Pregnant body

[autumnberry]

I am feeling miffed about my pregnant body and fancied sharing. It is not ugly or awful, and love feeling my little baby growing, but I really, really miss the freedom of my slim pre-pregnant body. I did not realise I was so vain and spend a lot of time thinking that I'm just waiting this pregnancy out. Does anyone else feel the same? Any positive stories about post-pregnancy bodies would be welcomed.

Yes, thank you! So good to hear positive stories, really can't wait to sleep on my stomach again as well. I'm not doing this again though, it's just too difficult but can't wait to meet my son.

Am keeping my fingers crossed that I take after my mum - when she got pg with me she was a size 14, by the time she stopped breastfeeding she was a size 10! I've got to be honest, there's things about my pregnant body I'd change but am now at the point where I'm obviously pg not just chunky, but not yet so big that I can't do stuff, so am quite happy at the moment! Xxx

I must be in the minority, cos I dont give a toss.

Ive back put on the 3 stone I lost last year, I have G cup boobs, and an arse as wide as the parcel shelf in my car.

I no longer have separate calves and ankles thanks to water retention, my feet are so swollen I can only fit into flip flops, also thanks to all that extra fluid I have an extra chin and all of my rings are too small.

I know 100% I wont just "ping" back to what I was, and I dont care about that either, its been fanfuckingtastic to not count every sodding calorie and work my arse off everyday to lose weight.

I was in great shape after having DS2 - breastfeeding for 18 months helped as did my generally manic lifestyle. I was prancing around in my size 10 skinnies and feeling pretty slinky for an old bird of 40. Having said that, my boobs had virtually disappeared, which was a little bit alarming.

Now 21 weeks pg with DS3 and starting to feel bulky and a bit lardy - fighting the most monumental sugar cravings (I don't have a sweet tooth so this is weird).

I do not want to put on too much weight - I got very large with DS1 and was heavier than I had been before after having him - but rationally go that it is unlikely it will stay on for long if I bf and have 3 crazy boys to chase after.

Will be glad when Xmas is over and I am out and about more and there are no mince pies left in the house.

Completely understand anyone who is feeling fed up with looking like a whale and it doesn't help that maternity clothes are just sooo boring!

Im glad to hear other people are feeling like this, u almost feel cheeky complaining as people think ur crazy coz ur pregnant. Im only 9weeks and already showing and its no1 , yes i know u can't show at 9 weeks its impossible because of position of uterus blah blah blah but trust me i am showing! had to pack away all my clothes today. always been tall and slim and pictured celebrity like pregnancy body not showing until 5months hahaha how foolish i was. Struggling with the not knowing what is ahead can't believe im gaining so much already.

Hi witches. I could definitely see a difference in my body at 9 weeks. People who didn't know me previously would not have noticed, but close friends certainly did. Couldn't bear to have any clothing pressing just above my pubic bone so there must have been something going on.

autumn I was definitely showing at 9 weeks with this pg and the others.

I am too neuotic/superstitious to buy maternity clothes until the 12 week scan so always spend the first few months of pg feeling very self-conscious.

Hey Autumn and Witches

I was 'showing' from about 9 weeks - although I think it was all digestive weirdness and bloating. But to a stranger I probably wasn't showing until quite recently (28wks). Like you witches I am was relatively tall & slim.

This pregnancy business is very weird. For years, I always thought I'd like it. I pictured myself as an 'earth mother' type. But since the beginning it's just been uncomfortable and awkward! I felt so awful in the beginning, I spent the whole summer hols on the sofa, and lost any trace of fitness I ever had (not much, it must be said!).

Now my belly's big, sometimes I struggle to put shoes on already. I can't get comfy. Driving's tricky. And I've got 12 weeks left to go!

I didn't really appreciate being slim before. I do now!

Thought I'd just pop back in as I've thought of something positive to say - I have finally found a use other than making it hard to buy trousers for childbearing hips! So whilst I'm rounder at the front I'm not actually any wider (yet).

autumn hope you're feeling better knowing it's not just you, I know that I certainly am

Yes, feeling much better furry, thanks.

Mslucy I still haven't bought any maternity clothes. I may now have to concede defeat though.

Totally agree Petalouda. It is a weird business. Also, totally took slimness for granted before. Good luck with the next 12 weeks. I'm right behind you (25 weeks).

I didn't show at all until 16 weeks then I looked fat/bloated. Popped at 20 weeks but I still don't really show when I'm wearing certain clothes because of the way baby's lying. It's only in clingy dresses really!

Even though I don't show under clothes I know it's different and this isn't how I used to be. I think maybe if I looked very obviously pregnant it would make a difference psychologically.

Of course next month I'll be complaining I look like a whale...

i was smaller after dd 1 and was in my normal clothes in a matter of weeks. Breast feeding and continuing to keep fit through the pregnancy and after helped lots. However, if you had a good body before and were healthy you more than probably will continue to do this and bounce back. It will be ok, i promise and you will have a beautiful baby that you made x

autumnberry - I felt just like you in pregnancy and hated being fat and ungainly; my sister, who had had three babies before me, assured me repeatedly that I would start feeling better the minute the baby was out.

And you know what? She was dead right! The very first bath after giving birth was already much easier than having a bath during pregnancy. I quickly got my energy back. Once your baby is born and you are breastfeeding you can go for long walks with your baby in a sling and you will feel much better and slimmer and fitter very quickly.

I'm 20 weeks and my boobs have started to feel really uncomfortable unsupported. I went bra shopping a while ago and had gone up to a G-cup, I don't think they've got bigger again, but seem to have changed 'texture'?, or perhaps it's the combination with a growing bump

What are we like eh? im hoping when i get back to work and into a routine it may be easier to avoid eating a wee cheeky chocolate every time i walk by them and back into exercise! Petalouda can i ask how u got long leg lengths in maternity im struggling to find things and my waist has gone up to 40 already eeekkk! no chance people won't know when i go back to work did anyone get aparanoid about twins?

Hi Witches,

I bought one pair of jeans from Next (bootcut) in an 8L and they're great, except they keep falling down (problem solved by a scarf around the belt loops, usually only functional when in polite company to save the crack flash!).

I also got a pair of black trousers from Pumpkin Patch which were great for school, but are now v tight around the top.

I've just got a bunch of stuff from my sis, the jeans she had are too short for me (despite her being slightly taller) but the black trousers she's given me are super comfy and long enough, I think they're mothercare. (I had to re-hem the bottoms, but they've done 1 pregnancy already, they've survived well!)

I haven't measured my waist. It used to be about 27in. I don't think I will at all now!

witches I am 13 weeks now and look huge, visably pregnant to most people I would say. I have been wearing maternity clothes for several weeks. I have been pregnant with twins and didn't show until about 14/15 weeks with them and even then I wasn't this big. However, definitely only one in there unless they've been very careless as I have had three scans already.

I have to admit, I love my pregnant body. Yes, it's less easy to do things, but I can't help but love it. I feel like I don't have to care about my size or shape and can just concentrate on being healthy and staying fit (ish) and growing my baby.

With baby no. 1 I was back in my size 8 jeans within a week of the birth, despite having put on over 3 stone and having a 9lb baby. Wasn't so quick with the others, but I am just so over that now.

I'm liking this thread - lots of people feeling like me! Mum keeps telling me she only weighed 7 stone 13 immediately after birth because she had such bad heartburn she could barely eat for the last couple of months, which does not help as I weighed 10 stone pre-pregnancy and there is no way I'll be anywhere near that weight! I'm really hoping that breastfeeding and walking the dog with baby in sling will work miracles.

i hated both my pregnancies, i had terrible body issues. i was a slim toned size 6 and seven stone before i got pregnant with dc1 and pregnancy was a horrible shock, i got huge, put on over 3 stone. but i ate like a pig as i was very depressed and in a bad relationship which ended when the baby was a few months old.

lost it very quickly though as bought prescription slimming pills off the internet :( very stupid but i just wanted to lose the weight super quick.

i then met a new man when my first DC was abouot one and got pregnant with DC2 when he was 2.

second time round i was more careful with what i ate, didn't overeat and watched my calories, i also swam 2 - 3 times a week right till the last week of pregnancy and did pilates until my bump started showing. i didnt show till about 22 weeks and only put on about a stone (14lbs) which i lost within about a week of the birth.

however, i do have stretchmarks and crepey skin on my tummy although they have faded loads. but in clothes i look the same as i did before.

is this thread for real?

"Oh my god I'm not going to be a size 8 anymore, whatever shall I do"
Get over yourselves ffs

You're having babies!!! What the hell do you expect?

Just hope they don't turn out to be too body conscious like their mothers eh?

sigh

Being pregnant was odd for me as it was the one and only time I have ever been "fat". I didn't get any stretchmarks and was back into pre pregnancy shape within a few weeks. I breastfed, which helped a lot, didn't diet at all, but religiously did post pregnancy exercises.

It helped that being pregnant meant that I couldn't eat very much. After a few mouthfuls I felt full, so I didn't put much weight on.

GetToFalkirk I wanted to hear some positive stories of post-pregnancy bodies and the chance to share this with others. There seem to be an awful lot of stories about the negative aspects of the post-pregnancy body, so is it any wonder that some many women are a little fearful?
I think it is sad that some of us feel this way and it definitely reflects a broader social attitude to pregnancy and motherhood. Why should we not offer each other some support?

I was also visibly 'showing' at 10 weeks..It's my first baby and I am a prof dancer so my stomach muscles are quite defined. I am normally an size 8-10 and have kept all my weight out front- boobs gone very big for me(34F!) and belly at 23 weeks massive!! I suppose all bodies react differently.. Am now beginning to wish that I had 'popped' later down the line, very jealous of ladies with smaller bumps- looks much more comfy!![envious]

I'm 36 weeks into my 2nd pregnancy and and I hate, hate, hate being pregnant. It's just a means to an end for me but I grow so huge and have such an enormous sticky-out bump that I get stared at in the street and everytime my friends see me they are open mouthed with shock it really makes me self-conscious and paranoid even though I was exactly the same last time I just wish people would shut up. I get big. Deal with it.

Before pregnancy I am usually a size 10 and 5ft 6ins so quite slim but I gained over 5st last time and have done exactly the same this time. It took me about 6mths to ose it last time so I have every confidence I'll do the same agin this time. The weight gain/loss doesn't worry me as I use a combination of breastfeeding, slimming world and walking and it just drops off me. It's the comments I dread and hate.

The things I am left with are stretch marks and a crepey tummy with slighty loose tummy muscles which I'm sure a bit if gym work would sort out. It is hard grieveing for the fact that your body will never be the same as it was but it's a small sacrifice to pay for having babies.

trying not to rise to GetToFalkirk's bait. I don't need to justify myself.