I love to learn. I spend much of my free time scanning articles, reading Blog Posts, or listening to Podcasts on topics that interest me. Information is abundant on the internet regarding almost all aspects of pregnancy; sleeping hacks, what to pack in your hospital bag, postpartum recovery, etc. However, body image and pregnancy are rarely discussed in conjunction with one another. Yet, they are undeniably connected – in my opinion.
A woman’s body undergoes many physical, emotional, and hormonal changes during pregnancy. My gym shorts started to feel tighter around week six because of bloating. And breast growth! I was not prepared for that lovely development. Then, slowly, throughout the weeks, my body has continued to grow, and grow, and grow. Yes, my body (not just my belly). As my body transformed to become a home for a baby, my mind started to ridicule itself for falling short of achieving what I thought was the ideal pregnancy figure.
Body image is all about perception. Body image is about the emotion, thoughts, and feelings that the physical representation of our being elicits within us. One’s relationship with his/her/their perception of self is unique and deeply personal.
If you scroll back to previous Blog Posts, it is no secret that I have struggled for years with my own perception of my physical self. For as long as I can remember, standing naked in front of the mirror meant scanning my raw and exposed frame for blemishes, defects, and inadequacy, leading to a life struggle with body dysmorphia and anorexia athletica.
Given my history, it is natural for one of my ‘pregnancy fears’ to be terrified about my body image during pregnancy. Obviously, priority #1 is a healthy baby. Still, I do not want to slide into old habits of negative self-talk, the desire to control, and just making poor choices.
Around week 16, I kept asking Kody if I looked pregnant or fat because when I looked in the mirror, I thought I looked like someone who’d indulged in a few too many desserts over the Holidays.
I had a habit of calling myself fat for a couple of weeks. Kody, lovingly, told me that fat was no longer a word we would use in our house. He explained, “What if Poppy called themself fat? I know you wouldn’t allow our child to talk about themself that way. Our child will learn how to love themself from watching and listening to you.”
A few weeks after that, I pouted as I threw clothes out of my dresser, trying to find any tank top that wasn’t too tight that I could wear to the gym that morning. Aside from the weight gain, my skin started to change dramatically. I’ve never worn makeup, and I’ve been blessed with a clear complexion (even through puberty)… until now. My cheeks are permanently rosy, and it looks like approximately seven zits could surface at any time.
The second trimester is strange because you, as the pregnant woman, notice how round you are becoming, but you don’t necessarily look pregnant. Regardless our fears are real. They are our reality within our perception of self. It’s okay to struggle with those fears. It’s also necessary to embrace them, work through them, and then let them go.
Three Ways To Love Yourself During Pregnancy
- Stop comparing yourself: Everybody and every body is different. It’s difficult not to compare yourself to friends and family members who are slim and slender. You know, the type they don’t look pregnant at all from behind and keep their chic figure with just the tiniest, cutest baby bump. Every pregnancy is different. Trust that your body is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. Have faith that your body and the baby’s body are working together in harmony.
- Nourish Yourself: You cannot control the transitions of your body throughout the pregnancy or even the size of your bump, but you can control how to nourish your body. I’ve noticed that if I select healthy food choices, I am less likely to be lethargic, have negative self-talk, and be more pleasant to be around.
- Express Gratitude: Take a step back and acknowledge how seriously incredible it is to be growing a human inside of you. It is normal to feel insecure, have fear, and have bursts of anxiety. Instead of getting caught up in worries and uncontrollable factors, focus on gratitude. Remember that there are women out there that are dying to be in my position right now. Show your body love by taking care of it, nourishing it from the inside out, and being gentle with how you talk to yourself.
I was told the other day, “You look beautiful pregnant.” Those four words meant everything to me. I will never again engage with a pregnant woman and not disclose those four simple words to them.