- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
2nd Trimester
KRISTA555
member
Why are [many] old people so grossed out by pregnant bellies?
KRISTA555
member
I honestly don't get it. I mean, I know that they didn't grow up seeing pregnant ladies with form-fitting shirts, two-piece swimsuits, or even bare belly photos, but why is it so repulsive to them? Has anyone gotten a clear answer?
My mom & dad, who are both close to 70, are so grossed out by pregnant bellies. I asked them why, and they couldn't really give me a clear answer except that it's gross. I said, "It's not like it's fat. It's a baby in there." and they didn't really say anything in response.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Why are [many] old people so grossed out by pregnant bellies?
My baby is two!!! Baby girl 9/17/09
My other baby is still a baby! Baby Boy 11-30-11
The moo moo thing is true. I was born in 1974 and my mom says that even just that far back you weren't supposed to let it 'show' that you were pregnant. The maternity clothes were all about HIDING the fact that you were growing a baby.
Men certainly didn't want to be a part of that (there were lots of exceptions though my dad wasn't one of them). Men didn't even go into the delivery room.
Maybe it's because it implies sex and stuff. The baby comes through the vagina. IDK, it's the way it was back then. Since it is in the past it's easy for us to make fun of them.
My theory is that it's modesty concerns left over from a time where women went into confinement to hide their offensive stomachs. The obvious reminder of your sexual encounters is considered crass.
They also tend to think:
1. Exercise is too stressful for pregnant women
2. After the birth you should be laid up for weeks
3. Breast feeding is for third world countries
Holy Cow I would go CRAZY!!
My husband's Grandma told me with my first to stay in the hospital for as long as possible so I could rest and the nurses could take care of the baby in the nursery. She stayed for 2 weeks with each of hers. The hospital my MIL gave birth at sent a nurse home with you for 2-3 weeks.
I was ready to go the next morning and didn't want anyone in my house "helping". To be fair, I think the wealth of information on the internet really helps new mother's be more secure in their abilities and they didn't have the same information available at their fingertips.
As for the shirt thing, I actually enjoy ticking the old women in my office off by wearing the tight maternity shirts when I'm bigger. In their cases it's jealousy that I get to wear tight shirts over my huge belly and they have to hide their own. ;p
This is what my mom told me. She said you were not even allowed to show your bump on TV, even in the 1980's.
** Our TTC Journey Blog **
** Our Pregnancy Blog **
TTC for over 3 years. After several infertility treatments, we received our first BFP!!
It really is just a cultural thing, particularly with an emphasis on the female body, and how it is shown, or not shown. For the most part, up until the last few decades, the female form was NOT something to be seen, it was to be hidden from everyone except her husband (and maybe not even then). And what is more indicative of the female form than a pregnant belly? It's the same way they looked at low-cut shirts and hip-hugging jeans when those came out. Even in the 90's, women were still hiding their bellies under huge shirts. Showing off pregnancy is very new, it'll just take them a while to get used to that. They may never approve (my grandparents still grumble at my v-necks) but they'll eventually get there.
I think older people were just used to keeping their bodies much (much, much) more private. Especially female bodies. All medical research and studies used to be done exclusively on men. I remember reading in the book "The Female Brain" that when the author asked one of her professors why more studies didn't include women, he answered that a woman's menstrual period would "mess up" the results. Apparently, something that happens once a month to half of the population was not considered "normal" for the sake of scientific research.
My parents aren't "grossed out" by pregnant bellies (they're both in their 50s), but they do think it's funny that people get maternity photos taken. My dad commented that the only pictures of my mom while she was pregnant are purely "incidental," ie - she was at someone else's birthday party and happened to be pregnant at the time, so there are a few pictures of her while she was pregnant.
Another random odd fact - people from older generations also consider the word "cancer" to be taboo and shameful. Years ago, if someone had cancer, you didn't tell anyone (including the person who had cancer) what the diagnosis was.
Does anyone remember when Lucy was pregnant on I Love Lucy?
She wore a tent like dress where there was zero hint of any sort of bump.
Showing off and being proud of your pregnant belly is a newer concept.
In college, I did a paper on the portrayal of pregnancy in the media, and I talked about "I Love Lucy." When she got pregnant, the producers were planning to cancel the show! She had to argue with them to convince them that she could still do the show and just have the character be pregnant. When they finally agreed, their stipulation was that the word "pregnant" would never be used by any of the characters in the show. How weird is that?
I agree with all of this.