.. being pregnant with a boy. When I discovered I was having a boy I suddenly felt a degree of self-consciousness that I hadn’t recalled with Lauca. Something about growing female cells inside my female body felt very natural. Now, I have a boy on the premises, like constantly. Weird. (And exciting).
Another strange thing is this. I look pretty much like an M&M this pregnancy. (That’s not the strange bit). I guess my stomach muscles thought, well we weren’t doing anything anyway, why stick around? Last time I carried so sneakily that I didn’t announce my pregnancy to work colleagues until I was about six months pregnant, but this time I’ve been in maternity clothes since week 15. The strange thing is that while I look like an M&M this time around, when I announce my pregnancy to people some of them have been very surprised. What? You think I usually look like an M&M?
During the second pregnancy you pop sooner (or so was my experience…. I was whipping out the maternity pants with a quickness). Congrats on growing a little dude! Little boys are fantasic.
As a previously plump human, folks seemed even slower on the uptake than usual regarding the fact that I’m pregnant. On my LAST DAY at work, at 37 weeks pregnant, with a large firm pregnant belly that prevents me sitting down comfortably, wearing anything except one of two pairs of maternity pants, or cutting my own toenails I had someone sit next to me and say, “Oh, you know, you don’t look pregnant at all!”
As my coworker said, after the woman left, “I don’t know what she’s smoking. Frankly, I’m surprised you don’t tip over every time you stand up.”
Pregnant bodies: still women’s bodies.
Therefore, still up for the gaze and discussion.
As a fat-positive fat person, it has *still* been hard to remember that people thinking I’m fat instead of pregnant (and fat) shouldn’t be a problem. Ah well…
I am a thin, small person who happens to have a round belly as part of the package, so I’ve been asked if I am pregnant more times than I can remember now. (Never by anyone that is actually close enough to be entitled to ask the question, either.) I’m not really bothered by it, as I understand that people are strange and think that everyone has flat bellies. I like to add a little lesson to the horrified look when I say ‘Nah just got a big belly… Other women might be more offended though, you probably shouldn’t ask people that’.
So I never ask anyone if they are pregnant, even if they look like (hehe) an M&M.
I do get slightly annoyed by those people who complain they aren’t showing when pregnant… If I ever get pregnant I will show from one month and then after the birth – well I think it will be goodbye waist. The annoying part is that I actually do have pretty strong stomach muscles (from dancing) – I just have this little belly on top. Every single woman in my family does, it’s inescapable!
I’m reminded of a quote from Sex and the City from this post.
Carrie to Miranda: do you realize you’re growing a teeny tiny penis inside you? That is so sci-fi!
I was an absolute M&M the first time round – so much so that at 8 months I went to a fancy dress as a disco ball. Didn’t need much padding. And just before that I went into a shoe shop and made a remark about swollen feet (had that in spades first time round too) and the girl looked shocked and said “are you pregnant?”. I was so not the right shape to be anything but pregnant. Not that there was no fat to accompany the baby, but no-one looks like I did without being pregnant!
@hendo, I pretty much always look about 4 months pregnant, even when I’m at my lightest the belly is still there. I don’t get asked if I am pregnant because I have spent most of my life trying desperately to hide its hideous roundness. I am only just now starting to get over my neuroticism. I will remember that line of yours if actually allowing the world to see roundness gets me the comments! 🙂
Oh, that Sex and the City quote is just how I felt. How funny. As illogical as it is, I find it very hard to believe that a boy–and his penis–can possibly grow in our uteruses… (Uteri?)
I have never thought that about having a boy baby inside one before. But it will never leave my mind now. Especially if I ever have a little boy! oh dear!
@Ariane: You might also be interested in another line of mine, if you ever get brave about your belly. I started telling people this year that ’round bellies are in fashion’. I don’t do the muffin top thing (actually I don’t really have a muffin top, but you know what I mean) but you know, this is my damn body, there’s nothing wrong with it.
In my experience everyone is so busy worrying about their own body ‘flaw’ they rarely notice yours, and if they do they think it is nothing compared to their own ‘problem areas’. 🙂 so now I just tell myself that and go about my business!
Hmmm – I looked like an M&M second time around, ‘tho that was twins. My tummy used to come around doors long before the rest of me did.
I loved it.
I’m reminded of a quote from Sex and the City from this post.
Carrie to Miranda: do you realize you’re growing a teeny tiny penis inside you? That is so sci-fi!
Not having watched SATC, I never thought about it that way before…
…Weird.
[…] I’m a skintight maternity clothes wearer. Once pregnancy gets going I actually really like my pregnant form. I’m not sure that I find my pregnant body sexy, but I find it […]