A pregnant woman has demonstrated how her baby bump looks dramatically different in the morning, compared to the evening. And a midwife has explained why this is
A pregnant woman has blown people away after demonstrating how her bump changes in size from the morning to the evening.
Jenny Zhou was 13 weeks pregnant when she took to TikTok to share the difference in bump size between morning and night. In the morning, Jenny showed how she looked “more or less normal”, although there might be a “little pouch there,” she could still suck it in and have a completely flat stomach.
However, fast forward to the evening time, and the size difference was very noticeable. In the video, Jenny can be seen smiling in disbelief as she checks out all the angles of her bump. “Definitely can’t suck it in at night,” she added. In the comment section Jenny admitted she was also “very similar” at seven weeks pregnant, and was “so shocked”.
In the comment section people were baffled by the difference, with one person asking: “Why does this happen?” Another added: “I thought I [was] the only one. At night I look six months pregnant.” A third commented: “This makes me feel better because I freak out in the morning and my tummy is more flat – I am only 10 weeks though.”
“Immediately after I’m done eating,” said another, to which Jenny replied: “Legit I’ll have a some water and a bite of breakfast and out the belly comes.”
Why do baby bumps change in size through the day?
It’s perfectly normal for a pregnant belly to change in size through the day, and it’s all to do with the abdominal muscles, which hold the baby bump in place, relaxing. Lesley Gilchrist, midwife and co-founder of My Expert Midwife, told Cosmopolitan: “It is not uncommon for a woman to notice that her baby bump is looking bigger in the evening than it was in the morning.
“This is generally due to the fact that her abdominal muscles, which hold the baby bump, have loosened and relaxed throughout the day, allowing the bump to ‘push’ further out and appear larger. The baby and the womb themselves have not changed size, though.”
Because of the “weaker” or “tired” muscles, it can also cause a “more pronounced curve” in the lower back, which also makes the bump look bigger. Once the pregnant woman has had a “restful night’s sleep”, the abdominal muscles recover and are stronger, which can better hold the weight of the bump.
But there are many other reasons why a bump might change in size. Many non-pregnant people also have a different sized stomach in the morning compared to the evening. This could be due to things like bloating, or having constipation.
According to the midwife, the baby’s position can also change the shape and size of the baby bump.
It’s important to remember that it’s normal for your baby bump to change in size. But if you’re concerned about anything, you should contact your midwife or other medical professional straight away.
