Body image issues in first trimester....Feeling ashamed :-(

[Gemma0711]

Hey everyone!

So I'm nearing the end of my first trimester, and haven't been able to do any exercise really other than the odd walk. I work sitting down all day, so have been pretty inactive. I used to row 6k a day and loved it, but the first trimester has totally wiped me out! I feel knackered from any exercise at all, I tried cycling for half an hour and just ended up asleep for 4 hours afterwards, and i feel so sick I can barely do anything.

I have previously suffered with binge eating disorder and lost 6 stone in the last 3 years. I KNOW I'm not going to binge eat again, and I'm gluten and dairy free so putting huge amounts of weight on would be hard now....BUT I'm SO bloated, tired, lethargic and I feel awful! I'm being really down on myself, worried that my Husband will hate me (although I have no reason to believe this as he loved me when I was 6 stone heavier)...And I just feel really unattractive. I'm covered in spots, have really greasy hair and just feel like a whale already.

Anyone else here had body dysmorphia and dealt with pregnancy? can anyone recommend anything I could do to ease the symptoms?

Aw this sounds exactly like me a few months ago, I'm 27 weeks now and have the odd cry about my weight but in the 1st trimester it was horrific. I was SO SO happy to be pregnant but equally so disgusted with myself, then I would feel terrible that I hated my body when it was doing something so amazing! It was a vicious cycle of joy, despair and disgust, utter madness!

I'm now a bit of a fatty to be honest, tried to eat really good nutritional foods as much as poss, mixed in with chocolate and crisp binges BUT the biggest difference is my mindset. I look at myself and see this lovely big bump, carrying the most precious, loved little person ever and I see past the dimply bits. I've had SPD since week 18 which scuppered all exercise but I'm fully looking forward to going on nice strolls with our little summer baby.

I can't tell you how to feel obviously but I really think it gets easier hun, the first trimester makes u lose your head about everything. Like you said ur partner loved you 6 stone heavier, he'll adore you now you're carrying his baby, try to see all the positives and look at what your body is giving you. Exercise can wait and it is true that the 1st trimester is the very worst for no energy, I got far more around week 13.

Wishing u a happy healthy pregnancy, congratulations!! 🤰🏼👶

No advice regarding the body dysmorphia but you pretty much just described me in the first trimester! Bloat, spots, greasy hair, unable to exercise etc. Ugh!

Please try and be kind to yourself, this won’t last forever! By about 20 weeks my skin was amazing (best it’s ever been in my adult life), my hair was a glossy shiny wave, the bloating disappeared and I was able to start going back to the gym (very gently though).

The first trimester can be the absolute worst so I feel for you. Your husband will love you no matter what but if you’re concerned, speak to him about it. You’re in this together!

I generally tried to do little things to help me feel more ‘done’ when I was feeling crappy- face masks, nails, getting my eyebrows properly shaped etc. I don’t know if that’s your sort of thing but it was little things like that that helped me feel a bit better. Also investing in some nice maternity clothes that I actually wanted to wear helped (rather than baggy tops and leggings)

Good luck with your pregnancy

agree with pp, just painting my nails, moisturising everywhere and shaving my legs whilst i still can made me feel a million times better!

Not quite the same as I had already put some of my weight back on before I got pregnant, but I'm struggling with how much my body has changed already since finding out (I'm 8 weeks). Beforehand, I was exercising an hour or 2 a day every day, just joined a new gym and finding which classes I liked. Now I've barely exercised in weeks, just had to drop one of my memberships for a class I really liked can't even drag myself to yoga which I loved. I'm just hoping I'll perk up in the 2nd trimester.

@rainbow1982 Thank you so much, your message really cheered me up. I'm kind of glad that its not just me that has found the first trimester so difficult...Its nice to know that I'm not just being really weak.
My sister in law had a baby a couple of years ago, and she was swimming 5k a day and working as a teacher full time...I can barely move. But I shouldnt really compare myself to her, because I know our bodies are totally different.
I suffer with chronic migraine, and have terrible hormones at the best of times, so this first trimester has just been so hard! You're right, it's like a rollercoaster of emotions. This is my first, and I'm at this weird in between stage where I will be heartbroken if I miscarry again, but I can't imagine myself with a baby either. It's such a weird experience. My body feels so different, very few people know I'm pregnant, and I don't ever feel well 😂 I'd love to get to a place like you where I can just look at my body and be happy with it regardless 😊 I hope that happens for me soon!

@Foofmaloof thank you! I'm sorry you felt the same, but relieved to hear you feel better now. You're 100% right, I need to learn to go easier on myself. I hope this doesnt last too much longer for me, because its horrible!
I think you're right, maybe taking care of myself a little better and doing little things like that might make me feel better! Thank you 😊

Body dysmorphia and eating issues here too. I'm now 6 months pp but I totally remember feeling how you feel, particularly in the first trimester when you feel generally gross and bloated. I definitely found it got easier as the pregnancy progressed particularly when my bump was visible (mainly because I felt like people were no longer looking at me thinking that I was just fat). I also exercised more (mainly swimming, yoga and walking) in my second and third trimester so felt pretty fit and healthy going into the birth. One thing that I did find important was buying some nice maternity clothes - not expensive per se but ones that fit well, particularly jeans and work trousers (I like Next best). Wishing you all the best!

You know first trimester changed like, your pelvis and ribcage spread to accommodate the baby, and you make 1/3 as much again blood (which weighs a lot and makes you tired). Not to mention the extra large (.)(.).
It's natural for your body to change bit the extent of the changes in the first trimester surprised me (such as not being able to do up my trousers from 6 weeks. Thanks pelvis!(

Hi @Gemma0711 you are most definitely not alone! I was already a bit of a chunk beforehand I definitely wasn't rowing my legs off daily but even so have felt a massive difference. I'm now 16 weeks, I also suffer with the migraines, my face is disgusting with oily spots, hair is rank and I nearly lamped my fella yesterday for pointing out the circumference of my nipples has almost doubled (they were already pretty juicy to start with and it's freaking me out, like how big will they get!) please don't compare yourself to anyone else, for now we just have to do what we can and remember why we're doing it, pregnancy is temporary and you can get back to your exercise when you're legging it round after a toddler! Congrats and enjoy! ❤️