Why baby bumps seem bigger at night than during the day
- 6 years ago
SUVA, FIJI — With a royal baby on the way, everyone's eyes are on Meghan Markle's bump.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed, though, that the Duchess of Sussex's pregnant belly seemed much more pronounced during a dinner in Fiji than just days before in Australia, reports MSN.
It could be the clothes, but is much more likely to be due to the freaky yet very real phenomenon of pregnancy bumps appearing larger at night.
Birth doula Susannah Birch told Trimester Talk that abdominal muscles holding the baby bump become tired as the day goes on, causing them to loosen up. This allows the bump to expand and sit out further, thus appearing bigger.
The muscles recuperate during sleep, and become refreshed and better able to maintain the bump's position in the morning.
Levels of the hormone relaxin, which causes abdominal muscle stretching during pregnancy, was also found to be highest at night, according to a study published in the Handbook of Biologically Active Peptides.
Women's Health reports that pregnant bellies have also been known to 'pop' seemingly overnight, which is caused by the uterus expanding due to the growing fetus, and rising above the pubic bone. For most women, this tends to happen at around 10 to 12 weeks.
Bottom line, Markle's changing baby bump is totally normal and is just like any other pregnant lady's- not that that's going to stop anyone from continuing to observe it in minute detail.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed, though, that the Duchess of Sussex's pregnant belly seemed much more pronounced during a dinner in Fiji than just days before in Australia, reports MSN.
It could be the clothes, but is much more likely to be due to the freaky yet very real phenomenon of pregnancy bumps appearing larger at night.
Birth doula Susannah Birch told Trimester Talk that abdominal muscles holding the baby bump become tired as the day goes on, causing them to loosen up. This allows the bump to expand and sit out further, thus appearing bigger.
The muscles recuperate during sleep, and become refreshed and better able to maintain the bump's position in the morning.
Levels of the hormone relaxin, which causes abdominal muscle stretching during pregnancy, was also found to be highest at night, according to a study published in the Handbook of Biologically Active Peptides.
Women's Health reports that pregnant bellies have also been known to 'pop' seemingly overnight, which is caused by the uterus expanding due to the growing fetus, and rising above the pubic bone. For most women, this tends to happen at around 10 to 12 weeks.
Bottom line, Markle's changing baby bump is totally normal and is just like any other pregnant lady's- not that that's going to stop anyone from continuing to observe it in minute detail.