Body Image Struggles
Has anyone else been struggling with body image in their pregnancy? I’ve been struggling so much with it lately and I feel guilty over it. I disliked my body before pregnancy and was slowly recovering, but then I got pregnant and I feel like I lost so much progress since then. Logically speaking, I know my pregnancy body is normal. I lost about 10 pounds over the course of the first trimester, which was strange to me but my doctor said that was normal and happens to quite a few pregnant women. I have yet to get back to my pre pregnancy weight actually. But my stomach is so big to me now I feel like a balloon. I don’t hate my baby nor do I regret falling pregnant with her, but I really dislike the way I look and further dislike that there’s absolutely nothing healthy for me and baby that I can do to change my looks. I get so sad when I put on my tshirts and instead of lying flat like they use to, they now bulge out with my baby bump. Wearing maternity clothes makes this sadness worse because the maternity clothes are designed to show off the baby bump. And the thing is, this negative body image is only towards myself. I see other pregnant women and I am indifferent to them. They are just people, some are very conventionally attractive, some are less conventionally attractive. I don’t hold other pregnant women in the same negative image that I hold myself and I don’t really understand why. Why can I not give myself the same indifference? People around me tell me I’m beautiful and amazing and I am appreciative of their kind words but I don’t feel beautiful. I don’t feel attractive, sexy, beautiful, anything of the sort. And on top of the negative self image I have this horrible guilt. There are women out there struggling to get pregnant and/or keep their pregnancies who would give anything to be in my position, and here I am sad and complaining because I don’t feel pretty anymore. It’s such a guilty, trivial, lonely struggle. I’m at a loss for what to do. I try to tell myself that my body is normal and that it is good because my baby is healthy and growing like she should be. I have supportive family, friends, and romantic partner. I have a therapist I see monthly as well. I don’t know how to love myself or my pregnant body. Does anyone else have this struggle? How do you cope with it?
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I've been feeling the same way, especially after I saw the stretch marks. But I've been trying to do little things to help me feel better. Like getting my hair done, painting my nails, puting on a dress I think is cute. Going outside and just taking a walk to appreciate everything around me. Going on online stores and saving all the cute clothes I'm going to wear after giving birth.
Anything that will put a smile on my face basically
Would you try a bengkung belly binding for post postpartum? I wear mine in and off and feel a huge difference. It hugs everything I because ev rushing inside shifter during pregnancy this helps bring it back into it's normal place. Hope this helps. Sending love
I hope that you are able to keep smiling 🤍 I’ll try little things like that to feel better and maybe it will work the same for me 🤍
I actually planned on belly binding to help put everything back in place, especially since this is my first pregnancy. I’d imagine it takes longer to heal the first time around so anything to help my body recover faster is a good idea 🤍🤍 I can’t belly bind while pregnant though, have to wait until baby comes in March 🤍
oh while pregnant I used a belly wrap I got on Amazon for some support. You can also use layers of high waisted undies and belly wrap. And if you can handle the tight sensation use that tight high rise stuff. I have never been able to wear tight things so I couldn't find one comfortable for me. Maybe you'll have better luck. It's like shapewear but more for pregnant women
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