Kate Middleton reveals small, neat baby bump (finally!)
Can Kate really be six months pregnant? We investigate if bump size matters...
With only three months left before giving birth, many mums-to-be would have started to rely on maternity wear and comfortable flats.
But not the Duchess of Cambridge, who stepped out over the weekend in a chic mint-green Mulberry coat, cappuccino coloured fascinator and her favourite nude LK Bennett heels.
The hotly-anticipated royal baby is due in July, which means Kate is around 6 months pregnant, but her bump is only just beginning to show.
But, although Kate’s bump size has prompted comparisons with other celebrity mums-to-be at the same stage, including Princess Diana, Victoria Beckham and Kate Hudson, who were all larger than Kate by this point, experts say that Kate’s bump size is not a cause for concern.
Just like babies, bumps come in all shapes and sizes. Kate’s size could be down to a number of factors like her slim, muscular physique or the position of the baby in the womb.
Plus, it’s not unusual for women to not show very much during their first pregnancy, as good abdominal muscles mean everything will be held in place tightly. Smaller bumps are often more common with first pregnancies and indicate more about a woman’s physique and body shape than the baby itself.
Bumps may be nice and neat like a watermelon, or so large, you feel like a beached whale in maternity pants. The fact is, there's no perfect size for your bump. And size is no indication of your baby's weight, either.
“Mums-to-be are forever comparing bumps,'” says midwife Lorna Bird. “But everyone's individual and just because someone has a big bump, it doesn't mean they'll necessarily have a big baby.
“Bump size and shape depend on various things. With your first baby, you tend to have a neat bump as the stomach muscles are tight. But the more children you have, the more lax your muscles become. Your bump may be more spread out or bigger because the muscles aren't holding in the baby so well.
“Bump size also depends on how many babies are in there, how much fluid you've got inside and the way your baby is lying. It might also depend on your stature and posture. If you're very slim and upright, for example, you might not have a big bump but you might have a big baby as there's more room for your baby to hide.”
Your midwife is the most important person assessing your bump size as she is experienced in knowing whether your baby is the right size. Find out why pregnancy bump size measuring matters.
Has your bump made an appearance yet? Read our article all about how early your bump will start to show
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