Week 27: Does My Baby Look Big In This?

Look, I may not have mentioned it yet, but it appears I am carrying triplets. At least, that was the verdict of a paunchy pharmacist when I was picking up a script last week. Apparently I’m only 27 weeks, but I ‘look like I’m ready to pop’.

I suspect most people who say that to a pregnant woman have had little exposure to women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Believe me, I’m going to get a lot bigger.

That led to some frantic weighing and Googling to investigate whether a 7 kilo weight gain at 7 months pregnant was an indication of obesity or pretty normal. Seems it is pretty normal. I won’t be going back to that chemist again.

Here’s a photo, and sure, it’s getting out there, but ready to pop? I hope not.

Baby bump size is a vexed issue, tied up in women’s own body image issues, her fears of gestating a baby too big or to small, not to mention society’s pre-occupation with women’s weight.

The size of one’s belly is not directly related to how much chocolate has been consumed during the pregnancy. Much of it is genetic – how your mother carried you may be an indication. Tall women sometimes appear to have smaller bumps as they have more room in the torso to carry the baby and associated organs and fluids.

Some babies have more amniotic fluid, some less. There are conditions like gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia or, failure to thrive (FTT) which influence the size of the baby.

Friends of mine with small bumps have attracted just as many comments – why don’t you eat more, are you sure the dates are correct, is this one a girl, etc.

Here’s an idea – tell a pregnant woman that she looks wonderful, ask her how her pregnancy is going and leave it there. Oh, and don’t forget to offer her a seat on the bus.