Body image

SarahShref · January 2015

I am 14 weeks pregnant with my first and I am starting to get a bump. I've always had 5 pounds extra of weight in my midsection. My question that I have for you all is to see if anyone else is struggling with body image issues. I don't feel attractive just that I am extra chubby in the belly now. Anyone else have these feelings. I'm excited for my belly to start to look pregnant vs the awkward stage that I feel I am in now.

inLOVEalready715 · January 2015

Try to focus on the amazing stuff your body is accomplishing for your baby right now. Those big bellies will come soon enough. Most of the time I feel great about my little belly when I'm home and DH and I are always feeling my fundus (top of my uterus). But what your feeling is normal, last night we went out to dinner with friends and I was disappointed trying to find something to wear. I'm so in between and just ended up feeling frumpy. When we got home I ordered a couple of maternity tops, not struggling to find something that fits right is going to help me feel better about my changing body. If I could wear my yoga pants everywhere life would be perfect!

rachellemons · January 2015

With my first I felt better once I was clearly pregnant and not just pudgy. But LukyDuky7 is right. Nothing prepared me for what I looked like right after I had my son. This time around I'm trying to be easier on myself.

CANTW82BMOM · January 2015

I can totally relate, for me it's not so much the pregnancy making me feel this way it's just the fact that I've gained a lot of weight in the past 4 years (nearly 50 lbs), add bloat on top of that and I just don't feel good about myself at all. DH has always been supportive but I feel like there's no way he can still be attracted to me. It sucks.

Anyway, hang in there and try not to be too hard on yourself. I'm working on taking my own advice.

bluepie19 · January 2015

I am a FTM and I was already over weight and had a stomach before I got pregnant. Now I look like a gained a ton more in my stomach. My DH is so sweet because even when I feel bad about how I look he reminds me that I'm pregnant and that I'm still beautiful!

I still do have this fear that I'm going to become fat and ugly. Just take it one day at a time.

sumtyler · January 2015

I'm 16 wks and still at the In between stage. I'm also a FTM so it's hard for me to go from being at a healthy weight to looking like I've just gained weight and pudgy vs actually looking pregnant. I feel frumpy most days but keep reminding myself im pregnant and things aren't going to fit like they use to! Once you have your baby it'll all be worth it! I also keep telling myself that lol

babyd1102 · January 2015

I agree 100%. I've never had a good self image and was always working out to combat all the junk food I ate, now it's even worse. I'm too tired to work out as much and unable to work out as hard as I use to but still eating like crap. I obviously knew before getting pregnant that I would gain weight but I didn't realize how hard it was going to be to actually see/feel it happening. I'm trying *so hard* to accept and love the changes but I'm finding it hard. I've been eating healthier now that I'm in the second tri but I still have unhealthy eating habits. It's my own fault.

SarahShref · January 2015

Such great advice ladies! Good to know that others feel the same!!

claudia3059 · January 2015

I'm a FTM and before I was pregnant I would get frustrated with my pregnant friends whenever they would say they felt fat. I just couldn't conceive of how someone who was doing something so natural and essential to being a woman as growing a baby inside them would feel self concious about their body. Of course you're bigger....there's a human being in there!!!
Well...now I just can't seem to take my own advice. I'm 14 weeks and was about 10 pounds over weight going into pregnancy. On my small frame it was a lot and since getting pregnant I've gained about 7 pounds. I hate how everything looks on me and I can't stand how clothes fit me...even maternity clothes. Before this my best attribute was my flat stomach which now looks like an over inflated bike tire with a nice layer of blubber on it.
So I'm still working on taking my own advice and not taking weight gain so seriously...but It's a work in progress.

qtjo5 · January 2015

I have always been happy with my body so to be honest, I don't have any concerns with the weight I've gained so far. I am 16 weeks and have almost 10 extra pounds on. I know everyone is different so I really don't get bent out of shape over it.

I wouldn't stress too much unless your doctor has a concern.

LoveLach · January 2015

I'm a FTM as well, and I was already over weight when I got pregnant. A few years ago I was diagnosed with PCOS, and I've been battling with my weight ever since. I've lost nearly 50lbs since then, but now that I'm pregnant that number will go backwards a little bit. I've been determined to keep my weight under control during the pregnancy, so that I don't gain too much back. So far I've been able to maintain my weight, which both me and my OB are very proud of! (She doesn't want me to gain more than 10-15lbs during my pregnancy)

My DH has been very supportive and encouraging. He's made sure I've had everything I've needed to support a healthy diet, and he'll spoil me with the occasional treat. I'm trying to be positive about it all, but I've never had a healthy self image. He makes me feel beautiful everyday, and for that I'm extremely grateful.

But I do feel a lot of pressure from family and friends. I have a cousin who is pregnant as well, and she's a skinny little thing with a cute bump (she's due in March). And she posts pictures on Facebook that I'm super jealous of. I don't know if I would ever have the guts to post pictures like that, so I've refrained from taking them at all. It kind of sucks, but nobody wants to see my "bump". I just look like I've gained weight, haha.

inLOVEalready715 · January 2015

On Wednesdays we do hump day bump day (HDBD)...we can all share our bumps together...you should be proud of your bump no matter how big or small or lop sided.

LibbyC730 · January 2015

10-14 weeks was tough for me because I felt chubby and bloaty instead of pregnant. I started wearing maternity pants then...why are not all jeans this comfortable?!
DH is loving the changes and that seems to help me, especially since the bump is finally starting to show up! As PPs have said, your body is doing an amazing thing!

daniellehoying · January 2015

I am 14 weeks & in the past week or two I've been feeling the same way. Before work the other day I changed my outfit 6 times before I found something I was comfortable in.
It's a beautiful thing & I love that I know the baby is growing bc I am growing, but I agree, I'm ready for strangers to be able to tell I'm pregnant instead of looking like I spent too much time at the dessert table during the holidays.

littleschmidt · January 2015

When I can't breathe because my pants are too tight, I like to think- there are worse things than being a little chubby. I'm healthy. Baby is healthy. And I'm not a terrible person... Just a little bloated

BabysMomma4 · January 2015

I understand how you're feeling! I've struggled with bulimia for 4 years. Came out of nowhere back then and I've done really well at healing for this pregnancy, but it's hard to see the weight creep on. Just as others have said, keep the healthy baby in mind and it will all be worth it! We can work out to get back in shape afterwards!

kate5all · January 2015

It's so tough, especially with all the distorted and photoshopped images we see of womens' bodies in the media. It feels like the images I see of pregnant bodies are even more edited and carefully curated!

A while ago I pinned a "Flattering Your Body in Every Trimester" article. I just reread it this weekend, desperate for some tips on making this mushiness in my stomach look good. The first trimester was all about drapey, flowy, figure-obscuring tops. The second trimester went straight into pictures of women with huge, definite bumps. Because, you know, you obviously come out of the gate in the second tri looking hugely pregnant, right? Right?

MrsRuby2012 · January 2015

I've definitely had some body image issues this second time around. Like a couple of the previous posters, I've gone in to this pregnancy about 7-10lbs heavier than with my first (even though I lost all the baby weight the first time around...but then I let it creep back big time right before getting pregnant again with vacations, family parties, etc.).

My husband wanted to share our news sooner, but I kept holding off because I kept feeling bad about feeling like I"d have to explain "I'm only 8 weeks pregnant, but I just look like I'm 16." I finally told one friend last weekend who had been suspecting I was pregnant. She said "I knew it, so what are you, 20 weeks?" And I said no, 13. and then proceeded to feel bad about myself. A friend in our close group of friends just had a baby in November. She wore pre-pregnancy skinny jeans into her third trimester and a non-maternity dress to her baby shower. So that's the most recent image I have of a pregnant person in my day-to-day life.

But this weekend, I finally gave in to pulling out my maternity pants (which I was okay with since my goal was to make it as far without them as I did the first time around - I don't know why, it's stupid) and it made me feel great. Without anything cutting into my 'bump/blump', I felt like I was getting a nicer round shape rather than a muffin top. And I've also felt more bump-ish and less blump-ish the last few days. So I think things are coming along! As I'm feeling these changes, I'm getting more and more excited and feeling better about myself

JenzRas · January 2015

I'm 12w4d and about 30lbs overweight. Yesterday I literally cried to dh because "I'm fat, and it isn't even pregnancy fat." So i guess you could say I was a little emotional yesterday! I got a pregnancy workout dvd but I have just been too tired to do anything. Hoping I can get a little motivated soon.

shay4cavs · January 2015

For me it's not easy when your body goes through changes, especial weight gain. The hardest will be early pregnancy and after birth. You have to be positive and think of the person you are going to be afterwards. Once you really start to form a bump and start to feel more motherly it will be a lot more comfortable and happier emotions. Best thing I did was set goals after the baby. You will find a way to bring back the old you and incorporate your new lifestyle. Hope you feel better hun!

mrsbeachcat · January 2015

Definitely getting sick of looking like I ate a giant burrito for lunch but I'm trying to hold out another week or so before I start unbuttoning my jeans. I haven't gained any weight yet (will be 16 weeks in two days) and am trying to keep my total gain under 25lbs since I'm already on the chubby end of normal for my 5'9" frame, but my boobs have already gone from a nice B to a FULL D. I feel like I'm going through puberty all over.

Koalaknuckles · January 2015

^ I hear ya on the boob thing.

Mine were DDD before I got pregnant and now they're out of control.

My best friend is also pregnant, and the last time she saw me her eyes flew open she said, 'Holy BOOBS Batman' to me before she even said hi.

Forget a bra, I think I might need some actual scaffolding.

Struggling a little with my body image, because I was already chunky before I got knocked up.

But my boyfriend is highly attracted to my pregnant body, so that helps.

Even though he calls me 'Ol' Preggers', which would be a throat punchable offense coming from anyone else but him.

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