Baby bumps come in all shapes and sizes. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I was more fit, more active, and overall had a smaller baby bump. My son, however, brought on bed rest and killer cravings for junk food.
The end result was a baby bump that took years to eliminate. While there are some factors beyond your control, such as the size of your baby, there are plenty that is within your control to help you keep your belly smaller while pregnant.
While the baby will still grow, resulting in a baby bump, there are plenty of things that you can do to keep your baby bump on the smaller end. A large part of this is controlling your weight while pregnant.
It’s important to maintain a healthy pregnancy weight. Staying fit will also instantly help you lose fat instead of holding it in your middle area, which often contributes to a larger baby bump.
In this article
Pay Attention To Portion Size
If you’re trying to figure out how to keep your belly bump small, you’re going to run into quite a lot about what you eat. That’s because avoiding extra fat while you’re pregnant is one of the key answers to how do you keep your belly bump small.
While you’re now eating for two, that doesn’t mean that you need to double your calorie intake. Instead, you need to listen to what your body says. Simply eat when you’re hungry.
If you find that you’re not hungry very often, eat small snacks throughout the day to ensure that you get plenty of your vitamins and nutrients through your food.
Paying attention to portion size is also a good rule of thumb to follow when it comes to cravings. Instead of sitting down with an entire bag of chips, put them in a bowl.
Don’t make portion sizes larger than your fist to help satisfy cravings while curbing the extra weight that can make your belly, and other areas, significantly larger.
Stay Hydrated
Being dehydrated can actually help you pack on the pounds, and encourages your body to retain water. This is because your body does not have enough water, so it attempts to hold on to whatever it can.
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When you’re pregnant, you already gain a certain amount of weight due to water weight, but staying hydrated can keep that at a minimum.
To stay hydrated, make sure you’re drinking 8-12 glasses of water daily. Fruit juices are another great option, but it’s important to limit them because they contain extra sugars and calories.
Other great ideas for staying hydrated if you’re not a fan of plain water include:
- Fruits that are primarily water, such as watermelon
- Gatorade
- Propel water
- Water with lemon in it
Not only will this help you avoid excess weight gain, but it can also give you more energy. That extra energy will help you feel like going for a walk around the block.
Diet and exercises are definitely a couple of the answers to how do you keep your belly bump small.
Eat Healthier
Eating healthier is beneficial to you, your baby, and your waistline. You will both look and feel better. Your baby will develop at a healthy rate and your baby bump will be all baby!
Instead of processed foods, grab a banana or handful of grapes when you’re in the mood for a snack. If you’re trying to determine how to keep your belly bump small, this is an important tip to remember.
Don’t eliminate carbs or crash diet, though. Instead, stick with the primary food groups. Opt for lean meats, fruits, and vegetables with every meal. Then, enjoy bread on the side.
Dairy should also play a big role in your diet. Both you and your baby need plenty of calcium! By simply avoiding junk food, you can trust that you’re not going to put on excess weight.
Exercise Regularly
There is nothing stopping you from exercising while you’re pregnant! In the first trimester, you can still do sit-ups and crunches just like you used to.
As you get further along, doing these exercises might put a strain on your belly. Laying on the floor to exercise can also be extremely uncomfortable.
That doesn’t mean exercise is out of the question, though. There are plenty of exercises that pregnant women can still enjoy. Running is often a matter of personal choice.
Some women find it uncomfortable while others continue to run throughout their pregnancy. Swimming, walking, and jogging are all wonderful exercises that are usually considered comfortable by pregnant women.
Before enjoying an exercise routine, it’s important to make sure that it is approved by your doctor. Some activities, such as lifting weights, will not be approved as pregnant women should not lift heavy things.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask your obstetrician if a particular activity is safe.
Get Plenty Of Rest
When you don’t get enough sleep, it affects the levels of stress hormones in your body. The end result is that you will gain weight more easily than if you were getting plenty of rest. Unfortunately, it’s harder to sleep when you’re pregnant.
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Try A Maternity Pillow
If you’re uncomfortable in every position, try a maternity pillow. These pillows are big, fluffy, and comfortable. They provide support to every area of your body at the same time, which is necessary for being comfortable while you’re pregnant.
- UNIQUE DESIGN & ERGONOMICAL- The U shaped body pillow lets you get a good night of sleep throughout your pregnancy. Its uniquely designed to follow the natural shape of the pregnancy mom but good for any one,long enough for you to stretch out and support for both back and front.
- PAIN RELIEF FOR A COMFORTABLE SLEEP- Our Customers have been using this maternity pillow effectively for back pain and 3rd trimester pain relief with fibromyalgia, sciatica, gastric reflux, congestion, carpal tunnel syndrome, eliminate tossing and turning, ME etc.
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Write Down What Is On Your Mind
If stress is keeping you up at night, writing it down can help get it out of your head. Keep a notebook and pen beside your bed. Then, every time that those anxious thoughts creep into your mind while you’re laying in bed at night, write them down.
You can think about all of that later, after a good night’s rest.
Avoid Spicy Foods
The one thing that kept me up at night with one child was heartburn, especially in the third trimester. The only solution was to avoid foods that caused heartburn, like spicy foods.
If something upsets your stomach or causes heartburn, avoid it if possible. If not, eat it earlier in the day so it does not disrupt your sleep at night.
Maintain A Regular Sleep/Wake Cycle
Going to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time every day will help your body get used to having time to sleep, and a time to be awake. This can work wonders towards helping you fall asleep at night.
If this is a new idea, try it for two weeks. You’ll be surprised by the results!
Avoid Stress
Stress is known for making us pack on the pounds. I was in a five-year relationship once. I couldn’t lose weight to save my life! (It was a very stressful relationship.) As soon as we broke up, the pounds just started melting away.
This is because stress increases the production of certain hormones in the body, mainly cortisol. This makes the body hold onto fat instead of making it easier to lose it.
Increase Your Self Care Routines
Self-care goes a long way in not only reducing stress but reducing the weight gain that comes along with it. Make sure to get dressed every day, even if you’re not going anywhere.
Designate a day for face masks, and don’t neglect your skincare routines. It can be hard to take care of yourself through morning sickness and being uncomfortable in later trimesters, but it’s even more important when you’re pregnant.
Self-care will help you make sure that you’re a priority, which will also encourage healthy eating.
Having a baby-only belly is possible. Throughout your pregnancy, stay fit, stay active, and take steps to decrease weight gain to make sure that you don’t wind up with an enormous baby bump that is more fat than a baby.
