I'm feeling great and still loving whenever the baby decides to kick/punch/swim/cartwheel inside me. Sometimes, when the sciatica isn't acting up and my chest isn't tingling with heartburn, I almost - *almost* - forget that I am pregnant! I'm starting to have a hard time with the weight gain and it's gross to see the numbers creeping up to 150, 151 pounds. I realize how ridiculous that sounds. I don't think women can escape the message we get constantly about being slim and not gaining weight, even when we are pregnant! Ok, I'll speak for myself. It's been hard. I didn't think I'd have a hard time with it - thought I'd really enjoy gaining weight - but I don't enjoy seeing my cheeks and butt get pregnant, too.
Luckily I have a husband who gets crazy when I complain about weight gain. On his end, it's absolutely beautiful and scrumptious to see me grow like this. But, my brain often goes right to the place of comparing myself with other pregnant women, and why does it seem like they're only gaining on their bellies when I'm gaining everywhere else! My latest least-favorite thought is, "why am I bigger than women who are expecting twins!?"
As a coach, I realize it's even more stupid to think this. I know this is a brilliant Saboteur poking me on my shoulder. The only thing that really gets rid of that Saboteur is when the baby moves. It's so sweet and weird and wild and nourishing and reassuring when I see my belly wave back and forth with the Little One's movements. It is absolutely the best part of being pregnant...and kicks that Saboteur right in the face.
While taking belly shots is fun for Rosh and me - especially the thought of sharing these pictures with the Little One whenever she's ready to see them - there's something gross about people demanding to see belly shots and asking for them to be posted on Facebook, etc. It's not all gross, but there's something gross. Like now there's a whole body image movement around the Pregnant Woman, and there's emerging a certain "look" or "carrying" to which we all should be aspiring. There's comparison inherent in it. It's the same old thing, just version 2.0 for pregnant mommies. At the same time, there's something precious about sharing the growth of it, too. Very much so. I love when Rosh posts the pictures, knowing that my parents, sister, and in-laws will likely look at them. I like to share it with close friends (especially when they're going through the same thing - Hi, Sharon & Sally!). And I like to see for myself (just yesterday I looked back at Week 9 and was shocked at how thin I was; good luck to me getting that body back in a few months! ;)
Symptoms: buzzing/vibrating in chest
I guess I disagree with your comment about the "inherent comparison" in the request for photos. But that could be because I'm a single woman who doesn't spend any time near pregnant women. I never think: "this woman looks xxx compared with that woman." Some people might - but some people also compare the situations of single woman "my friend did this on match.com...why don't you do this on match.com..." It's just how people make sense of their world. I want to see photos of you only because I can't actually see YOU. But my request for pregnancy photos is (for me) not unlike my request for your wedding photos, your honeymoon photos, your new home photos, your "visit to Toronto" photos... It's just a request to share your life with us because we assume that this time must be special for you. There's evidence that it is - just by the fact that you have a blog dedicated to it. To be honest, I wish you'd post more than the pregnancy mug shots...I'm curious about what Roshan looks like when his ear is near your belly, what the baby's bedroom looks like, and what kinds of strollers you've been considering buying. I think the "photography" of pregnancy has taken a certain form thanks to Annie Leibovitz...but then again, she only had the one magazine cover to deal with pregnancy. I'd say "post away!" - obviously, there's more to pregnancy than the body mug shot...but it's up to the couple to decide what they want to share and what they don't. A friend of mine did not post belly shots on FB during her pregnancy...bur rather "swollen feet" shots...which I thought were hilarious. Her feet stopped fitting into her shoes...and I appreciated the share, because it's a part of the pregnancy experience I could never have imagined...
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