I love this site! I think it’s awesome that women can share and see pictures of how differently our bodies react to doing the same thing, bringing forth life! I wanted to share my favorite pregnancy picture, my husband took it in our home. I’m 37 weeks along w/ my 2nd baby. There is no re-touching, that defeats the purpose of this site. I think that since this site is meant to show real women, that those of us who don’t get stretch marks on our stomachs (mine are on my breasts & thighs) can show we are still just as real. Our pregnancies are no less valid, just because we don’t have very visible markings of our efforts on our bellies to show for it forever. I spent both my pregnancies with people commenting on how small I was, or how I didn’t look pregnant with no marks, acting as if I wasn’t doing the same thing all mothers do. Hopefully my submission will help any of the mothers who were like me know that they are not alone. Don’t let anybody minimize what you’ve done, just because it’s not written all over you.
The 2nd picture is my stomach 10 mons after my 1st baby was born, while I was one month pregnant w/ #2.
The 3rd picture is a comparrison of what my belly did after havin #2.
I am so envious! One of my girlfriends got HUGE during pregnancy and no stretch marks on her belly either, I was amazed, it is so cool how all of our bodies respond so differently. Consider yourself blessed. The B/W is lovely.
Lovely! That is a great picture, beautiful angle.
I also just want to comment that people who mentioned you didn’t look pregnant because you were small and smooth probably weren’t trying to minimize your pregnancy or to imply that it didn’t count somehow – they were probably only trying to compliment you on your lovely form and may not have chosen the best words to express their admiration. If they were indeed trying to put you down, it is unfortunate. Part of what I like about this site is that it does show and celebrate a variety of women, stressing that there is not one extreme or another to aim for – that we can be who we are as women and celebrate the body we have been given, the body we have worked for, or even the body we have been “left with”. The end result of this celebration and acceptance, I hope, is that all women should be able to celebrate WHO they are as women, NOT what they are as bodies. In the end all this sharing of variety should free us from being concerned as to whether or not we fit into anyone’s box of what beauty looks like OR what “real” mothers look like.
Congrats on your two babies!
What a lovely pregnancy picture!
I have found my body double on this site! Your husband captured you so beautifully, and congrats on your two babies. Thank you for expressing what I so often felt during my pregnancy; that it was somehow less than because I was “too small” and “are you sure there is a baby in there?” I think one of motherhood’s greatest gifts is that I don’t care anymore what anyone thinks of me, but when I was pregnant, I felt so vulnerable, and those comments stung.
2 the annon who said “I also just want to comment that people who mentioned you didn’t look pregnant because you were small and smooth probably weren’t trying to minimize your pregnancy or to imply that it didn’t count somehow – they were probably only trying to compliment you on your lovely form and may not have chosen the best words to express their admiration. If they were indeed trying to put you down, it is unfortunate.”
I know sometimes that is the case. But some people make the comments w/ a tone & facial expression that are obviously NOT complimentary, so it is indeed unfortunate.
Tiamama: LOL, yay for body doubles:)Glad somebody could relate 2 my post.
wow, BEAUTIFUL
LOOK AT YOU HOT MAMA :D
“I know sometimes that is the case. But some people make the comments w/ a tone & facial expression that are obviously NOT complimentary, so it is indeed unfortunate.”
I’d wonder then, if they were putting you down because they were envious? You do indeed have a beautiful body, and not only that, but the kind that is considered beautiful according to our culture’s standards.
I never got stretch marks either — anywhere. I’ve never felt I was lacking because of it! I do think stretch marks are a beautiful thing, though, and would welcome them if they came.
You look great! I was small too. Because I’m kind of tall and thin- and my son was also tall and thin in utero, and still is ten years later- I didn’t really show til I was about 7 months pregnant. They had detected a growth problem and put me to bed, and from then on I was worried my son was too skinny. Whenever folks would say, “you don’t look pregnant.” I hated them and bit their heads off. “I am pregnant and my baby is just the size he should be!”
I don’t think anyone was trying to offend me or minimize my accomplishment, but they kinda did. Just as much as someone who says, “Oh my God, you’re huge! What, are you having triplets??”
I know I know… society accepts too small much more than too big, and all that jazz. But when you’re a moma worrying that her son has a growth problem and won’t be born healthy, “you don’t look pregnant” is enough to make her cry just the same.
My son is a long, lanky cutie pie- getting teased every day of his life most likely because of it just like I was when I was his age. But he’s awesome and I grew him just like I was supposed to and he’s shaped just the way he’s supposed to be shaped. So am I.
I look great with me stretch marks and my droopy lop-sided breasts. It’s been said a million times on this site- which is a blessing- but I’ll say it again. I serve a higher purpose than to look good, so it’s all good regardless.
I am so glad I ran across this site. I am 32 weeks pregnant with our second child. I am tall and have a long torso. I didn’t show very early with our first child, and I really just never got very big with her. With our second child, my belly has gotten bigger, but so have my breasts, which kind of hide the belly. I also carry a lot lower than most women do, so I don’t have that that cute “all out front” pregnant shape that a lot of women do. Through both pregnancies, I’ve had people come up to me and ask if I’ve already had the baby or if I’m really pregnant. It’s true that the attitude they give off is that somehow because I don’t look like other pregnant women, the importance of my pregnancy is diminished. I guess they just think I’m getting fatter or something. It’s very hurtful to me when they make comments along these lines.
I thought I may be weird for feeling this way, but now I see that other women feel the same way.
It is also so nice to see that pregnant women come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and I’m not a freak of nature.
Thank you for this web site.