6 mos postpartum, big/hard belly

[Anonymous]

I'm almost 6 months postpartum. I was very gradually losing baby weight. In the last couple weeks I've noticed/felt my belly/uterus feeling harder and looking bigger. I even took a leftover pregnancy test a week ago - negative. I ordered some more to come this Friday.
I don't really think I'm pregnant (I'm EBFing although baby has tried some food over the last month, and never got my period), but I'm just not understanding why my belly is looking BIGGER now?
I tried on a pair of jeans I hadn't worn for 10 days or so and they were tighter! It's just my belly.
I'm trying to tell myself that maybe I'm bloated with my period coming?
Eek. We would welcome another baby with joy but I'd never planned to have any this close!

Anyone ever had this feeling and it was not pregnancy? Of course it could be the extra ice creams I ate in Covid quarantine... But would that really go to my belly so fast??

[Anonymous]

Are you using birth control?

[Anonymous]

I got pregnant without having my period in between. My kids are 15 months apart.

[Anonymous]

You need to rule out cervical cancer and other undesirable things.

[Anonymous]

I’d call your OBGYN for an appointment.

[Anonymous]

Ask your doctor?

[Anonymous]

If you are already feeling like your belly is bigger and got a negative pregnancy test, it’s very unlikely you are pregnant. Those can pick up pregnancy hormones so early. Did your belly ever go back to flat? Diastasis Recti, where your stomach muscles separate during pregnancy, can feel like that.

[Anonymous]

This is definitely one for your doctor.

[Anonymous]

My friend conceived 6 months after so it’s entirely possible. But talk to a doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got pregnant without having my period in between. My kids are 15 months apart.

You do realize that it’s not necessary to have your period in order to get pregnant, right? First you ovulate, and then if you don’t end up getting pregnant, you have your period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you using birth control?

My question, too. Ugh so annoying if OP truly didn’t know you can be fertile while EBF even if your period hasn’t come back. Use protection!!!!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Nope, no BC!! Our plan is to have 2-3 kids & then DH get a vasectomy. I got an IUD once with a horrific experience so I'm never trying those again (and never took BC pills/injection and don't want to, again because we do want more kids in the next couple years anyway. Also... No desire for condoms with DH ) So planning on just having DH get that done when we are totally done! We're not sticklers about the spacing so if I'm pregnant we'll just go with it!

- of course I know I could get preg without bleeding period first. It would just be surprising.

- I am feeling some sort of cramping/weird feeling so I actually think this may be me just feeling bloated with my period starting. I am thinking that is what this feels most like - that bloated feeling when your period is starting. It's been 16 months or so since my last period so IDK!!

- but I'll get a pack of pregnancy tests tomorrow and will check anyway!

[Anonymous]

i remember feeling like this at about the same time pot partum. My body really held on to weight while breastfeeding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i remember feeling like this at about the same time pot partum. My body really held on to weight while breastfeeding.

OP here. Ah. Thank you!!! This is why I posted here. Hearing others' experiences when this is all new to me really helps.
Maybe this is just a regular postpartum change... My breasts are definitely regulating in a new way; I used to collect so much excess milk and lately I've been surprised they're not leaking anymore (like letdown on the other boob when nursing).
I just didn't expect to feel bloated when up until now my weight/tummy have been decreasing, and right now there's a definite increase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are already feeling like your belly is bigger and got a negative pregnancy test, it’s very unlikely you are pregnant. Those can pick up pregnancy hormones so early. Did your belly ever go back to flat? Diastasis Recti, where your stomach muscles separate during pregnancy, can feel like that.

No, never went back to flat, but I thought it was just jiggly/fat/loose skin, and it was going down. I definitely have excess belly fat but it's not feeling so soft and jiggly, it's feeling harder and bloated, that's why I was wondering if something is going on with my uterus like period or pregnancy.
No diastasis recti, at least not officially. Just loose & fat!