Parents said my maternity photos were “erotic”

[Ttcgirl89]

I had maternity photos taken on the beach when I was pregnant. I live in Australia and am from NZ and recently my parents came to visit us and meet our baby. I was looking through photos and my dad said that the maternity photos were “erotic” and my stepmum agreed. My brother asked what we were talking about and my Dad was like “you don’t wanna look at them, they’ll make you blush”.

I sent the photos to them after I had them done months ago and I thought they were so lovely and special. They were taken at “our beach” where my husband and I swim in summer I am wearing a dress in all of the photos and my bra is covered, with the buttons down the front undone to show the belly. My husband and I don’t see anything erotic about these photos at all and I was shocked that they thought that. I feel really awkward and embarrassed now that I sent them to them if that’s what they thought about them!

Is this a weird reaction to seeing your daughter’s maternity pictures?

There is an Aussie and NZ board, but I imagine most Australian respondents are like me and will never have seen them happening at any Australian beach we've been to.

I could be wrong ...

This made me laugh. You're spot on. Anything more than quiet existence is attention seeking, entitled and a breech of the boundaries of others.

When I see a class photo of a group of school kids, I go OOH THEY THINK THEY'RE SO SPECIAL, THEY THINK THEY'RE THE FIRST KIDS EVER TO ATTEND SCHOOL.

I have always felt very uncomfortable whenever people show me their pregnancy photoshoot images if a bare belly is on display. There's a level of intimacy in photos like that which I don't think needs to be shared with people. I can completely understand why they may be considered erotic and I understand why your dad probably felt very uneasy about looking at your photos.

Just a regular picture in your ordinary clothes would be fine? Happy and blooming? It doesn't need to be a "photoshoot" or particular outfits.

In that case you have put a different aspect to it and I can see why you may want to share with loved ones overseas who do not get to see you, but, (there's always a 'but') perhaps more tasteful to keep the skin covered?

Have you had the baby yet? Knowing you are growing a much wanted new human being is special and don't let anyone tell you differently. 🙂 I wish you all the best for a successful and drama-free delivery.

And yes, I like your sense of humour and grace, too.

No you don't, because you know that a class photo is a school memento. They're in their school clothes, in the hall, with their teacher and classmates, smiling. It's the very opposite of an intimate portrait!

😂😅😂

Are you 12?

Some of these responses are massively giving Regina George! If you want maternity pics, then have at it. I just think some people get a bit weirded out by bare pregnant bellies because it feels a bit intimate (you only have to read the awful misogynistic comments written about Rhianna when she was pregnant). People are just odd a bout pregnant women full stop OP. I’d enjoy your pics and try to brush it off!

I live in Southern Europe, I know that pregnancy photo shoots are common. Baby belly has to be exposed because that is the point.

Your family have learned about a modern trend. I would move on.

I’m very much in the UK and know several people who have had maternity shoots. They are generally quite boho or ethereal. I think the photos are gorgeous.
its weird to find them erotic, yes.

🫣😂

Weird thread. Nothing lovelier than a pregnant belly, and nothing icky about documenting it.

I’d reply with “if you think that’s erotic, wait til I show you the video of us putting the baby in there” 🤔😁😁

Don’t get upset about it, I’m sure they were lovely

Must be an Australian thing. I can’t remember the last time I even saw a pregnant woman never mind every evening and I live close to a (albeit an English one) beach.

@bumbaloo you get the point.

I do. Although I don't agree.

do you apply your thinking to all pictures or only maternity pics?

Just maternity pics - although I do get bored of having to make admiring noises when being forced to look at hundreds of wedding and birthday pics too. Why maternity pics? Well, only those showing nakedness or partial nakedness. Not because I'm in any way prudish - we all have a 'human body' in various shapes and sizes. Just keep your belly skin covered, please, if you want to share.

My personal opinion, is that pregnancy is an intimate time (apart from when you're being poked and prodded by maternity services). It's almost a 'sacred' time. The conception, pregnancy and birth is for the loving parents-to-be; their own personal time of intimacy.

It's a whole new topic, but it's ironic (to me, at least) that in a time when everyone is open to everyone - so much sharing on Insta and social media; yes, the 'look at me and my perfect life' stuff, the baby showers; the public reveal of the sex even before the baby is born - all that 'look at me' attention seeking stuff (and if that's your thing, good on you, just don't expect everyone to buy into it). After all that, the moment the baby is born - everyone needs to stay away because "I want my own special baby bubble time" - no visitors! Nine months of 'look at me', then 'don't dare look at me - I want to be alone - I don't want to share'. To my way of thinking, it's after the birth you need the 'village' to gather round to celebrate, support and help.

You see I don't mind seeing someone in a crop top showing their bump, if that is part of an oufit they would wear when non-pregnant, getting on with life, as long as the top fitted properly and wasn't so tight it was riding up and the whole bump was on show.

Your photos sound really nice. It’s weird of your family to say that. Are they (a) awkward generally or (b) were just having a laugh and that’s banter for your family? Usually people would know just to say “how gorgeous!”.

Anyway now you know not to send them the newborn photoshoot pictures of you breastfeeding. I had to self censor my own ones as my breasts were like a size GG when I was breastfeeding lol and even I thought those particular shots were a bit much 🤣🤣

Maternity & newborn photos are so normal and just a lovely way to remember a special time so don’t listen to the sour pusses on here @Ttcgirl89

I'm in my 70s - when I was pregnant in the early 80s you disguised your bump, smock type tops etc - people would have been horrified if you'd worn a bikini or shown a bare bump. There were swimming costumes but they had a skirt bit from the bust to hide the bump. Perhaps they are looking at it from this point of view and just haven't caught up with modern attitudes.

To be fair, @OP if the buttons down the front are undone to show said bump, that is a perhaps 'racy', isn't it? like your DD alluded to. Full bump, bare legs maybe a glimpse of underwear..i can see why your dad said what he said. Also do you own the beach? As you said 'our beach' in quotes, that sounds marvelous, if not, I don't get the specificity of that in relation to the said eroticism.

I’m sure you looked beautiful, OP, and congrats on the bump!

I must say this is something I would file under ‘things other people do’, like wearing a bikini or budgie smugglers in front of your parents.

Maybe a western Australia thing? I've never seen it on the east coast beaches.

Oh gosh a bare belly! Whatever next!!!