During my last pregnancy, I admit that I painfully watched the scale like a hawk to see every time I gained a pound. Even though I wouldn’t quite say I became obsessed with my weight gain during my first pregnancy, I realize this attitude wasn’t wise and it’s not something I’m proud of, especially because I didn’t gain an unusual amount of weight. I gained around 18 pounds, which is well within the range of recommended weight gain during pregnancy.
Now, almost five years later, I’m pregnant with my second child, and I have a completely different attitude.
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What's changed?
Well, I guess I have. For one thing, after having gone through childbirth and seeing the beautiful and incredible reward (my daughter), I’m so thankful for my amazing body and everything that it goes through to healthily welcome another baby into this world, and I’m completely grateful. I don’t want to take that for granted this time.
During my last pregnancy, I was 28 years old. I was in tip-top shape. I was the girl who never missed a workout and made sure to get my recommended water and fiber intake. I loved my trim frame and was proud of it, showing it off in mid-drift baring tops and miniskirts.
Like most young women, I was very concerned with my appearance. So, once I started gaining weight, I could see the difference, especially because I have a very small frame at barely 5 feet tall.
This time around, I truthfully just don’t care, and I mean that in a good way.
For one thing, I have more important things to be concerned about than gaining weight (which is we know, is essential for a healthy pregnancy). I’m a mom now to my 4-year-old daughter. She is my priority during my second pregnancy. Especially since this has not been the easiest pregnancy, so far.
I’m currently 18 weeks pregnant and have been dealing with terrible morning sickness — the usual nausea, vomiting, fatigue, etc. Because I have been having such a tough time keeping down food, I really haven’t gained that much weight. But on days when I feel fine and can actually eat, I make sure to nourish myself well and enjoy that.
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This time, I’m not weighing myself every day.
I’m not checking my “skinny” clothing to see if it still fits. Instead, I’m truly embracing this moment and the changes that my body is going through, even though I don’t love the morning sickness part, of course. Instead, I’m embracing the physical changes in my body.
I wake up every morning caressing my growing belly to feel my son kick. I look in the mirror every day to see just how much bigger my stomach is getting. And I’m not hiding my bump. I’m proudly showing it off. I’m looking forward to being pregnant this summer and showing off my belly in bikinis and flowing maxi dresses.
I have come to realize what a true gift being pregnant is — from the miracle of pregnancy to giving birth to the beautiful changes our bodies go through.
I don’t care how much the scale goes up, but rather my concern is taking care of my son growing inside me now. Women are too often made to feel that they must look a certain way during pregnancy — from the supposed pregnancy glow to a perfect round basketball bump. But none of that should matter.
What matters is that the woman going through the pregnancy feel her best and take care of her growing bundle — that’s all that counts.
