Struggling with physical appearance

[marinova]

Let me start by saying I am happy to be pregnant so please don't kick off at me. But my confidence is shot at moment, I'm 25 weeks and still don't have a proper bump I just look like I've eaten too much pizza and my bum is currently the size a small moon. My skin (which is normally good) is red and blotchy. My boobs are suddenly horribly saggy. I just feel like my body is out of control and I miss feeling attractive. I'm exercising regularly but so hungry all the time and then feel guilty for over eating :(

Honey, I hear you completely. My youngest is now 1 and I'm ONLY just beginning to lose the weight and some craters in my ass! It's easy for me to say now I'm out the otherside but do try and ignore it and picture yourself afterwards with your baba. I just want to make sure you're prepared for how long it might take for you to feel back to normal afterwards though.

Why don't you check into a spa and have some treatments or something, also buy some clothes which are more flattering, if you go to top shop they can do a personal shopper for you who will help with flattering maternity wear. Oh and congratulations!

Oh and get a great bra from Bravissimo, you'll feel amazing in that!

Poor thing. There's so many niggles with pregnancy, and it's not possible to be thrilled with everything all the time!

I will say that small concrete changes made a huge difference. I would also massively recommend a bra fitting at Bravissimo - they were fantastic.

I also had to change my skin care early in pregnancy - I visited an Origins counter, and they were fantastic, couldn't have been more helpful with their advice. Not cheap, but worth it to keep yourself feeling normal and on top of things.

@Newbie1981 any in particular you recommend that are for nursing?

This isn’t a popular opinion here but has worked for me and so I will share - but if your eating feels out of control you absolutely need to monitor what you eat. At 25 weeks you probably only need 200 extra calories over the maintenance level for an average woman of your height and pre-preg start weight. And you absolutely need to ignore those pregnancy cravings for unhealthy food - it will be difficult (I have pcos and so have been craving all kinds of unhealthy shit during the first 12 weeks and so I just ignore them) but it can be done. Don’t let yourself go hungry as that’s when the unhealthy cravings/ urges start - I find proactively eating salads helps those pangs.

Not pregnant any more, my little boy is fast asleep beside me but I remember that feeling well.
You almost want a sign to wear that says I’m pregnant not fat! I never ‘glowed’ unless you think being a bit sweaty counts.

Your body is doing an amazing thing. You’re growing an actual person!

It’s only for a short time though it feels like forever now. I actually miss being pregnant, though that might be my rose tinted glasses... pretty sure I hated it at the time.

I hated being pregnant, I couldn’t run, I was cumbersome and waddley. I certainly never glowed.

Bits of me may have looked like a whale but I made sure I had perfect manicure & pedicure throughout. (ds was an August baby), I had a gloriously glamorous sun hat and lovely moisturiser. And definitely a good bra.
I ebayed my maternity clothes when ds was 10 days old

I know how you feel. Things that have helped me are pampering myself, get hair done, doing fake tan and nails etc (even tho I’m quite low maintenance normally).

Keep exercising if you can as you will feel better and end up getting loads of compliments and praise for exercising once you look definitely pregnant which is a bit of an ego boost.

The best nursing bras I have found for bigger boobs are figleaves own brand, hotmilk and cake. I have to wear underwire or I look saggy so have done extensive research. The wires on nursing bras are flexible so more comfy than a normal underwired bra. Bravissimo stock a couple of underwired ones but their range isn’t huge. Figleaves has quite a few so I just order loads to try on and then you have 60 days to return what you don’t want.

I remember this feeling. I went from being very fit and athletic to pregnant and throwing up several times a day for 9 months and unable to exercise (walking up stairs made me sick).

I couldn't eat much that wasn't junk (see the being sick) but I wish I'd bought myself a couple of nice pieces of maternity clothes to make myself feel better. and I agree with haircut/manicure idea.

Thanks all I've booked my hair and pedicure for the weekend. Might invest in some fake tan too 😅 I think I struggle with the weight think because I used to calorie count and exercise obsessively but I know I cant do that now as it will hurt the baby, bit of a warped perspective of my weight. Seeing skinny toned pregnant celebs doesnt help either lol

I already feel like this at 11 weeks! I know a pp said to ignore the cravings but it’s difficult when you feel so queasy you can only stomach certain things. I used to run five days a week and am really missing it, hoping to be able to get back to it in second trimester.

You can still calorie count in pregnancy as long as you are allowing yourself a healthy amount of calories. You don't actually need any extra calories until your 3rd trimester, and even then it's recommended to be 200 extra calories which actually isn't all that much.

I'm 17 weeks and using mfp. I've used my pre pregnancy weight and set it to maintain weight, and as I put on weight I'm not changing it on the app so my calorie goal stays the same. I've also found having smaller, more frequent meals has helped keep the hunger at bay, and it's easier to resist cravings if you're already full. Obviously I don't recommend being obsessive about calories, but little things may make you feel a little better.

Have u tryed a pregnancy band,i use one for walking etc, does give u a nicer bump shape so this may work for , im 19wks but my bump is big.u can use it all day just not for bed.think mine was under £15.