In our MD series, we tap top doctors and medical experts on commonly asked questions during pregnancy and postpartum. The goal? To give you some peace of mind during this time so you can sit back and enjoy the ride.

Dear MD,

I’m 14 weeks pregnant and I feel like I literally popped super early. Most of my other preggo or mom friends said they could still wear some of their looser-fitting pants until deep into their second trimester. I, on the other hand, am already onto full-blown maternity clothing. The other day while I was running errands, a woman asked me if I was due this summer, with triplets! I’m literally due in late fall. Is this normal? Help!!!

– Poppin’ and Not Stoppin’, Brooklyn, NY

Dear Poppin,

“OK so the reason why most people pop earlier is typically when it’s not their first baby. Once you’ve had a baby already, your abdominal muscles (your rectus muscles) have gotten stretched out from the first baby. So in the morning, your muscles are typically taught and then by the later in the day or by the evening, they’re stretched out as gas and bloating makes your abdominal wall stretch out and you look much more pregnant. But it’s not because the uterus or the baby is any bigger than your first baby. 

The only other reasons why some people pop earlier than others are just pure anatomy. If you’re very skinny ,then your uterus relative to your actual abdomen and pelvis is going to pop out earlier than if you’re heavy where your fat layer is going to camouflage things. Also some people’s anatomy – whether or not they’re heavy or thin – just varies and the “front to back diameter“ doesn’t seem to pop out, and the baby seems to grow more sideways so they get broader. None of this is scientific, these are all just observations of course. Bottom line is do not worry.”

– Dr. Shieva Ghofrany, OB-GYN