Dealing with the changes...

drkoyya

It’s still early, but our bodies are already changing (whether we like it or not). How are you handling it? Share your experiencing. 

drkoyya

I’m 10 weeks, 4 days, FTM and I can’t get over how much my belly is already changing. I’ve always been plus-sized but I always maintained a figure. Now I have a rounded belly. I’m spending a good 5-10 minutes every morning just staring at the mirror, and then another 5-10 minutes trying to figure out what to wear. IDK when I’ll get used to this. 

shamrocandroll

@drkoyya Friendly neighborhood board police here (kidding).    We will be doing bump pics on Wednesdays for HDBD (Hump Day Bump Day) once they start to show.  Many of us so far are just bloated and don't have actual bumps, so we haven't had one yet, but feel free to start one on Wednesdays each week if you don't see one up and have something to share.  

jrouge12

We can call it Hump Day Blump Day for now! (Seen this on other boards before too!)

drkoyya

@shamrocandroll
Thanks! I didn’t mean for this post to just be about bumps/blumps. I was trying to be inclusive of all body changes. For me, the biggest change I’m dealing with is accepting my growing belly. I’m interested to hear what everyone else is going through. 

*Edited*

I’ll switch it up a little bit. I started this thread because I’m really mentally struggling with my body physically changing. I’m still in a state of disbelief and I’m fighting urges to “try to lose the stomach”. Misery loves company. I wonder if anyone else is having a hard time with their body changes.

ieles2531

@drkoyya it was really difficult for me to accept my body changing during my first pregnancy as well. I had HG with that one and lost 20 pounds everywhere except my belly. It didn’t get any easier either...I have always been petite and having my hips spread five inches was hard. It wasn’t until my DD was born and I realized what a badass thing my body did that I chilled. I will say that everything went back to normal and my DD was 9 pounds even. 
With my second pregnancy I just didn’t give an F about all the changes because I knew they were temporary...and they were. 
Now with pregnancy #3...give me all the brownies. 
The moral of the story is: your body is doing something incredible. OF COURSE there are going to be changes that make you feel fat, unattractive, whatever. It’s way easier said than done to just accept the changes and roll with it, but I promise you’ll be way happier if you do. 
Also. No shame in maternity clothes at this point. I am also 10+4 and I busted out my mat jeans a month ago! Be comfy!!!!

lajoliedreamer

@drkoyya - my last pregnancy I was very self-conscious of my belly and the weight gain in my face and thighs. I’m really trying to give myself permission to relax and enjoy this pregnancy more, but it’s still been very hard not to feel uncomfortable with my body, especially because I started heavier than my last pregnancy. The mental health part of pregnancy can be rough and is definitely not discussed enough, thanks for starting this thread!

@ieles2531 - even though clothes have been tough since week 6, I have resisted pulling out my maternity stash. I know I’d be more comfortable if I did, but I’m just not ready yet!

ieles2531

@lajoliedreamer I got pregnant this time 6 months postpartum so things are definitely just not as tight 😂 I actually went into mat clothes later with #2 because we were one and done so I’d started working out and my abs were amazing. I knew this time that I’d try to get pregnant basically as soon as I started ovulating again so I didn’t bother with the intense PP workouts I did after #1. I was barely out of mat clothes before I went right back in. 

pirateduck

I am having a hard time mentally.  I feel fat and out of shape.  I accept that I will grow and gain weight, but I didn’t realize I would be sooooooo tired every day when I get home from work that I don’t feel like I can handle doing anything.  Since my normal exercise routine is now nearly non-existent it makes me feel like I am slacking and being lazy and getting fat because of this.  I know I need to rest and listen to my body and logically I know I will gain weight being pregnant but it’s not a bump yet and just makes me feel out of shape and disappointed in myself somehow currently.  I am now the heaviest I have ever been in my life and it makes me uncomfortable.  Add the acne on my chin to that and the awkward way my clothes fit.  

Another thing is my growing boobs.  I’ve always had small boobs my whole life and I am used to this.  Now my husband has noticed the increase in size and is excited about it but I currently have zero sex drive and they are killing me so I don’t want them touched.  This is a complicated thing I never anticipated.

mdfarmchick

I want to chime in here for a minute and say, @ieles2531 is absolutely right... at the end of this journey all of our bodies will have done amazing things and grown another human. Something to be proud of. 

Also, this is the first trimester. It’s kind of the crappiest one. No one knows your pregnant. You are judging you so of course everyone else is judging you. There’s morning sickness and all these big and little changes but nothing really to show for it other than a “I ate too many burritos belly.” 

Give it a few weeks. The second trimester is a pretty good one. Most of us look and feel kind of cute and pregnant, a lot of the first trimester blahs go away, people know you are pregnant, you start to feel the baby moving around.

The third trimester is long and we all are at the point where we just want a squishy baby and to have “our bodies back.” 😂 

Anyway. My point is, this trimester sucks but it does get better and there’s something worth it all at the end. So be kind to yourselves. 

TattoosandLace

Thanks for this @drkoyya! 

I’m struggling with body changes and the weather. We went from upper 90s to a high of 36 (F) this week and the congestion, gross drainage, and general feeling like crap that is happening really sucks. My husband is taking DayQuil etc and I’m over here like.  Cool. I’d love to feel better. 

Obviously I recognize that it’s better for LO to not take certain meds and I’m clearly not going to. Just the fact that it’s harder to take care of my body during weather changes sucks. 

drkoyya

@TattoosandLace That’s the worse! Hopefully the weather starts to cooperate and you start feeling better soon.

allywat

This is my third pregnancy and I feel like my uterus is a ridiculous size for how early it is. I can already feel everything getting squished together and uncomfortable in there.

lizm1234

My husband always laughs at me because I never notice my weight changes.  About 5 years ago I  lost a lot of weight.  I never really noticed other than that my clothes got too loose.  

I haven't noticed much other than the visible veins on my breasts.  They may be fuller too.  *TMI* my nipples are always at attention, and especially hard at night. 

I've never had much in the hip area,  but feel that they look more rounded.  I'm not too upset about gaining weight.  I'm just upset that I'll probably have to buy a new winter coat.  

ieles2531

@TattoosandLace my DH works in the ER so we’re snotty from October to April. About the only thing I’ve found that works is slathering my whole chest with Vick’s and then taking a 15 minute shower. You’ll smell like an old lady all day but it could be worth a shot. Also...we’re still in the low 90s here and will be for another month. I’d almost sell my soul to be able to wear a sweater to hide my belly!

@allywat ME TOO. I thought #2 was bad but dang. 

lajoliedreamer

@pirateduck - totally with you on the boob issue. I’m less than a AA usually and only barely filled my A-cup bras with my last pregnancy. This one I’m already pushing the limits of AA and H is loving the extra swell while I mostly don’t want him near them. 

Linsbins

Some of the changes do get a little easier to deal with once you get a bump. It’s this awkward stage where I just look bloated and beer belly ish that’s hard to dress and hard to feel cute about. 

Amyface813

I have never felt more confident than when I had a 2nd tri, early 3rd tri bump. It’s cute and you don’t have to suck it in. Things are still comfortable. But yeah. This bloat is not my favorite. My pants hurt but my maternity pants don’t fit right either.

Amyface813

@lizm1234 I never bought new coat with my other pregnancies. I had a built in radiator on my front and wore scarves and buttoned my coat above my bump. I live in MN and we have some of the coldest winters. You should be able to get away without a new coat unless you really just want one or if you work outside or something I suppose.

lajoliedreamer

I bought a coat that is a size bigger than my normal which I used to babywear DD and will pull out when my coat doesn’t work anymore. I’m really hoping my long winter coat gets me through most of the season, though!