belly size: fundal height on track but look so much bigger!

[HankyPanky]

I'm so curious... how is it my belly looks so much bigger this time than it did with my son when:

1. I weigh a good 20 lbs less.
2. I am measuring right on track for my dates this time.
3. I always measured about a week ahead with DS.

I just don't get it. It doesn't bother me; I love my big pregnant belly! I'm just surprised at the difference and it doesn't seem logical.

My recent 34 week picture looks as big or bigger than my 38 and 39 week pictures with my first pregnancy. And I had a prenatal yesterday and my fundal height was 34.5 cm.

[prone_to_wander]

My fundal height is right on and my weight gain is perfectly normal and I look HUGE! I'm 32 weeks and I get lots and lots of stares (I also have lots of people saying "hoa dai!" which means "very big" in cantonese...they don't know I understand them). Even my midwife was expecting my fundal height to be big and it just isn't. She said it is probably how the baby is laying that makes me look so big.

[MaerynPearl]

Its how you carry, not how you weigh!

You are probably carrying much more up and out with this one than you did with that one, your fundus would measure the same but you would definitely show faster/more.

Im most certainly carrying this one high and forward, Im losing weight still at 17 weeks (healthy weight loss from staying active and eating as I should, nothing either my doctor or my midwife is worried over) but my stomach is getting bigger and bigger every day.

I had my brothers girlfriend ask me the other day just how much weight Ive put on (in reference to my stomach) and when I told her Ive actually lost 17 pounds she was amazed lol. Cant imagine if you take away baby weight just how much Ive really lost! 22? 27? depends on where you look on what I should have gained by now.

[BreakfastyMichele]

Honestly, it may be *because* you weigh 20 pounds less. With less weight on the rest of your body, your belly really has a chance to shine! It's all relative.

[HankyPanky]

Alright, I guess it's just me carrying differently! I guess baby is just more front and center and making my stomach stick out more.

Thanks ladies.