Feelings about your body during pregnancy

[ejmay90]

I'm nearly 19 weeks pregnant and starting to feel really low about my body.
I had a miscarriage in june and got straight back into the gym but only for about 2 months before falling pregnant again.
I am so so grateful and happy I'm pregnant as previously had fertility issues.
I just can't seem to love my body, I love my bump but every part of me seems to have ballooned :(

I used to be a bit bigger and lost a lot of weight, finally really started to love how I looked and became obsessed with the gym. Trained to be a PT because I love it so much.

I didnt managed to work out during the first trimester due to nausea ect but have gone back now but can't seem to fall back in love with training as I used to do lots of heavy weight stuff which I can't do now.

I feel so guilty for not loving my body during this amazing thing it's doing but I can't help but feel like this.

Anyone else feel like this? And how did you snap out of it?

Yes me, I haven't snapped out of it. I'm 34 weeks and look huge. I look like a buddah. My feet are also swollen. Also very fit etc with 6 pack before pregnancy. It's very depressing can't wait until she's out.

Please don’t worry - very normal feelings! I am 28 weeks with twins and also have PGP - so for various reasons my consultant wouldn’t allow me to continue with my past exercise which consisted of running, spinning and high-intensity exercise. Like you in the first trimester I couldn’t face any of it anyway, but since then I also feel enormous - my bump is already huge and I’ve gained weight everywhere.

Two things I have done - I do pregnancy yoga twice a week, and either swim or go to aquanatal - both are really low impact and at least make me feel like I’ve done something and I’ve found myself really enjoying the yoga especially. I also bought some maternity underwear and good fitting maternity clothes (all cheap in various sales) - I find dressing the bump properly makes me feel a lot better about myself!

Also - just remind yourself it’s only temporary. As soon as baby is here and you’re all settled you can get right back to the gym as normal! I can’t wait to even just get out on a great big walk with the pram at this stage!!

@Timmytoo I'm sorry to hear you havent snapped out of it but I feel I may be the same as you.
Just struggling to deal with the changes around it and worrying it will be hard to get back to where I was before :(
Not long now for you, I hope you manage to snap back into shape!

Hated being pregnant and how I looked but hate postpartum even more.

@MrsEG I'm glad it's a normal feeling. Sorry to hear you werent able to continue exercising, that must of been so hard.
I've gained weight everywhere too and going to the gym and looking at myself in the mirrors makes it worse but if I stop exercising I'll get even bigger :(
I did look into yoga but don't feel it's much of a workout, didnt think about aqua natal so I may look into that thanks!
I think the maternity clothes is a big thing, I can't wear Jean's at the moment as I just hate how uncomfortable they are and anything I do wear I feel I look awful in. Even if it's maternity wear.
One thing I do need now is underwear so I will invest!

I hope so, just panicking I wont be able to do what I used to! Worked out 5 days a week and can't see that being possible with a baby :(

@puds11 sorry to hear how much you hate how you looked throughout and after. Why do you hate it more after if you don't mind me asking?

Your body is doing its job. It is normal to have bloating and weight gain. Your body is growing an entire person! Please focus on how amazing that is. Our culture is so superficial and judgemental of women's appearances. It's bullshit. You are allowed to have mixed emotions, I hope one of them is pride and amazement at the wonderful job your body is doing.

I looked a bit bloated at 19 weeks too, but by 34 weeks had a nice tight baby bump over my hips. Just give it time and if you can exercise then keep going as it will benefit you during labour!

@ejmay90 Aquanatal is fab or even just a swim, especially for the weightless feeling! Yeah I’m not at all having the pregnancy I thought I would but you can’t do anything about these things and at the end of the day, my body is pretty busy growing two whole humans! It won’t be forever - just listen to your body. I’m at the stage now where I’m enjoying the ‘excuse’ to just relax - once babies come along those days will be long gone!! There’s loads of fitness classes you can go along to with baby, worth searching for things local to you. My yoga teacher does a post-natal class you can take baby along to!

I think during pregnancy I could rationalise it because I was growing a person. Now I just feel like an empty husk. Sorry, I don’t mean to make anyone feel worse!

I think in the kindest possible way, your feelings towards your body and self worth are a bit mixed up. It is normal to feel huge & not particularly love your bigger self during pregnancy (I know I don’t) but I find it sad people feel ‘happy’ predominantly because they have lost weight. There is so much more to life. And you will find your priorities change & that’s ok.

I love exercise, when I’m not pregnant I make sure I am as active as possible. But I don’t feel bad if I can’t because life gets in the way. After my daughter, I lost all 3 stone of weight in about 8 months from sensible dieting & walking a good couple miles with the pram 4/5 times a week.. I live in a very hilly area so that helped 😄 I felt happy & healthy and by about 8 months, bedtime was 6.30pm & I used to do exercise DVDs before dinner! I could have gone to the gym quite easily but I preferred to stay home for some time with the OH.

Pre-children, I had all the time in the world to work out. I absolutely don’t with a child. I’m too tired & she comes first. I work until 4pm & then my priority is being mum until bedtime. I miss my daughter during the day!

You’ll find your new balance. Your life will change and at first it may seem like it’ll never be like it used to be but things do settle down & you’ll get ‘me’ time back again eventually!
Try to just accept the changes happening & have a positive mindset that you’ll lose the weight & be able to be active again soon, it may just be in a different form & not quite as frequently!

@Bol87 I'm planning on going to gym 4 times a week. My DP and I have worked out a timetable for both of us. Fair is fair. He will parent whilst I'm at gym and visa versa. That way I can get fit again.

@Timmytoo exactly the same as me! my partner and I have worked out a schedule too as he knows how important it is too me. I will absolutely love being with my son but I also want to feel like me again and be happy in my skin.
I will only be working part time when I go back so have plenty of time to parent to give myself an hour off for the gym 4 times a week :)

I don't know if this will help at all but I've started enjoying my bigger body since I had the realisation that, possibly for the first time ever, I feel like my body is exactly the shape it is supposed to be. I was never happy before because I always wanted to be thinner or taller or more toned, but now I feel very contented that my body is as it ought to be. That's just how I feel but maybe it could help you too?