Duchess of Cambridge Sports Bigger Baby Bump Ahead of Third Child’s Birth

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, has been known for her impeccably streamlined figure throughout her pregnancies.

However, as she prepares to give birth next month to her third child, she is sporting a comparably bigger baby bump than she did with Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Photos show that in the late stages of her previous pregnancies, the Duchess barely looked pregnant.

However, during her recent official engagements, she has displayed a blooming figure.

Ailey Dilkes, a former midwife and clinical director at the Women's Health Clinic, explains that most women who have given birth twice before will have bigger bumps in subsequent pregnancies.

“Each pregnancy will have its own differences and similarities, but we do expect ladies to have bigger babies the more children they have,” Dilkes said.

“This is mainly due to the body simply knowing what it needs to do in terms of making space for the new arrival, and that it has become adept at making sure the baby is adequately nourished.”

During a woman's first pregnancy, the body uses hormones to make changes to accommodate the baby.

As the rib cage widens and the uterus expands, it can take time to establish a real bump.

By the second pregnancy, the rib cage has already widened, giving the uterus plenty of time to expand and the baby to pop out more quickly.

In subsequent pregnancies, the body has a sense of muscle memory, so patients often report digging out their maternity genes almost as soon as the test turns positive.

Dilkes added that some women may notice that their breasts also become bigger in subsequent pregnancies.

“Our bodies really are miraculous, so regardless of whether or not you have breastfed previously, your breasts will still prepare to feed again,” Dilkes said.

“Mothers who have breastfed before report that they usually experience earlier leakage simply because their breasts know what they're doing.

Breast tissue is similar to tummy tissue, and if it has stretched previously, then it is easier to accommodate enlargement for the next pregnancy.”

Another reason for Kate's different shape could be the way the placenta is sitting.

The location of the placenta can change with each pregnancy as the egg can attach anywhere within the womb.