Does A Small Pregnancy Belly Affect The Baby’s Growth Inside?

Does A Small Pregnancy Belly Affect The Baby’s Growth Inside?

28 Apr 2022 | 4 min Read

Reema Shah

Author | 740 Articles

From the moment you get that baby bump, the size of the belly is in focus. You will have relatives, friends and family give their opinions about the size of your baby belly which may worry you, especially if your belly is small.

You aren’t alone If you’ve been fretting about the size of your pregnant belly, since it’s common for first-time mums to worry about it. But what exactly is the truth about a small pregnancy belly? 

Read on to find out.

How Does the Healthcare Expert Measure the Pregnant Belly?

A pelvic exam measures the size of your growing baby / Credit – Pexels

A pelvic exam is usually done to assess the size of your growing uterus. An ultrasound may also be done to see how large your baby is.

When you enter into the 20th week of pregnancy, the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus is measured to estimate the size, position and growth rate of the baby. The ultrasound also provides information about the nature of your baby’s growth.

In case your uterus or baby size is smaller than the one which is considered normal for your stage of pregnancy, you will be closely monitored. At times, a condition called intrauterine growth restriction exists where babies appear smaller than the normal size.

Causes Of Small Pregnancy Belly

  • You are pregnant for the first time. Since your muscles haven’t been stretched by a previous pregnancy, your baby bump might start showing later.
  • You are tall and measure above 155 cm. Your long torsos may lead you to have a smaller-looking bump. This can happen because the baby fills space lengthwise.
  • The position of your baby in your uterus is such that your bump is minimised.
  • Strong core muscles which usually are a result of working out lead to making the bump small. Strong abdominal muscles make the growing uterus stay closer to the core of the body and hence your bump will show later. 
  • In case you are plus-size, the baby bump may take longer to appear.

There are different types of pregnancy belly shapes as all women carry differently.

Understanding a Small Pregnancy Belly

Despite eating well, exercising, and going for regular prenatal checkups, you are asked if you have been eating well or not. But worry not, as just like babies, bellies also come in different shapes and sizes when pregnant.

With regular screenings, your doctor will be able to monitor your child’s size with respect to your due date. The size of your pregnant belly including your abdomen needs to be done once you reach between 15 weeks to 20 weeks.

The measurement found after conducting the screening tells them how much your belly is growing. 1 cm a week is generally the growth rate of a woman once she starts showing.

Only if your abdominal muscles are really tight, they might prevent your growing womb from popping out far. For a tall woman too, the bump tends to look smaller compared to a shorter woman. However, this does not affect the growth of the baby.

When Does the Belly Size Become a Concern

The only time you need to be concerned in case you have a petite pregnancy is if you are having a condition called oligohydramnios. In this condition, there is very little amount of amniotic fluid. This is something that will be found out during the growth scan done as part of your regular prenatal appointments.


Pregnancy is a journey that’s different for each woman and there are different types of pregnancy belly shapes. 

Every woman’s body is different and so is her pregnant belly / Credit – Pexels

The body type, bone and muscle frame play a role in how a woman carries a baby in her womb. Focus on taking care of your health and getting regular checkups as only experts can give out the right information on your baby’s size and growth.

DISCLAIMER: We have taken steps to check the accuracy of the information & practices shared above; however, it is not a replacement for a doctor’s opinion. Please check with either your doctor, or an expert, before trying any suggestion, practice, or medication mentioned here.

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