Plus Sized & Pregnant

amy006 · January 2014

I'm sure every woman worries a bit about how she'll look pregnant, but as a plus-sized woman, I'm really worried that I won't actually look pregnant, just like I've gained a bunch more weight... have any of you had experience with this in the past?? It's so hard to find pictures of overweight pregnant women online...it's just flooded with photos of Kim Kardashian! lol

beckynsean11 · January 2014

I'm also plus sized & I've thought about this some. When I think back to other plus-sized friends' pregnancies, they all looked like pregnant women at some point. It usually was around 7 months, but they all got to a point where it was clearly baby belly not just belly belly.

LisaKF3 · January 2014

I was a size 18 when I got pregnant. The top part will get a firm and it took a bit of time for the bottom to firm up but yes, you will definitely look pregnant! This was me at 39w

henderson1026 · January 2014

I guess I'm borderline plus-size, about a 14/16 and I carry my extra weight in my belly. at 16 weeks I was more rounded on top, by 20 weeks you could tell it was a bump and not just fat anymore, but the bottom of my bump stayed really fatty, I never had the basketball shape, it was round on top and then flabby.

Irisheyes1247 · January 2014

I am a plus sized lady, and I am very short waisted. I definitely looked like I had a few too many donuts for a while but once a belly popped, I think it was fairly obviously that I was pregnant and not just gaining weight. The waddle probably helped.

henderson1026 · January 2014

20 weeks

AccioKittyCat · January 2014

I have this exact fear. I'm a 16ish and worried that I'll just look extra heavy. Thanks for starting this thread!

AngelicaMCoffel · January 2014

I've been struggling with this due to gaining some newly wed weight and I've alwAys been on the heavy side right now I'm sitting in a 12/14 but I lost a bunch before I got married and I just wanna look pregnant... My husband gets frustrated but this is my first and I wanna look cute and I already feel bloated and gross.. I'm dealing but it's a challenge for sure... Plus I have high blood pressure so the extra weight isn't the best thing for me...

LisaKF3 · January 2014

I will say that I've always read you pop sooner after you've had a baby. I have a slight firm little bump right now but the bottom still super flabby/soft/moldeable.

Katie6126 · January 2014

Great thread, I am in the same boat. Size 18 here. I got a pregnancy journal and it has room to post a belly picture each week. I've been trying to come up with creative ways to put something else in the picture slots because I don't WANT belly pictures until I actually LOOK pregnant... or at least until I look pregnant BECAUSE I'm pregnant. :P

camichael84 · January 2014

Katie6126 said:

Great thread, I am in the same boat. Size 18 here. I got a pregnancy journal and it has room to post a belly picture each week. I've been trying to come up with creative ways to put something else in the picture slots because I don't WANT belly pictures until I actually LOOK pregnant... or at least until I look pregnant BECAUSE I'm pregnant. :P

I'm the same way with belly pictures. I don't want to take any until I've got an actual bump, and it's not just my flab that makes me look pregnant.

I'm about a size 18. I carry my weight in my stomach as it is, so I'm not concerned that I won't look pregnant as I get farther along. I do wonder if my weight will cause me to show earlier or later as a result. And I also think I'll look humongous by the end.

brittneyandadam · January 2014

I've been thinking about this too...I'm a 16/18 and was getting kind of bummed thinking that ppl would just assume I'm gaining more weight instead of looking pregnant. Mostly of my fat is in my belly.
And yeah...I'll be waiting to do belly pics too...:-)

mana8503 · January 2014

Katie6126 said:

Great thread, I am in the same boat. Size 18 here. I got a pregnancy journal and it has room to post a belly picture each week. I've been trying to come up with creative ways to put something else in the picture slots because I don't WANT belly pictures until I actually LOOK pregnant... or at least until I look pregnant BECAUSE I'm pregnant. :P

YES THIS! My friend has been posting all her flat belly pictures. She's finally showing a little bump at like 24 weeks. She's like TAKE A BEFORE PICTURE. I'm like uh, no. I do not want this bloat belly documented. Give me like 2-3 months.

Thanks for showing all the cute baby bump pictures! You all looked adorable!

Hedgesbm · January 2014

I'm in the same boat, I am a size 18 and this is my third baby (EDD: 9/12/14).. I didn't gain that much weight with my daughter (2nd baby) and I am going to try and do the same. Eat healthier and walk and try and drink ALOT of water. Thank you for posting this... I have nothing but really small girls here that are pregnant with me and they all look so cute with their small bellies.....

Sending prayers for us all for Safe and Healthly pregnancies and deliveries

JSS1002 · January 2014

I'm plus sized and pregnant with #2 -- the nice part was that for a long time I was able to just wear loose clothes and use the rubber band trick on my jeans, and I could hide it until I was ready to tell. And then I DEFINITELY looked pregnant. I was lucky and felt pretty cute throughout my pregnancy, I controlled my weight gain really well, and I think was eating better than in my non-pregnant life (plus not drinking). When I look at pics of myself pregnant, I feel like I looked better than I normally do. Ha!

Don't sweat it, just take care of yourself and enjoy this special time!

brachysira · January 2014

I am size 14 and I sure did not want to take before pictures of my naked belly... But otherwise, I ended up looking pregnant and wore a lot of cute clothes that showed off the bump and would otherwise show off the lumps so that was nice. I know some thin women who gain in bad places and look like they are just obese and not pregnant even at the end, and I know some slightly overweight women who look more toned in the legs and behind when pregnant. I must say that there are other things to think about tho... When I was pregnant, I had GD, high blood pressure, HG, the works, and I think a lot of it was due to my poor health to begin with. Quit soda and start walking just in case you might be prone to struggle like I did.

Shanadoll · January 2014

This is my concern too! I am a 18 but with being so bloated I can't even fit into those sized jeans anymore

I am terrified that I won't look pregnant. I want it so badly lol

DH is crazy with wanting the belly pictures. He wanted them weekly and I didn't want them at all. We finally both compromised on monthly pictures. We took my 8 week picture a week and a half ago and I guess it's nice to get a "before" picture but I don't think I am going to like taking them until I actually get a bump.

Plus everything that goes along with being plus sized and pregnant... I had lost 35lbs before getting pregnant but I am still a big girl and it has definitely added to my stress over this. Like I am not doing absolutely everything possible for my little miracle. Just trying to relax and enjoy every aspect of this

Coliepie717 · January 2014

Hello ladies....I'm new to this but I am so glad that I found this thread. IM currently an 18 and I took my first belly pic despite wanting to hide, lol. I'm already feeling bloated and gross, which doesn't help being the size I am. Can't wait for this belly to look likes baby belly and not like a fat one

firewife0309 · January 2014

I was a 14 when I got pregnant with DS1 and I started looking pregnant at 22 weeks.

BabyMayinMarch · January 2014

Im a 14-16 and it wasn't too obvious until I was closer to 29 weeks. I felt like I was showing early, but most people cant really tell for a while (plus most people err on the side of caution when it comes to asking about pregnancy).

icaughtfire · January 2014

I was a 16/18 when I got pregnant the first time & I started looking pregnant and not just fat around 20 weeks. By the end, there was no denying it was a baby belly. I'm about 10-15lbs heavier than I was when I got pregnant 5 years ago, with more belly fat due to my previous pregnancy. I'm interested to see what my bump will look like this time around. As a side note, one thing I did notice is very rarely did strangers ever ask me about my pregnancy, probably not until the last month or so. I noticed the looks, but rarely did someone have the nerve to ask. I'm sure they were terrified I'd say "What do you mean? I'm not pregnant..."

Kateysomething · January 2014

I will see if I can dig out some bump pictures! I'm 22/24 and it definitely took a while to show, and I do think people err on the side of caution when asking - I know I do!
ETA: Found one, 35-36 weeks

iam3jenn · January 2014

I am a 20 (22 with this bloat that is going on), and I thought about that as well. I feel really puffy with this bloat!

teacher02 · January 2014

I'm an 18 and this has been weighing on my mind as well. I feel vain about it, but I want to look cute and have cute pictures. We'll see. Once I found out I was pregnant I completely changed my diet and have been eating super healthy. So, if I don't look great, I at least feel a little better.

RobynD99 · January 2014

@firewife0309 Aw that's a super cute baby bump! I hope mine looks like that :-)

amy006 · January 2014

Thank you all for sharing! Everyone has such cute bumps...I feel better now :P And I am totally with some of you on not wanting bump tracking pictures...I will gladly do some around 30 weeks but that's good enough for me! Also glad to know I'm not the only one suffering from this bloat thing...yikes! Fortunately I lost some weight before getting pregnant so I was already eating better and exercising so it's just habit now. I am worried about my blood pressure though..

itsagalsworls1024 · January 2014

I am in the same boat with all of you ladies, I am an 18 and wanted to lose weight for our wedding in2015 and before we had babies... I am going to embrace my bump whenever it shows up. Thank you all for putting up your beautiful bumps!

firewife0309 · January 2014

Thanks @robynd99!

dreamystarrbaby · January 2014

I'm a plus sized mommy. i am starting at a size 16/18. just lots a bunch of post baby weight from my son. and when i started with him i was a 18/20.

with both my daughter and my son i was plus sized and i looked VERY pregnant. my son was a big boy and my daughter not so much but she wasn't tiny either. my sister was also plus sized when she had her babies and she was at a 22/24 when she got pregnant. she didn't look very pregnant. except when the babies would move. i also think this depends on how you carry your weight. if you're all thighs/butt/boobs then you're going to show in your stomach a little differently than someone who carries all their weight in their belly.

We should defiantly keep a plus sized mommy check in. I think it will be good. the other to boards I've been apart of haven't done that yet.

amy006 · January 2014

dreamystarrbaby said:

I'm a plus sized mommy. i am starting at a size 16/18. just lots a bunch of post baby weight from my son. and when i started with him i was a 18/20.

with both my daughter and my son i was plus sized and i looked VERY pregnant. my son was a big boy and my daughter not so much but she wasn't tiny either. my sister was also plus sized when she had her babies and she was at a 22/24 when she got pregnant. she didn't look very pregnant. except when the babies would move. i also think this depends on how you carry your weight. if you're all thighs/butt/boobs then you're going to show in your stomach a little differently than someone who carries all their weight in their belly.

We should defiantly keep a plus sized mommy check in. I think it will be good. the other to boards I've been apart of haven't done that yet.

Great idea! There are a lot of health concerns that come with it too and it would be great to have other women to confide in who are in the same boat!

DogfishHead · January 2014

I was a 12 when I got pregnant with DD. Not really considered plus size, but I am only 5'2", so I am definitely chubby.

This was me at 20 weeks with my hubby on vacation in Charleston, SC. Definitely can tell it is a baby bump.

kayemgi · January 2014

Thank you to all the ladies sharing your bump pictures! I've been worried about this too, and I hate hate hate that I'm worried about being a "cute pregnant girl." I should just be happy to be pregnant. I mean for heaven's sake, we are growing tiny humans! But I definitely wanted to track the pregnancy with photos and I'm super upset that my before photos will look like a fit girl's 20 weeks. Oh well. Nothing I can do about it now, and like a lot of the other ladies have said, I'm eating healthier now than I was before and I'm not drinking, so maybe I won't gain as much weight as I fear. Let's try to be supportive of ourselves and each other on this journey!

coffee bean · January 2014

I love everyone's pictures too!

I'm also worried about this. I was a size 12/14 when I got pregnant with my daughters (twins). I've always carried my weight in my legs and butt (pear shaped) and I definitely looked pregnant.

I'm still 40 pounds heavier than I was when I got pregnant last time and a 16/18 now. Definitely not looking forward to bump pics. I'm trying really hard to keep walking and not eat with reckless abandon this time around.

This is me at 28wks and 36wks the last time around!

purplestarz · January 2014

I'm a size12ish, and 5'8". I know I could stand to lose some weight, but I Just learned at my first appointment that I'm (barely) in the "obese" category. Well that's just a real mood lifter! Lol

elisemays · January 2014

@coffee bean I started as a 12, immediately went to a 14 after I found out I was pregnant and the bloat kicked in, and I just found out I'm having twins! I'm about 2 months in and have maintained so far - when I thought it was 1 I was going to shoot for 10-20 pounds weight gain, but now that it's twins I feel like all bets are off. I was so terrified of what I would look like, but your pictures make me feel a ton better. Every woman is different, but I hope at 36 weeks (God willing) I look as wonderful as you!

wrightpalomo · January 2014

So I'm a 12 currently, but I was a 16/18 a few years ago. This is my first pregnancy so I don't have experience being pregnant at my heavier weight. I do NOT have flat tummy so I won't be able to take those super cute barley-showing bump pics. I was wondering how to take some before shots and I remembered that when I was heavier I went on a spring break trip and took some shots from in-between my boobs (bathing suit on, no shirt) down toward my feet while lying on my back to get my legs and feet with the cute beachy background. The pictures came out cute back then so I've been doing that every week (in a bra and skinny jeans) to "track my bump" in a way that doesn't highlight my flab and stretch marks. Depending on how you carry your weight this might work for you too.

Abby+Chris · January 2014

For those that don't want/feel comfortable taking belly pictures I have always thought it was neat to go to the grocery store and take pictures of yourself with the fruit/veggie your baby is measuring like...

Abby+Chris · January 2014

For those that don't want/feel comfortable taking belly pictures I have always thought it was neat to go to the grocery store and take pictures of yourself with the fruit/veggie your baby is measuring like...

coffee bean · January 2014

elisemays said:

@coffee bean I started as a 12, immediately went to a 14 after I found out I was pregnant and the bloat kicked in, and I just found out I'm having twins! I'm about 2 months in and have maintained so far - when I thought it was 1 I was going to shoot for 10-20 pounds weight gain, but now that it's twins I feel like all bets are off. I was so terrified of what I would look like, but your pictures make me feel a ton better. Every woman is different, but I hope at 36 weeks (God willing) I look as wonderful as you!

I gained 65 pounds with the girls and they ended up pretty big for twins - born at 38 weeks, A was 6lb 11oz and L was 5lb 13oz. The 65 pounds was not all baby weight, that's for sure! My advice would be to try to keep active, but also play it safe wherever possible with twins and listen to your body. I was part of a great twin moms group and there were so many that gave birth starting at 26 weeks and it's so, so scary. You certainly can't control everything, but it's better to be safe than sorry when you can. I'm not beating myself up for gaining the extra weight. Only for not losing it since.

Good luck! PM me if you have random questions - I'm happy to answer!

purplestarz · January 2014

@Birch113, I had an initial visit today and they calculated my BMI. Based on your BMI, they recommend the following weight gain, but gave a little disclaimer about how every pregnancy is different and your body will do what it needs to do, blah blah blah

BMI less than 18.5 - 28-40 lbs
18.5-24.9 - 25-35 lbs
25-29.9 - 15-25 lbs
Greater than 30 BMI - 11-20 lbs

Sorry if that's hard to follow, I'm on my phone.

If you're not sure of your BMI there are lots of websites that will calculate based on your height and weight.

minervam830 · January 2014

I was 186 when I got my first BFP. There are weekly pics on my blog if your interested (link below). I never lost all the baby weight so I was 203 with this BFP. I am also worried about this

. The good news, my maternity jeans mold my tummy jiggle nicely so I actually look farther along that's I am. I agree that there are not enough maternity photos of plus size women out there. Nor are there enough resources for plus sized maternity clothing. I think I may look into this more and figure out how I can help change that through my blog. I do encourage everyone to do weekly photos. I know many women, of all sizes, last time who didn't and regret it. No one else ever has to see them, it's just a great way to look back after. I started at 12 weeks last time, I am only about 5 weeks now so I may start doing them when we have our first sono.

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