Body Image

laurack · October 2011

Since the 2nd tri board contains a large range in terms of how far ladies are along in pregnancy, I thought it would be a good place to post.

I was just wondering, at what point (weeks) in pregnancy did you begin to "embrace" and love your new body? I've always considered the pregnant body to be beautiful and been very excited to have one myself and wear cute clothing, and relish my new shape. (I am a FTM)

However right now I just don't like how I look. I assume it's because I am in that "in between" stage where i don't look pregnant yet just like I let myself go. I'm just curious as to what week about I will begin to feel more comfortable in my own skin, enjoy my changing shape etc. Its not like I go around all day thinking about it, or am filled with self loathing or anything. Generally I feel good and I know I don't look "hideous" or anything. But I catch a glance of myself nekkid when getting dressed and I'm a bit shocked/sad. I feel a bit guilty for feeling like this, like I shouldn't be so vain! But I can't help it. I've always taken good care of my body with healthy eating and exercise and now it is a bit strange to see large bewbies and a saggy "beer" gut when I'm getting dressed!

I assume in about another month or so I'll look legitimately pregnant and start enjoying looking at myself nekkid again...? But I'd love some feedback from other ladies about this.

Hubby thinks I look beautiful and says I am silly to be shy about my naked body, but I have a hard to equating what i see in the mirror now with being MY body. It's just a strange time!

salt78 · October 2011

Honestly I don't think I'm ever going to be used to it. I know this is all for the greater good, but weight gain of any kind doesn't sit well with me.

I'm just excited for her to get here so I can work on getting my body back.

messfam07 · October 2011

My DH says I'm beautiful no matter what but for the first 17 weeks i was ugh. But I started to show a bit early at 24 weeks people think i am full term but i know if a couple weeks i am going to hate my body again. I feel huge already.

gothgrrl · October 2011

I do not like a pregnant body, especially on me...at the same time I am excited about starting a family with my best friend. I am pretty sure this will be my first and last pregnancy, though.

teacherlindz · October 2011

There are good days and bad days for me. My DH loves the way my body looks, but most days I hate it. It's not just that I am retaining water and my face looks chubby (I have only gained 6lbs, so it seems like I wouldn't look much different), but it's the look of my very round and short body all blown out that makes me cringe! LOL! Like a PP post said, it's all worth it though because I know I will be holding my baby boy so soon! Therefore, I have decided to stay away from full length mirrors as often as possible...unless of course, it's one of those rare good days in which I love my pregnant body.

jessicaanabel · October 2011

I think the best you can do to cope is to just eat healthy, work out, and try to remember it's 9 months, not forever. This is coming from someone who dealt with an eating disorder in her early twenties, and had induced labour because of IUGR. I know it's hard to see the weight come on, but really, you're pregnant, so you will get bigger, you know? For me personally, sometimes I find getting dressed to go out a bit stressful, and I hate going to the gym and not being able to push myself, but then I remember that this phase isn't forever. It's really something you just have to come to terms with, because there's no way to have a healthy/happy pregnancy if you feel ugly all the time.

lilmisssunshine84 · October 2011

salt78:

Honestly I don't think I'm ever going to be used to it. I know this is all for the greater good, but weight gain of any kind doesn't sit well with me.

I'm just excited for her to get here so I can work on getting my body back.

This is exactly how I feel My husband tells me I look great, but..... sometimes I don't feel like that.

dfoley1111 · October 2011

At 20 weeks I still do not like my pregnant body shape and I doubt that will change the rest of my pregnancy. I have lost my body confidence so I'm not sure how DH feels about my pregnancy shape but our sex life is definitely lacking (my fault). Like Salt said, I'm just focusing on getting rid of the weight after baby gets here. Other pregnant women look beautiful but the look is just not working for me.

beachbunni307 · October 2011

salt78:
Honestly I don't think I'm ever going to be used to it. I know this is all for the greater good, but weight gain of any kind doesn't sit well with me.
I'm just excited for her to get here so I can work on getting my body back.

These are my thoughts exactly.

Charlyne · October 2011

At 20 weeks I definitely have a very clear baby bump, I've had a bump since about 18 weeks and before that was bloated so I looked like I had a belly so I never really got that moment of "pop" and the belly's there. Every pregnancy is different, though. While I'm not in love with my shape, I definitely see I'm "blooming" rather than just fat and DH loves the way I look. So far, I've been lucky and most of my weight seems to go straight to the belly with some going off the hips/thighs but I still appear to be fairly slim overall.

Basil27 · October 2011

with my first pregnancy it just never happened. I felt ugly and fat the whole time. This pregnancy (2nd) things are going better and I am actually bigger this time round since I hadnt lost about 10lbs from my first preg. but I just decided to be happier this time and not worry so much and so far it has worked. Last time I didnt buy any maternity clothes so I never went anywhere. This time I dropped like 350 bucks on maternity clothes which is sooo out of my usual. Normally I wouldnt do that for me for normal clothes let alone clothes that I will wear for like 5 months. but I knew it would help me feel good to have cute clothes to feel comfortable in and then I would go out more to family and friends parties and seeing people and getting out of the house would make me feel better. fyi I had post par. depression last time and I realize now that I was always depressed during my pregnancy so I am trying to make a solid effort to do things that will make me feel happy.

Basil27 · October 2011

with my first pregnancy it just never happened. I felt ugly and fat the whole time. This pregnancy (2nd) things are going better and I am actually bigger this time round since I hadnt lost about 10lbs from my first preg. but I just decided to be happier this time and not worry so much and so far it has worked. Last time I didnt buy any maternity clothes so I never went anywhere. This time I dropped like 350 bucks on maternity clothes which is sooo out of my usually. Normally I wouldnt do that for me for normal clothes let alone clothes that I will wear for like 5 months. but I knew it would help me feel good to have cute clothes to feel comfortable in and then I would go out more to family and friends parties and seeing people and getting out of the house would make me feel better. fyi I had post par. depression last time and I realize now that I was always depressed during my pregnancy so I am trying to make a solid effort to do things that will make me feel happy.

kiarstin · October 2011

I dont mind my body right now, its not perfect, I see areas I am gaining that are from me not being as active, not eating as well, that are not baby related. That sometimes annoys me. I am more fearful of after pregnancy or near the end when the stretchmarks come. I will never be ok with them. Some people embrace their new bodies, their battle wounds. I doubt I will. Sometimes I get sad knowing I will never again where a 2 piece (unless by divine miracle my stretch mark prone body doesnt get them) I don't think I will ever be happy with my body the way I was before But I will be happy in a new better way too. Kinda of a trade off, one I was ready for and planned for.

laurack · October 2011

Darn i was hoping everyone would be coming in with beautiful stories of loving their swelling belly and newly fat arse, feeling amazing, magical tranformation in attitude and suddenly not caring about such trivial things as flab and sagging... etc. hahaha. I guess womanly body issues don't just go away because of the magic of carrying a little one.

I wonder if I'll get stretch marks and varicose veins. I've already noticed my butt looks a lot more cellulite-y in changing room mirrors!

I am glad to hear others also struggle with this. I know I'm going to gain weight, I'm pregnant and I'm eating like a horse so it's inevitable, but i just thought I'd "deal" with it a bit better. I do feel a bit guilty for even caring, but I think it's probably pretty normal to care about that quite a bit.

pinksandbermuda · October 2011

I'm 15 weeks and struggling with this is bit.

My roots are growing in (had it colored once already, trying to space it out as much as possible)

My boobs look like wierd torpedoes

I just look chubby and exhausted. I'm waiting for the "glow" to kick in. Also, I was so tired the first three months I feel behind on my projects. Between working more hours to make up for it, and less energy, I put very little effort into my appearance these days.

Want a personalized experience?

Body Image

Re: Body Image

Choose Another Board

Search Boards