Ever since that little pink plus sign popped up, you’re stressing over what’s happening to your body — and you aren’t alone. It’s completely normal to worry about how your body will change through the course of your pregnancy. Yes, your belly will grow. And yes, some other parts of your body will bulge as well. But, that doesn’t mean you need to run and hide under a mumu. There’s safety (okay, maybe comfort) in numbers. So, go ahead and check out some of the most common body fears that pregnant mamas face.
1. Your style will suffer. Your body’s getting bigger. That’s a fact. Now that your belly is popping and your boobs are three times their pre-preggo size, you’re worried that you’ll never fit into anything remotely fashion forward again. To start with — yes, you will. But, let’s also tackle the during-pregnancy issue. Just because your body isn’t a size two doesn’t mean you have to nix the notion of sticking with your style. Whether you’re totally into boho chic or are all about something sleek, maternity clothes are not what they were decades ago. Say goodbye to smocks and hello to the latest fashions — just sized for the baby-bump body.
2. You’ll stay that way. Yeah, you’re gaining weight while you’re pregnant. Everyone does. Hmm, it’s starting to feel like those extra pounds are becoming part of your body. In other words, you kind of feel like they’re not going away. It’s completely common to think that your pregnancy body will stick. Here’s the deal — thinking that your body will immediately go back to what it looked like pre-pregnancy isn’t realistic (unless you’re an SI swimsuit model). Set healthy expectations for your post-pregnancy weight loss. This means losing the added pounds gradually over several months.
3. You’re gaining too much weight. That adorably sweet itty bitty bump sitting on your BFF’s body makes everyone say, “Awwww!” You’re both equally as far along. But, you lost sight of your feet weeks ago. You’re gaining weight at what seems like an awfully quick pace. Before you start stressing over your bump, stop comparing your weight gain to anyone else’s. According to the US Office on Women’s Health, your total pregnancy weight gain depends on your starting BMI. Let’s say your BMI puts you in the normal range. Expect to gain between 25 and 30 pounds. But, if you were underweight, it’s normal to gain between 28 and 40 pounds. A woman who starts out as overweight should gain somewhere between 15 and 25 pounds.
4. You’ll expand everywhere but the belly. You expected that bell curve in your belly area. What you didn’t expect was the weight everywhere else. And that’s what’s throwing you. Your thighs are gathering some padding and your hips —oh, your hips. Then you turn around. Suddenly you went from Kate Moss to something worthy of a Kardashian. Yes, there are women who look like their normal selves, just with a basketball under their shirt. If that’s not you, don’t freak out. As long as you’re gaining a healthy amount of weight, you’re doing what comes naturally (to your body).
5. What goes up will go down. Your A cups grew to Bs. Then Cs. And maybe even Ds. Yay! But even though you may be pleasantly surprised about your sudden cleavage, you’re also fearing the day when you deliver and it all goes away. It’s understandable that you’ll wonder where those bountiful boobs will go. Will they just disappear back into your body? Will they go south? Well, no one can say for sure. Your best bet is to get a good bra (one that the lingerie store pro fits for you) and remember that women come in all different shapes and sizes. Big boobs, small boobs — your bust isn’t exactly a deal breaker when it comes to who you are.
(Photos via Getty)
