Hello Lovely Readers! Today we have a submission that will bust myths about fat, pregnant women.
Thank you to Brittany Kibler for the submission! We love it!
Thank you to Brittany Kibler for the submission! We love it!
I am fat. I have known this fact most of my life, and nine days out of ten, I am
completely comfortable with being fat. That being said however, there are moments in life that
make being fat very uncomfortable, and frankly, down right irritating--like clothes shopping, or
the constant feeling that people are judging you when you eat in public. I have dealt with these
experiences all of my life, and have found my own ways of coping with them, but I now find
myself learning a whole new side of fat life. I am seven months pregnant, and in the past three
months, I have found myself more uncomfortable and irritated than ever before.
For example, when people who know that I am pregnant stare at my stomach and say
things like “Are you showing yet? It’s hard to tell” or “Are you carrying high or low? I can’t really
tell” OR even worse, before I was showing, when people would put their hand on my stomach
and swear that they felt the baby. I have never wanted to slap some one’s hand so much in my
life. Even that however, was not nearly as irritating as when one of my own family members
recently looked right at my stomach and said “You might go through this without anyone ever
being able to tell that you are pregnant.”
things like “Are you showing yet? It’s hard to tell” or “Are you carrying high or low? I can’t really
tell” OR even worse, before I was showing, when people would put their hand on my stomach
and swear that they felt the baby. I have never wanted to slap some one’s hand so much in my
life. Even that however, was not nearly as irritating as when one of my own family members
recently looked right at my stomach and said “You might go through this without anyone ever
being able to tell that you are pregnant.”
I think I have a pretty accurate idea of what my body looks like, and trust me I know how
it has changed since the beginning of this pregnancy. Yes, I am showing and carrying high these
days. Others may look at my belly and think “fat,” I look at my belly and see how my child is
growing and moving. Before pregnancy, I made it a goal to get up everyday and not care what
others see me as (a hard thing to manage), and that hasn’t changed with pregnancy (although
sometimes all the hormones makes it even harder to manage).
it has changed since the beginning of this pregnancy. Yes, I am showing and carrying high these
days. Others may look at my belly and think “fat,” I look at my belly and see how my child is
growing and moving. Before pregnancy, I made it a goal to get up everyday and not care what
others see me as (a hard thing to manage), and that hasn’t changed with pregnancy (although
sometimes all the hormones makes it even harder to manage).
It never ceases to amaze me that just as people seem to perceive that I am unaware of
my weight, and that they should do me the favor of reminding me, they also feel the need to
remind me of all the medical implications that come with being overweight. And there are risks
in obese pregnancy, higher rates of gestational diabetes and complications, often resulting in c-
my weight, and that they should do me the favor of reminding me, they also feel the need to
remind me of all the medical implications that come with being overweight. And there are risks
in obese pregnancy, higher rates of gestational diabetes and complications, often resulting in c-
section deliveries and premature babies.
I would never dispute the fact that my weight poses risks, just as it did before
pregnancy. But, I am more than aware of the risks, I am not ignorant to my situation. I also
know that I am healthier now than I have been in years. I quit smoking. I cut back on caffeine
and sugar. I get the sleep I used to deprive myself of. I have, for the first time in my life,
developed a relationship and trust with my doctor, and she assures me that so far (knock
on wood) my pregnancy is progressing wonderfully. I recently passed my glucose test (so no
diabetes) and have even been able to manage my weight gain during pregnancy. I know that
doesn’t mean that I have managed to win anything or accomplish some great feat, but it does
help reassure me that I am doing the best that I can for myself and my child, and that so far it is
working.
In pregnancy, one of the pieces of advice that everyone and their mother will hand you
is “You know what’s best for your body and baby,” and that is the honest truth. I know that
knowing my body and my baby won’t stop others from making me uncomfortable at times,
or irritating me with comments about my health and weight, but it does give me a way to
cope. Although, pregnancy in itself is annoying at times and being fat and pregnant is twice as
annoying (especially when shopping for maternity clothes….as if cute maternity clothes, and
cute plus size clothes aren’t hard enough to find…try finding cute plus size maternity clothes),
I still am content in my body and grow more and more infatuated with my growing belly on a
daily basis.
Great post! When I was pregnant, the most annoying (and hurtful) thing people would say to me was "you know, a lot of heavier women lose weight when they get pregnant." Yeah. I didn't.
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