You won't be able to hide your pregnancy forever, but many women choose to keep the news under wraps as long as possible.
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Some women want to shout to the world about their pregnancy as soon as they know they're expecting, but others may want to keep it secret or share the news only with close family and friends. Why conceal the baby bump instead of celebrating it? There are a few possible reasons.
First, let's talk about the risk of miscarriage, which is very common in the first trimester. Ten to 25 percent of pregnancies under 20 weeks will end in miscarriage, and the risk increases as a woman ages -- 20 to 35 percent for women between ages 35 and 45 and up to 50 percent for women older than 45 [source: American Pregnancy Association].
Women with a history of miscarriage or who are undergoing fertility treatments may also be shy about announcing their pregnancy because of anxiety or worry about loss.
Additionally, some women, especially if they've already had a baby, begin to look undeniably pregnant as early as their first trimester. Women who show early may want to wait until the second trimester to announce the pregnancy to friends, family and co-workers. And what about those co-workers? Announcing a pregnancy at work can cause stress, and some women try to wait as long as possible to avoid any undue office drama or tension with clients. No matter what the reason may be, until the right time comes, some women choose not to display the baby bump. Here we have five tips that may help camouflage a growing midsection, beginning with belly binding.
