Scared of own belly

[Anonymous]

This is the very purest form of navel-gazing, sorry for being ridiculous.

After a week of waddling about in Springtime clothes (form-fitting with no jacket to hide anything), I had not registered people's remarks until now. Phrases like "Wow, you are all belly!" from my yoga teacher, the lady who drew my blood, DC1's preschool teacher, etc... And DH's awed look every evening when I come out of the bath and oil that belly. He keeps repeating it did not grow nearly as much when pregnant with DC1.
But this evening... facing front, in the looking glass, I can hardly tell I am pregnant. Facing sideways, My Sainted Pants! It looks as if a giant watermelon has attached itself in front - this huge belly sticks out as if it did not belong to my body!

I can no longer find slim but really long tops or petite pants with insanely large waistbands, or small dresses that fit the rest of me but also accommodate the belly. Should I just give up and buy a floursack?

It is scary. It feels completely disproportionate. I still have 8 weeks to go.

[Anonymous]

Girl--you are preaching to the choir! The other day I went to pick up something for work at another office. I saw the receptionist who then had to go get the person who had what I needed. I was waiting in the lobby (a very public place) when the two of them returned and the person I was meeting turns to the receptionist and says (loudly), "wow, you're right, she IS very pregnant!".

Seriously?? Am I really *that* enormous that strangers feel compelled to speak about it behind my back?? But at the same time I really wonder if I will ever go back to looking normal again. I have 6 weeks to go...I'm right there with you.

[Anonymous]

Don't have any words of advice but just wanted to say I could have written your post. All belly, just like #1. And I have 10 weeks to go. This springtime weather is great -- but I agree, it's suddenly revealing the massive belly!

[Anonymous]

Honestly, people aren't used to seeing later term pregnant women. Pregnancy on TV shows a cute 6 month belly, followed by water breaking, and off to to the hospital we go for labor! Seeing a woman who is closer to her due date seems to scare the pants off most people.

[Anonymous]

Exactly right there with you - down to the 8 weeks to go with #2. And I swear I'm both bigger and feeling it more with this one, though that may be in part the impact of caring for a toddler. Or maybe it's just hitting the 3T - I swear that 28 week mark is some kind of magic threshold for me - I feel pretty good and have a cute pregnant belly all through the 2T, and then all of a sudden my belly explodes, I'm exhausted, and I no longer feel in control of my body.

[Anonymous]

Totally agree! 6 more weeks to go and its like I'm carrying a watermelon. The warmer temps have caused EVERYONE to comment. Plus, I'm even noticing more pregnant women. We've all been bundled under our winter coats and clothes while we grew! A man selling flags on the street told me I was having a girl the other day (we are), a homeless man wished me good luck with the pregnancy when I walked by him and a ticket agent at the theater called me "mama".

[Anonymous]

Someone asked me if I was having twins at 34 weeks. I'm NOT!

[Anonymous]

The only suggestion I have is to buy clothes with ruching. Its an incredible concept, the clothes are form fitting where they need to and totally give around the belly. Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

I agree that the warm weather makes pregnancy more noticeable since we aren't all bundled up anymore.

I'm 38 weeks and everyone is commenting. That baby is so low, she's coming soon, etc.

I say we stick our bellies out with pride!!

[Anonymous]

Hey, I'm measuring 36 weeks even though I'm only 28 because of twins. So when I get to actually be 37-38 weeks, well, lets not even go there! lol

[Anonymous]

Oh man I hear this. Hang in there, OP and PPs.