This is an original post written by Stephanie. Thank you for listening to her story. Share your story.
I am so happy to find this website. I really thought I might be the only person who still looks pregnant! Actually, if I hold my belly in, I don’t look pregnant, but this is not really comfortable.
I have been listening to this incredible series of interviews which you can find at The Body Image Revolution. The last speaker was a woman who wrote a book called The Woman’s Belly Book: Finding Your True Center for More Energy, Confidence, and Pleasure
I love that concept, but I have a hard time not holding my belly in, because I am afraid of people thinking I am pregnant. Yes, people have thought that after both my pregnancies.
It is encouraging — really encouraging — to hear that other people get this response too.
I have been wondering,
Is it a big deal if someone thinks I’m pregnant? Does it really matter?
What if my fear is keeping me living in shame and keeping me from really loving my body and myself?”
Now that I know lots of other women still look pregnant, or look pregnant even if they have never had a baby, I am not going to be so worried. I do think bellies are cute and feminine, and a person who looks comfortable in their body is generally attractive.
If anyone wants to read a really great article by Lisa Sarasohn, check out The Goddess Ungirdled. It’s an article on how she came to love her belly.
I am encouraged and going to work on being comfortable with my belly.
Stephanie is a mommy of a three year old boy and ten month old girl. Her blog is www.lionmammaspun.blogspot.com.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
You know what, YOU’RE RIGHT!
I think that one of the reasons WHY this question annoys me so much is the embarassment and awkwardness after you say you’re not pregnant and the excuses the nosy person makes – like I am supposed to have been insulted and they are trying to take it back. WHY IS IT AN INSULT?
I think next time I am going to say what I really think and feel about this which is:
NO, I am not pregnant, but I have been once (well, twice once this one is born) and it was one of the greatest miracles and blessings I’ve ever had! And you know what? Before I was pregnant, I had a very small figure and I did not look pregnant and I worked hard for it. But pregnancy has changed my body and my muscles and I don’t have that figure any more. I don’t have a lot of things I had before pregnancy. But pregnancy and parenting change your priorities, and the blessings I have now far outweigh what I have given up. Yes, ideally I would like to have a smaller belly but you know what? My priority is caring for my child/ren, nursing my baby, studying and getting honours, and I work extremely hard at those things. And when I see this round belly, I see something that was the home to my children, cared for and carried and nourished them and then pushed them out into the world. You see, bellies aren’t just round during pregnancy, sometimes they’re round after as well, and there’s nothing awkward or embarassing about that – it just is what it is and it shouldn’t be the biggest deal in the world or something that defines me because I as a person am so much more. Thanks for asking though!
Maria-
Your comment actually brought tears to my eyes…
“I see this round belly, I see something that was the home to my children, cared for and carried and nourished them…”
You are so right… My daughter is now 14 months old and like you and Stephanie I was skinny before my pregnancy. I still have a bit of a belly mostly due to muscle seperation and I have been beating myself up about it something terrible! The other day I had a lady tell me “congratulations” because apparently the shirt I was wearing made me look especially pregnant. I cried for about an hour straight after that. I don’t know why I let a person I don’t know’s comments affect me in such a way.
My husband loves my body. He tells me all the time that he thinks I’m beautiful. I have the hardest time loving myself but your comment above really helped put it all into prospective for me.
Thank you!
Awww! I think it makes a lady look more beautiful that what foundation will do any day!
Shhhh…dont tell but i very often like to pretend I am pregnant. Not like in public just when im home alone I stuff a blanket up my shirt and waddle around.
btw, does anyone have any ideas of how to make me look realistickly pregnant???
Just wondering 8D