The question everyone's asking about Duchess Kate's bump

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

The Duchess of Cambridge is starting 2015 off on the right foot - or should we say the right pair of heels?

The expectant mom put in her first official appearances of the year this week, visiting London's Barlby School for the launch of its new Clore Art Room on Thursday, and the next day meeting with staff and families at The Fostering Network, an organization dedicated to helping the 63,000 children in foster care across the UK.

As always, Kate stepped out in style, choosing a navy Madderson London shift dress with cute tweed detailing on Thursday and then recycling a favorite $75 Hobbs silk shirt dress on Friday. She finished off both chic looks with loose, perfectly coiffed tresses and simple black suede heels.

The Duchess' outfits are always a topic of conversation, but this time it's something else that really has people talking: Her bump. Or, perhaps, her lack of one. At 6 months along, Kate is starting to show, but it seems she's not showing quite enough for some.

PEOPLE has given Prince George's mom the award for the 'Most Discreet Baby Bump' of all time, while a Yahoo! headline asks, "Where is Kate Middleton's Bump?"

"Seriously, I was nervous for her first pregnancy and I’m nervous this time around too (perhaps not so much). She is so skinny that I’m always worried she’s not eating enough or the baby isn’t getting enough nutrients," admits one concerned PEOPLE reader. "But seeing as how she has the best care in the world at her finger tips and Georgie came out precious as a lamb, I’m sure this one will go without a hitch as well."

Tabloid chatter usually focuses on celebrity moms gaining too much weight - who could forget all of the awful attention paid to Kim Kardashian and Jessica Simpson's pregnancy curves? - not too little. But is any criticism of a mom-to-be's body necessary, or acceptable?

Take a look around a maternity ward waiting room and you'll quickly realize that all pregnant bodies do not look alike. I gained 30 pounds during my first pregnancy, but barely more than 20 during my second - despite the fact that my nutrition and exercise habits were pretty much identical. Seeing as I'm almost 6 feet tall, 20 pounds didn't make much of an impression on my body. Both babies came out healthy and at normal weights: 7lbs 11oz and 6lbs 9oz.

At 5' 9", Kate is also fairly tall and has a slim build to begin with. She also opts for outfits that don't cling to her shape. Add to that the fact that she suffered horrible sickness for the first many months of her pregnancies and it's not all that surprising that her belly isn't looking too big just yet.

Did you have a big pregnancy bump? Or a "discreet" one, like Kate?

A look at Kate's second pregnancy so far...

Photos: REX USA