To Anon who said my photo will make everyone feel bad about themselves, I’m feeling really guilty. This was not my intention. Trust me. In fact, I work hard to be an advocate for women feeling healthy and strong.
To me, I look pregnant (you’ve never seen how I look not pregnant, I’m assuming). I’ve gained a healthy 20 pounds so far and to be fair, I did spend 28 weeks throwing up. I shouldn’t be defensive, I know. But the last thing I want to do is to make other women feel badly about how they look. Really.
If you’ll peruse my body image archives, you’ll see that I once suffered from an eating disorder. I have to work at being healthy and not letting my weight take control of my life (pregnancy is a particularly challenging time for me). I don’t expect others to understand, but I do ask that they do not judge me or anyone else based on how we look pregnant or otherwise.
Of course, I’m the one who put the picture out there, so now I have to deal with the consequences.
I just do want to apologize to anyone whom I made feel badly by posting a pregnant photo. Again, this certainly was not my intention. I’ve always loved that quote from Charlotte’s Web (it’s scribbled down in one of my journals, and my oldest daughter and I just read the book together for the first time), and it just seemed so fitting now that my family is waiting for our miracle to hatch. (Plus, my preschooler is a budding photographer and has been bugging me incessantly to take pictures of the “baby” and me.)
What is it with people wanting to be hurtful ‘anonymously’???? Honestly, if you don’t feel you can sign your name to something you write, you probably shouldn’t post it!
Kate-you look absolutely beautiful! You have a perfect figure when you’re not pregnant. But this pregnant picture just exemplifies your beauty and the beauty of carrying your precious baby! You really should appease Maddy and let her take even more preggy photos. You’ll be glad later!!!
Blessings!
Tam
Kate,
You should not feel guilty in the least about posting that photo. How you make it through your pregnancy is how your body handles it. Everyone is different. My sister-in-law is the same way. She has thrown up so much that she has lost weight instead of gained (at 15 weeks). Then there are those like me that balloon out like hippos when we gain 60 lbs even when we are watching what we eat. It varies from person to person. If they are bothered by the picture then maybe there is something wrong with the way they see themselves. You do an awesome job sharing your body image struggles with everyone and if Anon would have taken the time to read your links they would have noted that posting that is a huge deal for you. You should be commended and not made to feel guilty. Tell Madeline she did a wonderful job.
Christina
Don’t feel bad, Kate. We’re all different. We all have different body types on both ends of the scale. I’m one of those huge ones when I’m pregnant, but I’ve learned to accept it. We’re all just focused on nourishing our precious little ones that we’re anxious to meet face to face! I’m excited for you that you’re reaching the end and that we’ll get to see your new baby in a few weeks!!!
I love to see pregnant pictures! I don’t care if Mom is tiny or huge. It’s such a blessing.
Here’s the thing: it’s your blog. If people don’t want to see those pictures, they can stop visiting! (Same goes for people who don’t like what you have to say!)
I’m so sorry you have to deal with anonymous comments like that–I delete anonymous comments. It’s amazing how hurtful people are willing to be when their name and face remain a secret.
Don’t sweat the complainers! :)
*ROLLING EYES*
Good grief… we all carry our babies differently. As differently as we are all shaped when we AREN’T pregnant.
I am a shortie, very petite. I am 5’2 on a “tall” day, and at 6 months pregnant I look like I am 41 weeks. I don’t care… it seriously doesn’t matter. I like looking pregnant.
You shouldn’t care either, hon. Anonymous commenters annoy the crap out of me. I say, Sour Grapes. If ANON doesn’t like the way YOU look, she needs to get over it. If ANON doesn’t like the way SHE looks, she can take good care of her body and pray for a better self-image.
Love you and your baby bump.
Congrats!!!
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Seriously! You look great, pregnant or not! I think Madeline has a career in photography, and you should let her take more pictures of you and the rest of her world. Everyone carries their baby differently. What matters is that you have a wonderful miracle in there!
Thanks to everyone for their support. One wise friend did point out that perhaps I’m being too sensitive about all of this. This is a hot button topic for me, so she’s probably right. :)
Blessings!
I’m a little late but don’t you worry I noticed this photo and felt so proud of you!
Our discussions about body image have been so enlightening to me. It is not so important how we actually look to the world – but rather how we see ourselves, and even more importantly, how aware we are of how God sees us.
I know “anonymous” meant nothing bad by her comments. She has been conditioned by the world to believe that because you are smaller than she might be you are happier and more confident – and have no right to any insecurites.
Of course that is nonsense, but we girls have lots of work to do, don’t we?
Cathy –
“It is not so important how we actually look to the world – but rather how we see ourselves.” So well said – thank you.
I do think I was being overly sensitive looking back now, but oh well. Life goes on, right? No use sweating the small stuff. Let’s see how many more cliches I can come up with in one comment! :)
Blessings!