When a woman becomes pregnant, she is expected to go through various changes regarding not only mental states but also physical traits.
One of the most pressing concerns for mothers-to-be is whether their hips become larger now that a baby is inside the womb.
Hence, the question “Do your hips widen during pregnancy?” remains among the top frequently asked. If you ever find yourself wondering the same, get ready for the answer in this comprehensive guideline.
Do Your Hips Widen During Pregnancy?
Yes, hips expanding during pregnancy is no myth, but the truth. As soon as you start bearing a child, the ligaments inside the body are loosened up.
As a result, the center of gravity reaches a lower point for the mother to walk around safely and comfortably while the bone structure keeps adjusting to accommodate the growing fetus.
So when do hips widen during pregnancy? For most women, the process begins within the first trimester. Here, your uterus and womb will grow in size alongside your hips and the ribcage.
5 Physical Changes Brought About By Pregnancy
Apart from hips widening early pregnancy, childbearing can be the cause for several differences within a woman’s body.
Breast Size And Appearance
After the first few months of your pregnancy, you will notice how larger and bigger your boobs become. The growth is bound to last throughout the entire pregnancy, and it only stops once you have already given birth.
Since the skin tissues cannot keep up with this fast-growing rate, expect to have red and white stretch marks running across the surface.
When you stop breastfeeding your kid, the breasts are expected to reduce in size as the milk no longer bulks up there. But the sudden fat loss under the skin tissues might lead to sagginess, making some breasts look floppy and drooping.
Feet Size
Pregnancy hormones are responsible for your swollen feet. A particular substance called relaxin unbinds the feet ligaments, making the bones expand. While postpartum recovery may allow women to get rid of this, some have to endure the change for the rest of their life.
Darker Body Parts
The rise of estrogen in your body causes the melanin in the skin to increase, leading to darkened skin areas. Some of the most affected include labia, moles, nipples, and areola.
Hair Loss
When you are still pregnant, your hair is bouncier and has more volume, mostly thanks to pregnancy hormones. However, as soon as the chemicals drop, the hair loses its main source of nutrients. Subsequently, limb and falling hair become prevalent.
Belly And Thigh Stretch Marks
Stretch marks happen when a woman gains too many weights and the skin tissues are pulled from all sides. When the stretch marks first develop, they have distinctive red and pink shades.
Over time, the color fades, and the stretch marks turn into white, silvery stripes instead.
FAQs
1. How Many Inches Do Hips Widen During Pregnancy?
There is no definitive number on how larger the hips become once a woman gets pregnant. For some people, it can be as few as 2 to 3 inches. But for others, a hip that is 8-inch wider is not uncommon.
Since this does not dictate the baby’s health, you should not be worried even if your hips appear to be broader or narrower than other pregnant women.
2. What Week In Pregnancy Do Hips Widen?
The majority of women report a visible change in the size of their hips after 10 to 12 weeks. But if you are carrying a pair of twins or a triplet, the timeframe can alter slightly.
3. Is Hip Pain Normal For Pregnant Women?
Yes. Feeling a sharp pain in the hips is natural due to unexpected weight gain and hormonal changes. When your joints become more fragile, it is easier to get hurt.
While the discomfort is a frequent occurrence, you should never force yourself to go through the injury without any kind of assistance. There are several pregnancy-safe, soothing painkillers, or you can take advantage of a warm compress or heating pads.
Another solution is wearing a pelvic belt, which is an accessory designed to support the extra heaviness on a woman’s hips. Finally, regular stretching and yoga exercises can reduce the pressure placed on the hips, reducing aches.
4. How To Stop The Hips From Hurting At Night?
Sleep positions have everything to do with pain prevention. When lying on either side, use a piece of cushioning blanket at your back to lean against it. Place some pillows under the upper leg and your calves to release the burden for extra comfort.
Further watch: The best sleeping positions for pregnancy.
5. Do Hips Return To Normal After Pregnancy?
Many people are under the impression that weight loss after pregnancy means the hips will automatically return to the initial shape. But this cannot be further from the truth.
Since your hips are widened due to different pelvic bone structures, the hips are likely to remain the same size even when you have already given birth.
If you want to realign the hips and make them smaller, a process called hip binding must be performed during the first 8 to 10 weeks of postpartum ecovery.
Here, you are required to wear tightening pads that narrow the circumference of the pelvic bones and stabilize the connecting joints. If done properly, you will notice how your hips resemble their pre-pregnancy shape in no time soon.
Conclusion
Now that you have finished the article, the question “Do your hips widen during pregnancy?” should no longer boggle your mind. Rest assured that while this situation does happen, it is completely normal.
So worry not about bigger hips and steer your attention to other more important aspects of childbearing!
