Unfortunately, young moms-to-be tend to get shamed during their pregnancies by people eager to judge them for deciding to become moms at their age. Reanna Stephens hasn't been immune to the influx of unwanted criticism throughout her first pregnancy, but the rude remarks haven't had to do with the 18-year-old's age. People are slamming this woman from South Carolina because of the size of her bump, and she's sick of strangers degrading her for her abs.
Stephens is getting a lot of attention for her first pregnancy -- but not all of it is positive.
At first glance, many bump-shame her and assume her entire pregnancy is just a hoax. "I am not faking my pregnancy,” Stephens, a college freshman and musician, told Us Weekly. "This baby is a gift from God and I am so blessed. He is growing and moving every single day."
She's seven months pregnant and her slim figure is causing many to slam her "lack of bump."
Despite what people think, Stephens isn't concerned, and she believes that how she's carrying her little boy is simply genetic. "Luckily I have the support of my family, because my mother was in a similar situation when she was pregnant," she said, according to the Daily Mail. "She was an athlete and she didn't show until she was seven months pregnant. Although I'm much smaller than her, I believe being active has a part to play in the size of your bump."
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Stephen credits maintaining her abs to her vegan diet and "light" exercise routine in addition to good genes.
Before getting pregnant, Stephens spent six years doing mixed martial arts as well as kickboxing, jujitsu, circuit training, weight training, yoga, and cardio. "Now I only do yoga and cardio, but this is part of the reason for my slender physique," she said, as the Daily Mail reports. "My baby is growing the perfect amount every month as it's measured, just like everyone else's, so it's absolutely nothing to do with mine or the baby's health."
She's also just as careful with what she puts in her body as she is with how she maintains it physically. "I also consume a vegan diet, so I don't have any animal products, and avoid unhealthy foods such as fizzy drink, sweets, and junk food," she added.
So far, she has only gained five pounds despite being due in April.
According to Us Weekly, Stephens believes that all of the weight she's gained so far — all five pounds of it — has gone to her breasts. Even with the minimal weight gain, her regular ultrasounds show that her healthy baby boy is right on track when it comes to his length and weight.
"The cruelest thing anyone has ever said to me was that I'm killing my baby," she told Us Weekly. "They said, 'He's going to die in your womb' and that I'm not fit to have a baby.' All my doctors say he is perfectly healthy."
Stephens is also sick of comparing herself to other pregnant women while also getting judged by everyone around her.
She admits that while everyone is judging her, she has also compared her bump throughout her pregnancy to people on different parenting Facebook pages and she's always the smallest. "But I love my small bump, it's not big but I think it's perfect in its own way and it's my body and my bump, no one else's," she said, according to the Daily Mail.
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But people constantly ask her if she's faking her pregnancy or assume she's harming her unborn baby.
These negative comments and assumptions hurt this first-time mom and she hopes that people learn to stop bump-shaming no matter the size. "People really affect me with their comments, I try to stay calm as I know both me and my baby are healthy," she continued. "I have had people stopping me in the street and giving me nasty looks. It's heart-breaking that instead of getting the 'aw, look at your bump,' I just get people being rude to me as soon as they realize how far gone I am."
Random people assume that she's starving her baby or not seeing a doctor. "I have also been told that I shouldn't be having a baby if I can't feed myself, but people know nothing about my diet or lifestyle," she added.
Even though her bump isn't the size that haters want it to be, Stephens is embracing it no matter how big or small.
"I'm going to be an amazing mom. I’m going to love and care for my child. I'll fight for him and pray for him and be his support system," she told Us Weekly. "My baby boy will be the best thing that has ever happened to me."
