Growth of the abdomen in the first trimester of pregnancy | When does the belly grow during pregnancy?

Growth of the abdomen in the first trimester of pregnancy

The first trimester of pregnancy describes the first to third month of pregnancy or the first to twelfth week of pregnancy (SSW). In this early phase of pregnancy there is usually no typical “baby bump” to be seen, although many women already notice many changes in their body due to the hormonal changes. The growing uterus can now put pressure on the bladder, which leads to an increased urge to urinate. The waist may gradually become less noticeable and although you usually do not see any bulging of the abdomen during the first trimester of pregnancy, pants and skirts can already become uncomfortable. From the beginning of the pregnancy, the expectant mother can cream, oil and massage the skin on the breast, belly, hips, thighs and buttocks to limit the extent of any stretch marks that may occur.

Growth of the abdomen in the second trimester of pregnancy

The second trimester describes the fourth to sixth month of pregnancy or the 13th to 28th week of pregnancy. Most women look “pregnant” after the 16th week of pregnancy, i.e. the waist becomes wider and the belly begins to grow forward and bulges more and more. From the sixth month of pregnancy onwards, even outsiders can often no longer miss the belly.

But even in this phase of pregnancy the growth of the belly varies from woman to woman and shows very individual progressions. Many women notice so-called stretch marks (Latin Striae gravidarum) or stretch marks during this phase. These are tears in the connective tissue of the subcutis and are caused by the strong stretching of the skin.

They can appear on the breast, stomach, thighs and buttocks. The development of stretch marks of the skin cannot be completely prevented, as it is also dependent on the skin and connective tissue of a woman. Pregnant women can, however, influence the extent of the stretch marks to some extent by not gaining weight too quickly, eating a healthy diet and drinking enough water or tea. Furthermore, exercise, creaming, oiling and massages can have a positive effect on the skin.