How soon does your body change?

[MrsReady2bMama]

A question for all you lovely pregnant ladies - how long did it take before your body showed changes in shape/size?

I ask because DH and I are currently TTC. I am in a wedding at the end of June and am hesitant to get my dress altered, because if we are successful this cycle I could be 8-10 weeks along by the time the wedding rolls around. I'm just curious how long it took for your body to have noticeable physical changes?

Thanks! :)

Gina

[ChristinaLucia]

I was pregnant last summer (and getting married) - I would say my body changed a size or so in the first 12 weeks and about 13 weeks I really started showing. I waited until right before the wedding to alter my dress. It was my first pregnancy. It is probably very different for everyone - I know tons of people who didn't have changes for months.

[MrsReady2bMama]

Thanks Christina! It is helpful to hear how things went for you, although as you point out it is probably different for everyone!

A second question -- WHERE did your body change first? Belly? Boobs? Both? Other?

Thanks again!
Gina

[starlein26]

The first trimester involves lots of bloating, breast changes and for some actual weight gain. I didn't "baby" show until almost 17 weeks with my son but I was in fat pants well before that (due to the bloating and some weight gain). But, as the pp mentioned, it depends on how your body handles pregnancy...which you'll just have to find out! :thumb :D

[Leilalu]

for me, it's just early bloating...so- stomach , lower stomach area. Think of it this way-your uterus will tip forward:) organs will begin to shift around, boobs get bigger...so I would have the dress altered through the waist/bust definitely.

[Mimi37]

At 8-10 weeks I was in my "fat pants" due to bloating/water weight, and my breasts were fuller. You could probably get your dress altered now but you wouldn't want it to be super tight/form-fitting. A girdle/shaper of some kind could help! Have fun.

[mary3mama]

Would this be your first pregnancy? In my experience, and one I've talked with other ladies about, with your first pregnancy, one of the first things you notice, other than bloating (which is around for all of the, IME), is that you start to loose your waist. If that turns out to be the case for you, you'll definately not want anything tight or too-form-fitting around your abdomen or waist.

Some women experience breast enlargement that early, but I don't think it's entirely common.

And, no matter what else, just remember, no one will notice how your dress fits, because they'll be distracted by your 'pregnant glow.' :thumb

[SoCalGirl]

By 13 weeks my boobs had grown two cup sizes, but that was the only physical change I'd had. I hadn't gained any weight yet (even though I felt like my boobs were about 10 lbs. heavier).

[boscopup]

With #1, I was in maternity pants by 8 weeks. My jeans were getting tight at 9 DPO!!! So for me, it was definitely the waistline that was the first to go. :lol Boobs also grew a little bit, but I don't think they got that big for me until closer to the 2nd trimester... hard to remember though. Some women get big boobs right away, so I'd plan for big waist area and big boobs, just in case.

If you'll be 8-10 weeks, probably getting the dress altered like a week before the wedding would be ok. I don't think the bloat or boobs will change significantly in a week at that point. ;)

I'm on #2 now, and I was in maternity pants at 5 weeks! Ack! My boobs haven't grown yet though, since I'm still nursing #1 (just barely). I was already 2 cup sizes bigger than pre-preg #1, but I'm sure they'll grow later on. :)

[grace's voice]

My breasts swelled the morning after the sex that caused the conception. :innocent

[annethcz]

It's different for everyone. When i was pregnant with my first, I was out buying bigger bras before I even knew I was pregnant ;) I've needed bigger pants around 8-12 weeks with each pregnancy.

[Max'sMama]

I think it depends on many factors, including how fit you are pre-pregnancy, how much you show your pre-menstrual symtoms, what you generally are like physically to show hormonal symptoms.
I started out pre-pregnancy, very fit, not having visible pre-menstrual symptoms and I didn't have ANY signs of pregnancy until the tiniest bump at 18 weeks, and I didn't blossom into any real 'pregnant' bump until closer to 30 weeks. No breast changes, no body issues, etc.

[MrsReady2bMama]

Thanks for all the advice ladies!! You are so helpful.

Yes, this would be my first pregnancy. I do tend to have some noticeable PMS bloating so my guess would be that I would start to show sooner rather than later. I'm hoping to wait to do my alterations until at least after I test and know whether or not I even have to worry about it!! Around here, typically the latest I can head in for alterations and have the dress be ready is about 3-4 weeks out. They seem to get booked up really quickly.

Of course the bridesmaid dress is strapless and fairly form-fitting so this should be interesting. If I make it too loose in the top it could make for an entertaining wedding :lol

Good idea on the girdle - that can't hurt anything pregnancy-wise? I am so paranoid that I'd squish the baby or something - can you tell this would be my first?! How naiive I am!!

~ Gina :D

[mesmerize138]

Oh Gina, you and me are totally in the same boat. I'm pregnant with my first and feel like I know absolutely NOTHING! But because of these boards and the fact that I'm reading everything I can get my hands on, it's starting to get better.

I'm getting married next month and haven't even started to make my dress yet. I'm too terrified that it won't fit by the time the day shows up. And then I'm a bridesmaid in August and I already had to buy a dress for that wedding, so I just bought it 2 sizes too big and I'm hoping that altering it to fit my belly won't be too big of a problem.

What I'd say is not to worry too much about the changes you'll see in your body before June. My breasts went up about half a cup size and that's pretty much it. Haven't even gained any weight yet.

Good luck to you. My fingers are crossed that your trying will succeed!!!!!

XOXOXO

[boscopup]

Good idea on the girdle - that can't hurt anything pregnancy-wise? I am so paranoid that I'd squish the baby or something - can you tell this would be my first?! How naiive I am!!


Not naive at all. :)

You won't squish the baby at 8-10 weeks, because baby would still be down in your pelvis. :D But it WOULD be very uncomfortable to have something constricting across your abdomen due to the bloating and such, and if you're having m/s, it would probably make that not do so well. But you don't know how you'll be until it happens! Some women don't get m/s at all or have it very little (I just get queasy, but don't get sick).

Also, your boobs might be sore at that point, so having something tight across them could be uncomfortable. But again, you don't know until you're there. I know when my boobs got really sore, I was uncomfortable with even a seat belt across them (I still wore it of course!).

[Mimi37]

You won't squish the baby at 8-10 weeks, because baby would still be down in your pelvis. :D But it WOULD be very uncomfortable to have something constricting across your abdomen due to the bloating and such, and if you're having m/s, it would probably make that not do so well.

:duh That's so true, I don't know what I was thinking when I suggested the girdle. How soon we forget! At 8-10 wks I could have gotten into a girdle and stood around in it looking lovely, but if I tried to sit down, I would not have been a happy mama. In the last weeks before I transitioned into maternity pants, I was constantly unbuttoning/unzipping my pants when I sat down. I couldn't stand tight things on my waist.

I know other mamas on these boards have mentioned wearing one for special occasions early on, though, so I guess it's different for everyone.

Good luck, Ready2be! Fingers crossed this is an issue for you. :fingersx:

[MrsReady2bMama]

Mesmerize I agree, these boards are so great for learning! I am definitely clueless but learning more every day and really digging getting to know my body! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding - echoing what one of the other girls said, you will have a beautiful pregnancy glow!

Thanks for the other comments re: the girdle. I guess I will have to wait and see what happens, if anything! My fingers are also crossed that this is an issue for me :D

Thanks again mamas! You're the best! All the best for happy and healthy pregnancy for you all.

~ Gina (PS Mimi I am also 27, married just over 2 years, and ready for our first little bean!)

[storychick]

I was more or less fully in maternity pants by 12 weeks with my first and about 9 weeks with my second. With my first, I was in a wedding at about 25 weeks pg, and just bought the bridesmaid's dress in a size larger. It was empire waist, happily, and fit just fine (could have been taken in a little in the shoulders but worked... we used off-the-rack dresses). I had a very obvious but still cute bump and got a lot of comments of the "radiant" variety. :o

I did invest in a pair of high panel maternity pantyhose, and had to put a band-aid over my belly button, to hold it in! :lol

[HomeBirthMommy]

I was in a wedding around 10 weeks pregnant with #2 and I wore control top hose. They were slightly uncomfortable, but no more than they would be non-preggo, to me. My boobs had swollen some and the dress was snug, but everything worked out fine for me.