I distinctly remember when I first found out I was pregnant.  The excitement practically bubbled out of me – a feeling I wanted to share with others.  When you are newly pregnant you feel so special, yet no one can tell yet that you are expecting.  I’ll admit to blurting out to a person or two, “I’m pregnant!” simply because I just had to share.

But when do you start to show?  Usually women who are expecting their first child do not begin to show until the beginning of their second trimester.  At 8 weeks your uterus is about the size of a large lemon.  By week 14 you will probably begin to wear loose clothing or pants with stretchy waistbands.  It might not be until you are 4 or 5 months pregnant that you begin to wear maternity clothing full time.

There are some exceptions, of course, as every woman is uniquely beautiful and different.  If you are a plus size, you might not need larger clothing until the end of your pregnancy.  Some full figured women still choose to wear maternity tops simply to share with others that they are joyfully pregnant.

If you have already had children, you will probably begin to show much earlier.  By my third pregnancy I was wearing maternity clothing within weeks of conception, simply to alleviate heartburn caused by a tight waistband.  Many women who have already delivered a child show much earlier than those on their first pregnancy.

Either way, there is nothing better than hearing, “Are you expecting?” for the first time!

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