Pregnancy body blues can anyone relate?

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I’m 39 weeks, so close to the end and I’ve really struggled with my body image this time.

My first was sga so I did make an effort to eat more, but I’ve not gorged myself, sometimes I even skip meals. Try not to but either due to tiredness or awful reflux making me feel sick. But I feel like the size of a house- I don’t get why I’m so huge. My maternity clothes from my last pregnancy don’t fit me, neither do any of the clothes I was wearing before. From about 36 weeks I’d noticed one or two small stretch marks on my lower belly, I’d been using oil to keep the skin supple but I rationalised it as they’re small it’s not too bad, but I looked today and there’s more and they are deep purple and I just burst into tears. It’s really upset me. I’ve never been particularly confident and I’ve always been teased taunted about my weight/ size so this has just crushed me. My first i didn’t get a stretch mark or gain anything but then she was v small at birth.

Anyone else really struggling with their pregnancy and / or post partum appearance?

(Please don’t anyone interpret this as saying stretch marks are gross as is anyone who has them, i mean it as it’s really hit my already low self confidence and I know it will tank further post delivery)

Yup. First time pregnancy here and only 33 weeks but feel absolutely repulsive. It doesn't help that we're "supposed" to be glowy and ready for our maternity shoots etc. - I couldn't think of anything worse. If you think about it, you just don't get the mental time to acclimatise to your new body. Ordinarily, the kind of weight we end up putting on in pregnancy would be very difficult to put on normally, without reallllly going for it on the junk food and abandoning exercise. When you're pregnant, your body changes rapidly and it's really difficult, I think, for your mind to keep up. I literally went from little second trimester bump to massive third trimester bump in maybe 2 weeks and really struggled with it because I barely recognised myself. It's tough! You're so close now though so please stay strong and don't let anyone tell you you should feel any particular way about yourself - only you know how you feel.

Good luck and I hope everything goes well!

Thanks for writing this post.

This is my first baby and I am so excited Nd super grateful. So I feel bad feeling the way I do about my physical appearance.

Last night was the first time I properly saw my naked body in the mirror. I was shocked. Suddenly out of nowhere lots of stretch marks on my belly.

I actually really upset me as i just look so different. Like it's not my body.

Also my face is bloated and nose seems bigger.

I know baby girl will be so worth it though and I'm hoping these feelings will fade once she is here.

Yep, 32 weeks and feel so slow, heavy and lumpen. Don't look at myself in the mirror if I can avoid it. Also second pregnancy and also finding some of my maternity clothes from before don't fit. All my movements are so much effort or really uncomfortable. Waking up minimum three times a night for a wee. On iron tablets so v constipated. Can't wait for it to be over but am also not ready to meet the baby!

Yep, nearly 30 weeks and already feel huge. My skin is awful, my face looks puffy, I am living in leggings and baggy tops because nothing else fits / looks nice on me. Constant eye bags because I am barely sleeping, through needing to pee and not being able to get comfortable. Self worth and confidence is absolutely through the floor. Wishing away the next 7-10 weeks so I can finally meet baby and get my body and self confidence back.

The purple lines on my tummy have been the nail in the coffin, I’ve been avoiding mirrors. Im dreading giving birth and seeing all this purple stripped saggy skin. I’ve already looked up procedures to get rid of them. My face is still slim which makes me think wtf is the mid extra mass on my body? Could it be water? My legs feel so mushy.

Thing is though, and this is bad, but I’m sort of dreading when the baby comes too… no sleep, hot flashes, leaking boobs. I’m the worst.

Thank you for writing this post. I have very bad body dysmorphia, worked my ass off to lose 3.5 stone and as soon as I hit the target I got pregnant. I was over the moon, can't wait to meet the little bean but... the shape change of my body has set my body dysmorphia a bit back.
My OH says I look amazing but I can't see it. Clothes fit differently, I either look like I'm wearing a tent or that I've eaten all the pies..
The guilt in feeling that way is so hard as well but I know baby is happy and I'm eating as balanced as possible and that's all I can do.

My fear is when baby comes am I going to be able to get back to where I was

Same here OP! I am 31 weeks but miss my pre-pregnancy figure and having nicer clothing options.

I've been coping by putting more effort into my appearance with the things I can control. So stuff like
-Booking in for a leg wax - even though no'one but my husband is seeing my legs, it makes me feel better about myself
-Spending time doing my nails that I wouldn't usually bother with
-Putting on makeup even when not going anywhere, a nice face mask once a week
-Ordering some second hand maternity clothes from fb groups so nice and cheap, but to make sure I have more than just "loungewear" and make me more likely to want to go out/see people.
-Booking in to get my hair done and using deep conditioning treatments at home.

This is a time to be kind to yourself and focus on you. Your baby can only benefit from the positive vibes you will feel!

I’ve felt like I don’t want to buy anything as that’s acknowledging I look like this, so silly I know!

Think I’ve put off going out and about and meeting people too, due to how big I am. 😢

I can understand that.
Have you got some clothes ready that are likely to fit well after delivery? Some stuff that actually makes you feel good about yourself?
Can you make some plans for next week (with people that will understand if you cancel if you're in labour) so you can encourage yourself back into the habit of going out and seeing people?
You're the only one who can make this change for yourself OP!
It just starts with one positive step towards your goal.

Skipping meals?

If it makes you feel any better though I had horrific deep purple stretch marks with my first pregnancy. You can barely see them now.

@SouthwestSis

I can understand that. Have you got some clothes ready that are likely to fit well after delivery? Some stuff that actually makes you feel good about yourself? Can you make some plans for next week (with people that will understand if you cancel if you're in labour) so you can encourage yourself back into the habit of going out and seeing people? You're the only one who can make this change for yourself OP! It just starts with one positive step towards your goal.

You are right!

I guess I don’t know what size I’ll be. With my first, I was back in Topshop size 10 skinnies on day 5 and, size 6/8 on day 10 or 14 (can’t remember precisely) so this a huge shock, esp as the PJs I wore at delivery of DC1 didn’t fit over my hips at 32 weeks.

I’ve got some lounge wear leggings etc that I can wear and feel vaguely presentable in I think. Hoping somethings fit relatively soon after. No real breastfeeding tops though, always found dressing for breastfeeding an utter mare.

I’ve only got a handful of friends where I live, quite isolating (found with my first a lot of my child free friends didn’t quite get it, you know why you can’t 5 months PP with a baby that wakes 3/4 times and breastfeeds why you can’t go out out to their bday party, so distanced, also lost my dad earlier in the year and turns out grief and loss makes a lot of people ‘uncomfortable’) pretty much all of my friends are in work in the week too.

Think I need to treat myself to a haircut though! That will probably make me feel more put together less bag lady.

I’ve never been the most confident anyway, my weight and body have always been massive insecurities of mine but now I’m too ashamed and self conscious to even dtd with DH