Pregnant *and* fat, CW: Body image issues
I'm 11.5 weeks, so a ways away from "showing," but I am having anxiety around it and could use some advice/assurance, particularly from other fat mamas.
I have struggled with my weight all my adult life, and have always been extremely self conscious about it. I tried to lose some before getting pregnant, but, long story short, I did not. Specifically, even when I was much smaller, I've always carried excess fat in my stomach, so I've always been very nervous about looking pregnant, and have basically designed my whole wardrobe around the goal of hiding my tummy as much as possible. So now, thinking about how soon hiding my tummy will not be possible is upsetting me greatly. Luckily it's not an issue with trying to hide the pregnancy, I have already told most people in my life, and plan to tell the rest shortly after getting past the 2nd trimester mark. But I am worried about being, for example, 20 weeks pregnant, and looking 28 weeks, and how I would respond to people's reactions to finding out. (I already had an interaction sort of like that this weekend and it didn't feel great!) More than that, I am just not sure how I will mentally be able to handle having to accept that I can't hide my tummy anymore, and learning to love and show off my bump when I've been hating and hiding my "bump" as long as I can remember. Not to mention if anyone tries to touch it! 😣
Anyone been through this, and how did you handle it?
Also, goes without saying, but please don't bring any fatphobia here, I have plenty of my own internalized, thanks!
Posted Feb 24, 2025, 9:30 PM UTC