As some of you have seen in the FB album, the belly is starting to protrude a bit. I actually look pregnant now instead of just bloated or chubby. (Of course the maternity clothes help with that part.) I’ve truly embraced the bump and am proud to display it. However, I have conflicting reactions to people telling me I’m starting to “blossom.”
The main comment that gets me a little hot is, “Your face is getting rounder,” usually followed up with “and you’re glowing.” I’m probably glowing from the irritation radiating from my face. No woman, pregnant or not, wants to hear that they’re getting rounder. I expect the belly to get rounder, but I don’t want any other part of me to really expand. Yes, I understand this is a natural aspect of being pregnant, but I keep thinking of all the hard work I put in before getting pregnant to not be round. And it doesn’t help when I have friends that are pregnant or recently gave birth that didn’t change much other than the basketball they were smuggling under their shirts. That really gets me.
I guess it’s just my own insecurities that I’m learning to deal with. I need to remember that I can always work to get the little extra weight off if it doesn’t go away with birth (or the recovery time). I need to remember that there is a very good reason to be expanding in all the places I am. I am not any other woman or body. I am special. And I’m starting to blossom.
Something that helped me knock off all 20 lbs I gained during pregnancy in the first two weeks was breastfeeding. Breastfeeding burns at least 500 calories a day, so you would be amazed at how quickly the weight comes off. I was overweight before pregnancy, so I had the challenge of only gaining the weight of the baby, uterus, fluid, etc...nothing more. It was tough because all I wanted to do was eat junk and vegetate. I think you look beautiful and I am loving the belly pictures on facebook. Has the rubbing of the belly started yet? That always rubbed me the wrong way (no pun intended).
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