When do You start thinking about your figure again?

[KATE535]

My SO is on his brother's bachelor do right now about 100 miles away. It's a stag-weekend to be precise. I have thought a lot about the prosect of him 'ending up' at a stipper joint and made him promise he would steer clear of them and stick to the normal clubs. He promised.... but here I am wondering if it's going to happen :-(
Which leads me to think - I hate my figure at the moment - Duh, hello, I'm 20 weeks pregnant, I tell myself - you're bound to hate how you look at this stage, bump is substantial already. Don't mistake me, I love most things about being pregnant - the pampering, thinking about the baby, feeling the baby move, etc. But, I hate the way my figure goes. Everytime we have sex, I am self concious about how I look because of the way I feel about my body. I hate doing naugty positions that show too much. I would much rather have the lights off. And its not my SO making me feel that way, it's the ever-expanding belly and waistline, oh and the hips, the bum, the thighs... they're all getting bigger. When being on top all I can think of is 'does he think I'm big... I feel too big to be like this'... (and I'm not really too big a weight at 140 lbs)
So with all that said I have already started thinking about getting in shape after Baby arrives (I'm no fitness fanatic though). I have snooped google on post-pregnancy weight loss already (sad I know).... but it's as though I have to tell myself some how that it will get better - there's something to look forward to in terms of feeling sexy again. I really admire those of you out there who feel sexier than ever when pregnant, wish that's what pregnancy did for me.

So am I the only one starting to obsess about my body when I've got a whole 20 weeks to go? How do you stay positive when you hate the way you're starting to grooow?

[Mumita]

Yeah those pictures were when I was 5 months...I'm 8 months now...I wish my belly was so cute still.

[KATE535]

You look glowing in your pictures to me Hun !! :-)

[Mumita]

I've been waiting for the "glowing" it isn't happening here. At 5-6 months is when I looked my best during pregnancy...it all went downhill after 7 months.

[KATE535]

LOL, I could see the dressing room story just then - I know the feeling!!! My boobs are veinier than ever at the moment and I don't think it's a good look, lol. I've got extra weight on most arears of me, so being just 20 weeks is not the biggest I'll be, I know, but I'm still getting most of the physical signs of pregnancy that I will have further along the way. A lot of my hang-ups so early on (20 weeks) will get worse as my bump goes huuuge, but I'm not at the 'glowing stage' yet either, that comes in the 3rd trimester in my experience.
I'm still waiting for my skin and hair to start glowing !!! :-)

[Mumita]

Oh believe me, I dread going to a dressing room in a store because the lighting in the stores makes my thighs look like jello bags, the veins on my chest look brighter blue and my under-eye circles look like black eyes, my feet look like water balloons....you are DEFINITELY not alone.  I have NO IDEA how some women say that this is the sexiest they have felt in their lives...  But at 20 weeks I was looking pretty darn hot compared to how I look right now :P
But good health is all that matters right now.

[KATE535]

Thanks Girls,

So we are all of the same way of thinking that it's easy to feel worried about the changes happening to our bodies... but that it is worth it for the sake of a healthy baby and a happy mummy. I eat healthy and rather often since being pregnant, but can't imagine allowing myself to go hungry while I'm pregnant just to stay trim. I want to / I need to eat regularly for little one to get all the nutrients she needs. It's good to know I'm not alone.

[Mumita]

Kate- These two awesome ladies above are right.  You can't really "plan" or know what your routine is going to be after you have the baby.   I am 32 weeks pregnant and believe me I am soooooo insecure about my body, I've always weighed somewhere around 120lbs so I USED to be pretty thin, now I'm about 160...still pregnant and I am absolutely freaking out about my post pregnancy body but I have no idea how it will all work out in the end.
For now, eat healthy, embrace the growing belly, WALK WALK WALK and keep walking (you'll need it not just for excercise but your feet will start swelling up a lot).  Think about breastfeeding that might help you to loose some weight post baby and also realize that you are building a human being in your belly and all of these changes are specifically for ensuring that your baby has the healthiest outcome when he comes out, so that's a good thing and its all worth it.

[LauraB78]

I don't have any great advice, but I empathize. I have that feeling about my body ALL the time. My son is now 4 1/2 months and I have yet to start excercising. I have been in physical therapy, I reinjured my back during L & D, and I have had other medical problems that are preventing me, all I can say, is that you have to patient. You can of course, be careful what you eat during pregnancy, but ultimately, if you and the baby are healthy, that is the most important thing.. Working out is always hard, especially post baby, but you can do it! =)

[sweetangel7]

I have to tell you, all while I was pregnant, I exercised aerobics and strength training because I was concerned about my figure.  I am recovered from an eating disorder just about 10 years and I have a very unhealthy relationship with my body image.  Needless to say pregnancy body changes were very hard on me...I was figuring out what exercise program I wanted to do post partum while pregnant as well.  I was soo gung ho in my mind that I woulnd't wait the 6 weeks and that I'd be exercising up a storm to get back into shape...especially since it is summer and summer clothes show a fair amount of skin!  WELL, when my son was born (4-22) he ended up in the NICU for a week and was transferred to another hospital...I was able to briefly hold him about an hour after I had him as he was whisked away for xrays and other interventions then he was taken...the next night I was transferred to the other hospital to be with him and I wasn't even able to TOUCH him...it was so painful.  They let me touch him the next day then the following day I could hold him and nurse.  Long story short, my priorities and perspective on my body completely changed during that week.  I could have cared less how I looked.  Looks became extremely unimportant to me in the scheme of things.  Now that I am home, it has been almost 6 weeks and I have not started to exercise although I plan to start soon.  Besides 'looks' taking the back burner, to be honest, the first few weeks I could barely walk...my pelvis, hips etc. were so disjointed there was no way I could have exercised!   AND my baby kept me sooo busy when he napped I wanted to nap but that was the only time I could pee, eat or do anything like shower or dishes or laundry.  

I know it is hard, but try not to focus too much on this and enjoy your pregnancy and all that comes with it.

[KATE535]

He called me just now to tell me he and his older brother are now separated from the group as the others are at the lap dancing clubs. Urgh, Men. Why is it out of a group of 30 guys that only 2 have opted to stay faithful to their partner's at home? Committed relationships and sexual stimulation from elsewhere do Not mix. Why are so many men like this? Brains in their pants??