Why baby bumps are bigger at night: Pregnant women’s ab muscles loosen over the day but tighten up as they sleep
- Meghan Markle wore a fitted blue dress to a black tie event in Fiji
- The 37-year-old mother-to-be appeared much bigger than in the days before
- Baby bumps do often appear larger at night, and smaller in the morning
- Many women also experience a ‘pop’ when the uterus finally expands above the pubic bone, making the bump more visible quite suddenly
Meghan Markle’s growing baby bump has been the subject of international excitement.
But enthusiasm reached new heights on Tuesday night when the duchess wore a fitted blue dress to a black tie event in Fiji – and appeared significantly bigger than the days before in Australia.
Clothing, of course, plays a big role. Holding a bump will always accentuate it. And there is the fact that, as time goes on, the bump is growing.
However, it may largely be down to the fact that baby bumps do often appear larger at night, and smaller in the morning.
Blossoming baby bump: Meghan Markle in Fiji on Tuesday night at a black-tie event
Smaller bump? Fans were surprised by the difference between the duchess’s bump on Thursday (pictured) and Tuesday at the banquet
The bizarre phenomenon fills up expectant mothers’ chat rooms, with many sharing before-and-after pictures, first at night then in the morning.
It got fresh attention last year when Khloe Kardashian, then expecting daughter True with Tristan Thompson, tweeted: ‘Does anyone else who has been pregnant or if they are pregnant feel that in the morning their bumps are smaller. But throughout the day there bumper gets bigger and bigger and bigger LOL asking for a friend.’
Bumps shift in shape as the baby moves.
But according to birth doula Susannah Birch, ab muscles also play a role.
‘[A]t night time, your abdominal muscles are tired from holding your bump [and they] loosen as they grow more tired, which allows your bump to sit out further and appear larger,’ Birch told Trimester Talk.
-
Men who work out in the years before conception have…
What is multiple sclerosis? We explain Selma Blair’s…
Share this article
A popular mommy topic: Khloe Kardashian tweeted her surprise at her bigger nightly bump
‘When you go to sleep, your muscles get a chance to rest and recuperate so they’re refreshed and ready to maintain your bump’s position when you wake.’
Our bodies adapt to the night-day cycle of the time zone we live in – which is why we can suffer damages to our physical health by working night shifts or pulling all-nighters.
Whether you go to sleep at night or not, your muscles still do.
They relax in the evening, recuperating so they can be strong and responsive during your active hours.
On Friday (pictured) Meghan cradled her bump in a striped Martin Grant dress
On Monday (pictured), Meghan and Harry walked along Kingfisher by in Australia’s Fraser Island as Meghan cradled her bump. Often, women experience a ‘pop’ when the uterus expands enough to move above the pelvic bone
As an article by Romper points out, a study in 2013 identified ‘relaxin’ hormones that determine that very dynamic.
Another reason for Meghan’s bigger bump in recent days is that many women experience ‘the pop’ – when it immediately appears quite suddenly.
Amanda Kallen, MD, assistant professor in the division of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the Yale School of Medicine, told Women’s Health that this has to do with the uterus expanding above the pubic bone.
‘At this point, you may start to feel—and even see—your pregnant belly pop because it’s no longer hiding behind the bony pelvis,’ Dr Kallen said.
People with large babies can also see dramatic changes in the shape and size of their bump as their babies move around.
And those who’ve had multiple births may experience more muscle stretching because their body is primed to do so.
Source: Read Full Article