Honest Guide to Having a Belly Only Pregnancy Every Time

If you’re a first-time mom and anything like I was, then you never heard of a “belly-only” pregnancy until now.

The first time I heard this term I was pregnant with my first baby girl. It’s funny, because for some reason when people see a pregnant woman, they LOVE to comment on her body and weight.

This is mind-blowing to me, how do people NOT know to keep these thoughts to themselves about a pregnant woman’s body?

The last thing a pregnant women wants to hear is some random stranger’s opinion about how big or little they look!

For my first pregnancy, I was easily belly only. This is due to the fact that I suffered from horrible morning sickness and nausea for months. I wasn’t able to gain much weight with my first pregnancy and by the time I did, the pregnancy was almost over.

This was not a healthy “belly only” pregnancy, so I don’t recommend it.

I was completely shocked at how many people said I was “all belly” or that I must be having a boy because my hips and butt didn’t get any bigger!

I was in sales at the time so I would travel all over and see and meet new people on a daily basis. Every comment I did get about my pregnant body was almost always from a stranger that I barely knew!

I want to tell you right now that having a belly only pregnancy should NOT be your number one concern!

However, in my experience, having belly-only pregnancies did help me bounce back quicker and recover faster after having my babies.

The stronger you are and the healthier you are throughout your pregnancy, the easier it will be to deliver your baby and recover postpartum. A healthy pregnancy is the most important thing you should worry about!

I’ve learned over the years no matter what weight you gain or don’t gain with your pregnancy, people will talk about you anyway! You need to just ignore them.

Here is an honest guide to having a healthy, belly only pregnancy every time!

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DISCLOSURE: Italianpolishmomma.com is NOT intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.

This post is all about Belly Only Pregnancy tips.

What is a Belly-Only Pregnancy?

A belly-only pregnancy is not a medically recognized term or condition. It’s more of a made-up term by moms!

In a nutshell, it’s a pregnant woman who is all belly and doesn’t gain much weight in her hips, butt, or anywhere else on her body.

However, pregnancy affects the entire body, not just the belly. During pregnancy, various changes occur in a woman’s body to accommodate the growth and development of the baby.

These changes include hormonal shifts, weight gain, breast enlargement, expansion of the uterus, and increased blood volume, among others.

The belly does experience significant changes during pregnancy as the baby grows. The uterus expands, causing the belly to enlarge and the skin to stretch. This is a normal part of pregnancy, and most women will have a noticeable belly as their pregnancy progresses.

Weight Distribution During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, weight gain is distributed across various components to support the growing fetus and the changes in the mother’s body.

Here’s a general breakdown of the weight distribution during pregnancy:

Baby: 7.5 lbs The weight of the developing baby is a significant contributor to weight gain during pregnancy. This includes the weight of the fetus, the amniotic fluid surrounding the baby, and the placenta, which provides essential nutrients and oxygen.
Uterus: 2 lbs. As the baby grows, the uterus expands to accommodate its increasing size. The weight of the enlarging uterus adds to the overall weight gain during pregnancy.
Breast Tissue: 2 lbs The breasts undergo changes to prepare for breastfeeding, and this can lead to an increase in breast size and weight.
Blood Volume: 4 lbs During pregnancy, the body produces more blood to support the needs of the growing baby. Increased blood volume contributes to weight gain.
Amniotic Fluid: 2 lbs The amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby in the uterus also adds to the overall weight gained during pregnancy.
Placenta: 1.5 lbs The placenta, a temporary organ that develops during pregnancy, provides vital nutrients and oxygen to the baby. It also contributes to the weight gain during pregnancy.
Maternal Fat Stores: 6-8 lbs. The body stores extra fat during pregnancy, which serves as an energy reserve for both the mother and the baby.

To learn more about weight distribution during pregnancy, click here. (source)

Benefits of a Belly Only Pregnancy

There are two major benefits of having a belly-only pregnancy.

The first one is having more energy and feeling more fit during your pregnancy to do all the things you normally would do when you’re not pregnant! Keeping a healthy pregnancy weight is good for not only the mom but the baby too! Mom won’t stress about being overweight and her main focus is on the baby, not the calories she’s taking in.
Another obvious benefit that I mentioned earlier is that the less weight you put on during pregnancy, the less you’ll have to worry about losing after you have the baby. The baby weight comes off much quicker and easier when it’s only 35 pounds you gained as opposed to 60.

Those postpartum weeks are tough enough as it is, not having to worry about losing a lot of baby weight right after can just add more stress you don’t need!

Below are the exact things I did to have a belly-only pregnancy each time!

First-trimester belly-only tips

If you experience morning sickness or pregnancy nausea and can’t seem to keep anything down, then read this post here about treating morning sickness and pregnancy nausea and skip to the second-trimester section of this post. I

f you don’t have much nausea, then keep reading!

If you feel great during your first trimester then follow these tips to keep a healthy pregnancy weight gain in the first few months.

As long as your pre-pregnancy weight is normal, then it is best to gain about 2-4 pounds in your first trimester, you can read more about that here.

The first trimester is crucial to getting enough sleep that you and your baby need and the proper nutrition.

Taking a great prenatal vitamin like this one will help keep you and your baby healthy!

This prenatal vitamin below helped me through all 4 of my pregnancies! It has a good amount of folate (not folic acid) and also didn’t have too much iron that other prenatal vitamins have that can cause constipation.

You want to maintain a healthy amount of weight without overdoing it in the first few months. You may have more food aversions in the first trimester than any other time during your pregnancy, so keep this in mind.

Buy on Amazon Primeeligible

No extra calories are necessary in the first trimester, you should only put on a few pounds in the first trimester and be eating a healthy diet. (source)

Keep Moving if you can!

Do your normal workouts or daily activities that you normally do to keep you moving and stay in shape!

By the time I was on my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th pregnancies, I had no time for the gym!

I just chased my toddlers around at that point and wished I could have some downtime like I did with my first pregnancy!

Regular exercise and activity on a daily basis will help you to easily achieve a belly only pregnancy and maintain a healthy weight with no problems!

Another honest tip for your first trimester- start preventing stretch marks in the first trimester! Trust me, the earlier you begin using stretch mark cream in your pregnancy, the better!

You can read more about how I prevented stretch marks through all 4 of my pregnancies here!

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Second Trimester Belly Tips

I LOVE the second trimester!! This is when you finally feel a little bit more like yourself, have energy again, and aren’t feeling nauseous or crappy all day!

Enjoy every second of this trimester because once the third trimester hits, things get difficult again!

The second trimester is usually when women tend to put the most weight on because they are feeling better.

Instead, take this time to find the best workout for your new growing body and ways to keep yourself active.

My GO-TO workout plan (before I had all 4 children to chase after) was doing yoga and/or pilates at least 1-2 days a week. If I wasn’t able to get a yoga or pilates workout session in then I would go for walks around my neighborhood.

If you can incorporate these two exercise routines in your second trimester, then you will see great results!

If yoga isn’t your thing, then I recommend trying Pilates or Kegels.

Remember, gaining weight is an important part of keeping you and your baby healthy during the second trimester. The nutrition you get for you and your baby should be the most important thing!

The Perfect Pregnancy Plan is my go-to that I send all my pregnant friends to if you’re trying to have a belly-only pregnancy and need some guidance and expertise along the way!

The creator of the Pregnancy Plan knows how to master a Belly-Only pregnancy and shows you the healthiest way possible!

Here is what the Perfect Pregnancy Plan is all about, the exact words from the creator:

“The exercises in The Perfect Pregnancy Plan are far more than just pregnancy safe workouts designed for each trimester.

This workout plan is based on specific strength that you will need for pregnancy to aid in preventing diastasis recti, alleviating common pregnancy aches and pains, preparing your body for an easier labor, helping to prevent or more easily repair pelvic floor dysfunctions postpartum, and strengthening body parts that will be overused immediately postpartum as a new mom (before you are even overusing them).

To say this workout plan is all inclusive is an understatement. As stated before, exercise during pregnancy is extremely important to babys’ health, but this plan is specifically designed for your prenatal needs.

That is the true beauty of this perfect pregnancy fitness plan. It is designed:

To enhance positive genetic expression in your baby.
To prepare your body for the changes and strains it will be encountering, before they become a problem.
To give you a fit and healthy pregnancy.
To prepare your body for childbirth and the postpartum period.”

The best part about the Perfect Pregnancy Plan is that there are 20 workouts and you can choose between Yoga, Pilates, Cardio, or Kegel! It gives you advice for every trimester along with delicious recipes to help you eat healthy!

Also comes with free printables to keep you motivated and guide you along the way! To learn more, click here!

Related: Second Trimester Must-Haves

Third Trimester Tips

The third trimester can get a little difficult and you may have even less energy than the first trimester. My best advice for moms in their third trimester is to do the best you can!

If yoga or pilates are no longer something you can do, at least do some walking every day. Take your toddler for a walk around the block or walk on the treadmill for 20 min.

If walking seems too much then go for a swim! You will feel lighter swimming in the pool and it’s a great way to get your body moving! Do anything to get your blood pumping for a little while.

Here are a few more tips to keep that belly-only pregnancy the last few months:

Try not to eat too late at night. I stopped eating at least 2-3 hours before bed if I was able to. I also ate enough food until I was full and didn’t overeat. Whenever I had too much to eat, I felt awful the next day and didn’t sleep well. If you can monitor these two things that will help keep the extra weight off!
Eat a balanced diet: Focus on consuming a variety of nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. This will provide you and your baby with essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. If you follow the Perfect Pregnancy Plan, there are so many healthy recipes in the program for pregnant moms that you’ll love!
Stay hydrated! I had this awesome water bottle I kept with me at all times to make sure I drank enough water. The more water I drank, the less garbage I wanted to eat because the water made me pretty full. The downside of drinking so much water was how small my bladder seemed so that became an issue. However, if you can drink a lot of water throughout the day, it will benefit you so much!
KEEP MOVING! I know I said this before but trust me, it’s a good idea for pregnant moms to keep moving as much as possible! The belly-only pregnancy program I mentioned above will help keep you healthy and slow down any excessive weight gain.
Get as much sleep as you possibly can! Sleep is one of the most important things pregnant mamas need to get plenty of! I know in the third trimester you will get more uncomfortable but do whatever it is you can to get as much rest so your body stays healthy! Make it a priority to get at least 8 hours of sleep at night! If you didn’t get a pregnancy pillow yet, then NOW is the time you’ll need it the most during your third trimester, trust me!
Work with your health care provider, such as an obstetrician or midwife, who can provide personalized advice and monitor your pregnancy to ensure both you and your baby are healthy.

You may be interested in: Third Trimester Must-Haves I couldn’t live without from a 4th time mama!

Final Belly-Only Pregnancy Tips

It’s essential to understand that weight gain during pregnancy is normal and necessary for the healthy development of the baby and to support the mother’s body throughout the pregnancy and breastfeeding journey.

As mentioned earlier, every woman’s body is different, and weight distribution can vary. Some women may carry the pregnancy weight more prominently in their belly, while others may gain weight more evenly throughout their bodies.

Some women may also experience more swelling in their extremities during pregnancy, which can impact how they perceive weight distribution.

If you have concerns about your weight gain or weight distribution during pregnancy, it’s essential to discuss them with your healthcare provider.

They can provide guidance, monitor your pregnancy, and address any specific concerns you may have.

Best of luck to you mama! Remember, the most important thing is that you and baby are healthy!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send me an email! We will get back to you as soon as we can!

You may also be interested in:

First Trimester Shopping List:

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	San Pellegrino Sparkling Beverage, Aranciata Rossa (Blood Orange), 11.15 Fl Oz (Pack of 12)		Buy Now
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