Your Belly Bump

It should be no surprise that nothing about pregnancy is one size fits all. And that goes for your growing bump as well. From basketballs to watermelons, expecting moms baby bumps vary as much as their pregnancy experience.

So why is it, that pregnant women often find themselves constantly comparing their bumps to each other? And does shape and size really tell anything about your pregnancy?

If you've been wondering if your bump is the right size, take heart. Chances are it's the right size for you. Taller and larger women seem to develop, in general, less protruding and obvious bellies and smaller women; especially those who are having bigger babies, tend to carry clear enough for everyone to see.

While proper growth of your baby can be determined by measuring the distance between the top of your uterus to your pelvic bone (it usually increases in distance one cm per week) it's really a myth that a big belly means big baby or a small belly means smaller baby.

Another common myth: That you can predict the sex of your baby based on the shape of your expanding belly. Some people say that if you're carrying high and wide, you'll be having a girl, low and in front, get ready for a boy. Although most babies end up in a head down, vertex position, when babies stretch out crosswise or in any other array of acrobatic positions, your belly may look temporarily lopsided or unsymmetrical.

And when it comes to stretch marks on the belly, half of all expectant moms will experience these bright red and blistery lines. Their development is thought to be less about the size your belly has expanded and more about the elasticity of your skin. While nothing has been proven to prevent them, creams and ointments may help alleviate dry skin and itching.

But what's most intriguing about these ever expanding baby bumps? The comments that strangers make and the belly rubs that they readily offer. So the next time a lady approaches you in the checkout line and asks when you'll be delivering twins, grin and bear it, as you calmly share that you still have 4 long months to go! Or then again, maybe not.



Michelle is the 2004 International Nanny Association Nanny of the Year, author of Nany to the Rescue!, and contributing author for the widely popular baby names site babynames24x7.com.

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