.

Child #1 - it was like 4-5 months before I had to wear maternity clothes.

Child #2 - it was like 2 months when my clothes started getting tight around the belly and then shortly thereafter I had to completely switch over to maternity clothes.

From what I understand this can be normal for a lot of second-timers. You haven't even gained 1/2 a pound per week, so I don't think you have anything to worry about! Good job on taking the pre-natals and just try to enjoy this pregnancy. Good luck for a happy and healthy child!

Because we all are different in size and shape, we have different experiences. I'll just mention mine.

With the first one I didn't show until I was nearly 6 months pregnant and never needed to buy maternity clothes, with the second one, I popped out of my jeans at 6 weeks.

Congrats!

I started showing right away with my 2nd pregnancy. By 8 weeks I was wearing maternity clothes!

Don't worry! :) After having your first child, you will show much earlier because the muscles are looser. If morning sickness kicks in, then the weight you gained will come off and then you will have to play "catch-up" to gain it back. Once getting pregnant, your blood volume about doubles and everything else that starts happening in the uterus makes up for most of the weight you gained. A fantastic place for information is babycenter.com if you want more info. Congrats and good luck!

Here's a resource that I hope might be helpful for you...

http://home.mindspring.com/~djsnjones/id68.html

If you try too hard to limit your weight gain, you might increase your chances of developing a rising blood pressure and pre-eclampsia.

And just in case you might be needing it about now, here are some suggestions for morning sickness...

http://home.mindspring.com/~djsnjones/id101.html

Best wishes,
J.

Michelle
Congrats on #2. Do no worry one bit. Showing much earlier with the 2nd is VERY common. WIth first pregnancies your body is learning what to do and how to accomodate the growing baby so it resists at first and you do not show until much later. However, with the 2nd, it is almost like the body totally remembers and right away you pop. Totally normal I assure you. With my first I did not show until I was about 22 weeks. With #2 I was hiding my belly at 6 weeks. It was RIDICULOUS how pregnant I looked so early.
It just happens.
Good luck!

Same thing happened to me. I started showing pretty quickly with #2. Just eat healthy and lay off the junk food. If your doctor is not concerned about your weight gain then you should not be either. I gained less weight with my second child and she weighed over a pound more than my first. I put on almost 5 pounds in one month and was really concerned, not to worry it balanced out the next month.

Don't worry, its totally normal to show sooner with your second (or later) pregnancies. I am currently 14 weeks with #2, and I swear I popped right about 5 weeks. My midwife says its because the ab muscles are already stretched out from the 1st baby, and especially if you're thin, theres no where to hide. I have gained ten pounds over the first trimester, she told me its absolutely fine. That really doesn't help you feel better, I know. Especially because you probably think you just look fat, not pregnant, because that's how I feel. But its all normal, and remember, our bodies are changing for the best reason possible! Good luck and I wish you a healthy baby!

With your second (and third and so on) child, you show a lot earlier. Muscle has memory, and your stomach has been stretched before, so it will stretch again more easily.

if you are worried about gaining too much weight and showing sooner, don't! You will start to "pop" sooner than your first, that is just the way it is! Eat healthy foods and limit the junk foods and you will be fine. Good luck and congratulations!

Hi Michelle,

I don't want to scare you, but maybe twins? I don't remember being very different from my first except I was 10 pounds heavier from my first pregnancy. (I got pregnant very soon after my first child). Just remember all women are different too. I wouldn't worry too much. Good Luck!

This is completely normal. You will "pop" earlier with subsequent pregnancies and show sooner. Your pelvic floor muscles will be more lax as will your uterine muscles. Do not worry, you are fine. You will feel the baby move sooner too.

My 4-year-old is obsessed with trains, too...I popped out much sooner with my second, I think it's just one of those things where every pregnancy like every child is different.