When Do You Start Showing in Pregnancy?

You catch your reflection sideways in the mirror, turn a little, and wonder: is that a bump, or is that just lunch? If you have found yourself asking when do you start showing in pregnancy, you are in very good company. It is one of the first questions almost every newly pregnant person Googles, often late at night, with one hand resting hopefully on their belly.

Here is the reassuring short answer: most first-time moms start to show somewhere between 12 and 16 weeks, though anywhere from 12 to 20 weeks is completely normal. Your body is not on a deadline, and a bump that arrives "late" tells you nothing worrying about your baby. Let's walk through the full timeline together so you know what to expect.

When Do You Start Showing With Your First Baby?

For a first pregnancy, a visible bump usually appears in the early-to-middle part of the second trimester. Most people notice the change between week 12 and week 16, with the bump becoming obvious to others closer to weeks 16 to 20.

There is a simple anatomical reason for this timing. In the first trimester, your uterus is still tucked low behind your pelvic bones, so even though a lot is happening inside, there isn't much to see on the outside. Around week 12, the uterus grows large enough to rise up out of the pelvis. That is the moment many people first feel a firm, low swell below the belly button.

A few gentle truths about a first bump:

• Early bloat is not the same as showing. In the first weeks, that rounder tummy is usually progesterone-driven bloating and water retention, not the baby itself. It often comes and goes through the day.
• A "late" bump is normal. Plenty of first-time moms are barely showing at week 20 and have a perfectly healthy, perfectly sized baby. Tall people and those with longer torsos often carry the uterus deeper, so it shows later.
• Your bump may look different from your friend's. Comparison is the thief of joy here. Every torso, every body, and every uterus sits a little differently.

If you are counting the weeks and want to double-check exactly how far along you are, our pregnancy calculator can pin down your due date and current week from your last period.

When Do You Start Showing in a Second or Third Pregnancy?

If this isn't your first rodeo, you have probably already noticed: second-time moms tend to show earlier, sometimes much earlier. It is common to see a bump around 10 to 12 weeks, and some people swear their regular jeans stopped buttoning closer to 8 weeks.

This is not your imagination, and it is not a sign that anything is different with the baby. After your first pregnancy, the rectus abdominis muscles that run down the front of your abdomen have already been stretched once. They give way more readily the second time, which lets the uterus tip forward and "show" sooner.

So if you are on baby number two and felt the bump weeks before your friends did with their firsts, that is exactly what your body is supposed to do.

What Affects When You Start Showing?

When you start showing depends on far more than how many weeks pregnant you are. Two people at the same week of pregnancy can look completely different, and all of these factors play a role:

• Number of previous pregnancies. As above, stretched abdominal muscles mean an earlier bump with each pregnancy.
• Your build and height. If you are taller or have a longer torso, there is more room for the uterus to grow upward before it pushes outward, so you may show later. Shorter torsos often show sooner.
• Pre-pregnancy core strength. Strong, toned abdominal muscles can hold the uterus closer to your spine for longer, which can delay a visible bump.
• The position of your uterus. Some people have a tilted (retroverted) uterus, which can make early showing slightly less obvious. It typically straightens out by the second trimester.
• Carrying multiples. If you are pregnant with twins or more, you will very likely show earlier and grow faster than someone carrying a single baby.
• Bloating and digestion. Pregnancy hormones slow digestion, so a fuller, rounder look early on is often gas and water, not bump.

None of these change whether your baby is healthy. They simply change the timing of the visible bump, which is one of the least medically meaningful parts of pregnancy, even though it feels like one of the most exciting.

A Week-by-Week Bump Timeline

Every pregnancy is unique, so think of this as a friendly guide rather than a schedule to measure yourself against.

Stage	What's usually happening with your bump
Weeks 1–8	No visible bump. Any rounding is bloating, not the baby.
Weeks 9–12	Uterus is rising toward the top of the pelvis. Second-time moms may start to notice a small bump.
Weeks 12–16	The classic "starting to show" window for first-time moms. Low, firm swell appears.
Weeks 16–20	Bump becomes clearly visible to others. Many people move into looser or maternity clothes.
Weeks 20+	Bump grows steadily and rounds out for the rest of pregnancy.

By the time you reach the halfway point, you have usually crossed into the second trimester for good. If you are unsure which trimester your current week falls into, our guide to what trimester am I in breaks it down clearly.

When a Smaller or Larger Bump Is Worth Mentioning

Bump size on its own is rarely a cause for concern, and your care team is watching the things that actually matter at every visit. Still, it is always okay to ask. Mention it to your healthcare provider if:

• Your bump seems to suddenly get much bigger or much smaller over a short time.
• You have measured "small for dates" or "large for dates" and want to understand what that means for you.
• You are simply worried and want reassurance — that is reason enough.

From roughly week 20 onward, your provider will often measure your fundal height (the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus) at appointments. In centimeters, this number tends to roughly match your week of pregnancy, and it gives them a quick, gentle way to track growth. If something looks off, the usual next step is simply an ultrasound to take a closer look, not a reason to panic.

Embracing Your Bump on Its Own Schedule

If there is one thing to hold onto, it is this: there is no "right" week to start showing. A bump that arrives at 11 weeks and a bump that holds off until 22 weeks can belong to two equally healthy pregnancies. Your body knows what it is doing, and it does not need to match anyone else's timeline to be doing it perfectly.

So go ahead and take the side-profile photos. Note the first day your favorite jeans feel snug. Celebrate the bump whenever it decides to show up, because it will, and one day soon you'll be marveling at how big it has grown.

When you are ready to think about what comes next, our week-by-week pages walk you through your baby's growth and what to expect at every stage, starting around the time your bump appears at week 16.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider.