As women, we have a love/hate relationship with our bodies. Ever had a “fat” day where nothing in your closet seems to fit right?
Pregnancy changes all of that.
For some, after a lifetime of working at staying slim, the panic can be overwhelming. All of a sudden you’ll be piling on 25, 35 pounds or more onto your frame. When your clothes start feeling snug, the tears can start to flow.
For others, it’s a welcome relief that finally you can allow yourself to gain a few extra pounds, all for the sake of the baby.
Pregnancy pushes your body beyond its boundaries. With the first time, it’s something you’ve never experienced before, and it’s only natural to feel a loss of control. All of a sudden your clothes don’t fit, your bra is too tight, your body does things you’ve never felt before, and you’re faced with a great unknown: motherhood. The hormonal changes of all of that can add an emotional “wham” that can leave you frustrated and depressed.
But gaining weight isn’t a reflection on your control; it’s critical for your baby’s growth. This is a time to put aside any self-critical messages you send yourself about eating and health, and put your efforts into appreciating all that your body is currently going through.
It’s in your attitude. It’s reflected in the way you approach each new day.
Fatigue and nausea come and go. As the queasiness goes away, you start to feel a renewed sense of energy. You witness the changes in your body, and it becomes apparent in the way you look and feel. Old clothes no longer fit, and you’re required to find something new.
This can be one of most joyous times of pregnancy. Select clothes that make you feel beautiful. With the advances in maternity clothing, we no longer have to hide our bump behind tent-like material, and instead can stay hip, go with the trends, and still look sexy and fit. We can go to the gym and sport gym clothes that show off our bellies. It gives us an air of being confident and smart at the same time.
Feel good about showing off your stomach! It’s one of the most amazing times of life.
Rather than question your body throughout this transition, learn to listen instead. Trust your body. Weight is put on for a reason. And as long as you stick with a healthy diet and still get some form of exercise (per your doctor’s guidance), you have little reason to worry that your body won’t return to your previous body weight in the months that follow birth.
Your body is a miraculous environment that accommodates the development of a baby. Trust that body to do what it needs to do. And look fabulous in the process!