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2nd Trimester
Pythia1022
member
Body image issues?!
Pythia1022
member
Sometimes I think I'm being too self-critical...but It seems no matter how many times I tell myself that all these body changes are for the better, and that they won't matter once the baby arrives...I get so depressed lately whenever I see myself in the mirror! My nipples have gotten much bigger and very dark, and stretch marks are appearing around them. I weigh more now than I ever have in my entire life! So far my belly has avoided stretch marks, but I'm sure they're just a few weeks away, despite the constant cocoa butter rubbing... My skin is still broken out like it has been since first tri...my vision changed so I'm still waiting on contacts to arrive, in the meantime I'm stuck with my big old glasses...and I've still got half-way to go, so the changes are going to keep happening; really looking forward to the swollen ankles, more weight, engorgement...I can't wait to hold my baby, but I am SO over being pregnant! I've resorted to avoiding the mirror when I'm changing, and shopping online because it stresses me out too much to be seen in public. My guy assures me that he thinks I'm as beautiful as ever, but I can't shake the feeling that my body is being "ruined."
Does anyone else feel this way??
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Re: Body image issues?!
This is my 2nd pregnancy and i felt the same way the 1st time. Dont worry soo much about the weight...eventually you will lose it. We cant do anything to avoid stretch marks just keep your skin moisturized. Enjoy your pregnancy as much as you can.
I'm only 14 weeks and have already gained 15 lbs...oh well. What can I do? lol!
Yup. I could have written this myself. I'm noticing stretch marks on my boobs that make me want to scream. My belly is breaking out like a teenager's face. It's really FUN!
Most of my friends with kids keep telling me that they don't have a single stretch mark and I'll be fine too if I keep moisturizing. Righhhhhht.. It does make me feel better that it's a normal part of being pregnant and that others are going through the same thing.
And when I get really down, I just remind myself that baby is healthy and that's all that matters.
No, sorry, not to be a b!tch, but I feel more beautiful than ever knowing that I'm carrying my little boy.
Frankly, I don't give a damn if my extra fat jiggles or I'm getting stretch marks. Knowing that there's a cute little human living inside of that stretched body makes me feel gorgeous. If you don't feel beautiful you won't look it. That pregnancy glow comes from within, in my opinion.
this is how i felt with my last pregnancy. i was in awe of how my body was changing and thought it was really beautiful. this time around i'm less excited about it, mainly because i feel like i just got my body back after the last baby and now i'm blimping out again.
I agree that it's sort of hard to watch your body do these things. But, as others said, at the same time, I embrace it. It's sort of beautiful to see our bodies do all of these special things, things that only we women are capable of, and only for a certain period of time in our lives.
When DH and I first decided to start TTC, I made myself understand that this was it, by moving forward I was accepting that I probably wouldn't come out the other side with the same body. However, in return, DH and I would be fulfilling one of the biggest dreams of our lives and obviously it would be so worth it. It sounds silly but once I had that talk with myself, I felt better and it has helped me accept all of these physical changes.
DH is still crazy attracted to me and sometimes I say, really, even with this big belly? He says, yes, you're still smokin and it even adds an element of attraction and sexy womanliness. I also eat pretty well (although ice cream is a daily occurrence
) and go to the gym regularly to do weights and cardio. All of those things help me feel like a cute pregnant woman. I accept that my body will be all crazy afterward, but most of the weight will drop off after birth and breastfeeding, and if DH's cousin can get a rockin hot body from gym workouts in less than a year after her daughter was born, so can I!
Like everything else in pregnancy, it effects every woman differently. i think it is especially hard if you were happy with your body before pregnancy. Seeing it morph into something you don't recognize can be alarming, but it is what it is. Try to focus on some of the positives...do you have great hair right now? nails? Are you enjoying not having to "suck" your belly in all the time?
i'm right there with you. i was really happy with how my body was before, and now (even though i told myself these things would never bother me) i feel my self-esteem taking a huge dip. i hate to look in the mirror when i'm getting ready for a shower. it's not so much a fear of not being able to lose this weight, as it is a struggle to adjust to this many changes in my body this fast. my husband tells me he thinks i'm beautiful and sexy, but it's hard to believe when you can't zip up your boots b/c your legs have gotten bigger or somebody comments on how much your butt has grown. and i agree, that being told "it's ok, you're pregnant" does not help.
the one thing i've done that's helped a bit is to dress up. even if i'm just meeting a friend for coffee or stopping by my parents', i'll put on a nice outfit, fix my hair, and put on some makeup. it's nothing too extravagant, but enough to help me still feel good about myself.
Even though I'm not one of the "lucky" ones. I get stretch marks on my boobs, belly & thighs, nor do my pregnancy weight melts off in a month, I still love my body. Yeah, it's bit lumpy in some places and the belly still has 5 months left to grow - but it's a small price to pay, IMO. plus, I don't think of it was "my body" anymore, baby will use it as he pleases.