image

I want to talk a little about having a positive body image during pregnancy. As a woman, loving your body when it’s just your own is hard enough. Continuing to love it as it becomes a vessel for someone else is a whole other story. So many things shift when you’re carrying a baby. Everything from thickening thighs to wider feet, not to mention that number on the scale that continues to creep up. How do we keep hold of self-confidence and love for ourselves during these months when we are no longer in control of our bodies? I believe the answer lies in understanding and embracing what our bodies are doing, and thanking them for doing it so well.
Understanding our bodies

In the 9 months that it takes to create a baby, your body puts you on the back burner. Completely. This is why making life can feel so much like death (for a closer look at what that’s been like for me, click here). Your body is all about creating and supplying a safe place for baby, and it’s giving it all it’s got! So all the energy that used to go into maintaining clear skin and regular bowel movements are now going to create perfect skin and internal organs for your little one. Hormones are released, things relax, things grow, and things change rather quickly.

This is why I believe it is so important to know what your body is doing week by week and month by month. There are tons of amazing resources that allow you to see inside yourself and take a look at what’s really going on. There is a rhythm to the madness, and understanding just how hard your body is working is a major component to accepting and even loving the process (some of my favorite resources are What to expect week by week and Make Room for Baby).
Embracing our bodies

The pregnant body is considered by many to be the most attractive form of a woman, and why not? Those extra curves declare unapologetically, “I am woman!” The firm, rounded breasts, full thighs, and swollen belly are testament of the amazing miracle that is the female body. In fact, you may be noticing a few more lingering looks from the opposite sex as you stroll (or waddle) down the street. Why? Because it’s in our primal nature to be attracted to fertility, and your curves are a walking billboard that you are a healthy, vibrant woman who can carry a man’s seed. That’s awesome! This is not a time to be concerned with love handles or bra bulge, this is a time to strap on that expander, pull your preggo pants up to your boobs, and strut your stuff!

The number on the scale is proof your baby is happy and healthy, and unless your Doctor has a concern, there is no reason to worry about—or even know—exactly what you weigh if you don’t want to. You are a vessel of life, and your body is a living, breathing sacrifice to your baby. It’s the most courageous, outstanding, awesome gift to have and give, and those stretch marks are there to prove it!
Every woman is different

I know women who have gained anywhere from 20 – 70 pounds during pregnancy. Some ladies lose all the baby weight in a few weeks, while others keep a few extra pounds with them for years (amazingly, the woman who gained 70 lbs had no trouble losing every ounce after baby came). Some women have tons of extra energy, while others are on bed rest the whole 9 months. Why is this? Because we are all different. While yes, we’re all women who are making babies, the toll it takes on us and what our bodies need to do to support that baby will be as unique as our personalities.

When I first found out I was pregnant, my naturopath told me that my body will do what it needs to, and my job is to support it. Some women will only get bigger bellies, while others will need to round out all around to create a healthy baby. Just like the paths that we walk in life, the way we carry babies (and care for and raise them) will look like a rainbow of variety. Your body will tell you what you need, and you must listen to it and fight the temptation to compare your body to your friends’.

Love your body. Embrace where you’re at.

Kristin Bishop
Kristin lives in a little town in Washington with her husband (Kyle), and dog (Nimbus). Her passion is to bring her readers the art of clean-living, self-acceptance, and the natural path to longevity in a basic, attainable manner. You can learn more about her at www.KristinBish.com