im hating my belly right now

[Muffy]

At the moment i am almost 22 weeks pregnant.. (i think? lol)
i HATE how my belly looks
its not even hard, its still really flabby - some people dont even realise im pregnant they just think ive put on weight!!!
i hate how it looks without clothes on (thats why all the photos i have posted have been one's with a top on).
When i wear a top at least it looks at little bit round.
Somedays i dont even want to leave the house.
i look at photos from my last pregnancy and i think i looked great!! not this time though!!
STUPID UGLY STRETCHMARKS.
that is all, thanks for listening.

[Footsteps]

huni,
you look amazing you are growing a beautiful baby girl you so dont look flabby.
take care rach xxx

[Muffy]

thanks rach....

is anyone else feeling the same thing?

[cocobambino]

hey babe, dont stress I think you look fine, your FAR from fat, i feel the same i feel fat but its rounded so i know its not fat but im fat all over YOUR NOT

[fazzamum]

Hi Laura,
i think that we have so many unrealistic media pictures of perfect mums (who have personal trainers, chefs and sly tummy tucks after) that we think we should look perfect like that too. If you look at everyone here with no top on you would see LOTS of stretch marks and flubby skin trust me. I have been pretty slim but have retained a belly since my second baby so I have had lots of people ask me if I am pregnant when I wasn't!!! With my last baby at 20 weeks people were asking how many days I had left!! So if you are small enough to not look mega pregnant at this stage you are doing a fabulous job. I bet you are beautiful - just think of the wonder and forget about reaching for unrealisitc goals. In the end you just want you and your bubba to be healthy.
Stay strong and feel beautiful!!

[Nai]

Laura, I know how you feel although I just feel huge and already have people asking when I am finishing up work and I have 4 months to go!! Some days I just look fat and other I look enormously pregnant so we can't win.

[Shanti]

Oh sweety! You're growing your little baby girl in there, be proud of how you look..... it's the most beautiful thing being pregnant.... I bet you look more beautiful than you realise

I have stretch marks too..... Bio Oil & Palmers Butter did NOTHING for me but who cares... it's a sign we're going to be wonderful mummies

[AliBaby]

Awww Laura.... You are such a beautiful girl and are growing the most gorgeous belly.

It is natural to feel self conscious about yourself and we all have days where we just feel....well...fat. I know I do. I went to a party with DP the other week and someone was talking about this other girl who was pregnant. The pregnant girl said refering to me "Ali's pregnant too" and this other girl goes "oh really" I actually said to her "what did you think I was just fat or something" and she actually said I thought you had just put on a few kilos. I was devestated but didnt show it until I got home.

I realised it doesnt matter what other ppl think but it does matter what I think and saying negative thoughts to myself doesnt help. I am going to order one of those tshirts to wear that have funny slogans on them like "I'm growing a baby...what's your excuse?" I reckon you should get one as well to wear when you are having one of those days where you just dont feel great.

Lots of hugs to you babe. You are beautiful!

[~Kaz~]

Ditto exactly what Ali said.

You don't look fat to me - you look pregnant!

FWIW - I have many many more fat days than pregnant days. I've put on a stack of weight so far and I don't have a prior pregnancy to compare this to. I do know how you feel, I can't wait for my belly button to stop being a crater and for the flabby bits to get fully stretched but I am fully expecting the stretchies to emerge too.

Try to focus more on what's going on inside.

Ali - what a stupid-head!! I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume either she was drinking (so not engaging her brain before her mouth) or that she generally lacks social skills or that she has had little to no prior experience with pregnant people (or perhaps all three?). That T-shirt is a great idea! Where do you get them from?

[SugarDust]

I know how you feel!

I just wish it would all tighten up and look pregnant not just fat!

[AliBaby]

That T-shirt is a great idea! Where do you get them from?

Here are a couple of websites you can order online from (I hope I am able to post them here, if not I am really sorry mods)

Lumpee Bumpee Funky Maternity Wear or bump, under manufacturing process, gifts for new fathers, new mom gifts, maternity apparel, funny maternity t-shirts

[Muffy]

Nai - somedays i wish people would just keep thier comments to themselves....

Renstar - i love being pregnant!!!! i just wish my body would actually 'look' pregnant. im finding the bio oil is not helping either.. i this getting fat and having stretch marks is all normal but i think OMG im only 20yrs old and i have the body of someone twice my age!! arrrgghhh im going to be 21 next yr and there is no way you will get me into a nice dress for my 21st or bikinis for summer... IM ONLY 20!!!

Ali - thanks babe.
my sister is only 12 weeks and she has a cute bump already - people compare us all the time and comment on how 'different' our bellies are.
im loving those t -shirts. thank you so much for the suggestion!! xx

mellie - i know.. i dont understand why it doesnt harden up as quickly the second time round....

[Shanti]

I'm only 27, i don't think I should have to be putting up with stretch marks at my age either!!!! LOL

[Sterla]

Oh Laura, I know exactly how you feel! My belly just looks fat - I certainly don't look pregnant... not at all . I already had a fat belly before I fell pregnant , so now it just looks like I have a bigger fat belly. I've been waiting almost 24 weeks to look pregnant, and I'm still waiting.

[Mumma2three]

Im just hating how I look in general. I don't look pregnant, although JUST starting to poke out a little (so where has the 10 kilos I've put on gone...........). Mainly on my boobs and tummy, so I look fat and large. I am starting to get alot of looks and comments......
I know it's pregnancy, but I hate the feeling at the moment. Actually I hate how I look from here on in until after bubs arrives. My boobs are SOOOOOOO big and I am embarrassed. Anyway, trying to focus on the miracle inside and just camoflauge myself!!!!!!!
So I hear you Laura!!!! You're not alone! xoox

[sydney moose]

Laura: I hear you love, are your stretchmarks purple? cause mine are...yuck. My belly was looking fat for a while but finally at 25 weeks, I look pregnant...although being a bigger girl, I guess sometimes people wonder. Just keep that loving feeling about being pg and before you know it, people will tell you I actually feel very bad, one of the girl came to my yoga class and she has NO tummy and is 21 weeks, I felt so bad about commenting afterwards, I'm sure she gets it all the time, I will apologise next week.

[Andjxx]

I feel exactly the same at the moment - it suck but there is nothing we can really do about it for another 18 + weeks.

I think I just want to feel like my normal self again - I feel like a fat girl has taken over my body.