How to navigate the emotional tole weight gain can have while growing a human

American culture has done pregnant people no favors with the pressures of what a pregnant and postpartum body “should” look like. First of all, mind your own business peanut gallery! Our culture might not know this, but we cannot control where weight goes when it is gained. Our bodies are incredibly smart and they’re going to gain what is required to grow a baby. Gaining weight during pregnancy is the first responsibility of the parent-to-be. 

The physical and hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can be the impetus for difficult body image issues that may or may not have been present before. Body dissatisfaction during pregnancy can affect maternal and fetal health especially if pregnant people are triggered to relapse with an eating disorder.  

Here are some tips that can help -

1 - Add in movement that feels good for you. It’ll help get you in a healthier head space and it’s great for the baby and you!

2 - Get a prenatal massage.

3 - Surround yourself with people who unconditionally lift you up.

4 - Turning to research to help understand why things are happening can be helpful.

5 - Start or continue therapy. Finding someone who specializes in pre/postnatal can help you find the language to express what you are experiencing. 

6 -Nourish your body with foods that fuel you…especially protein. Working with a pre/postnatal dietician could be a great tool to make sure you are eating enough for you and the baby. 

7 - Have open and honest communication with your partner about what support you need. 

8 - Set realistic expectations regarding weight gain during pregnancy.

9 - Find a community of pregnant or postpartum people who are in the same chapter as you. Cough cough Freya! Having a community can help you feel less lonely. 

In addition to hurtful comments swimming around in your brain already, having unkind (or bizarre) comments from strangers or friends or family is beyond unhelpful. Creating responses that feel good to you is important. Older generations sometimes think it’s okay to make comments about the growing body during pregnancy and it’s our responsibility to share that it’s hurtful and unhealthy. What would feel good to say to them? “I’m uncomfortable with you making comments about my body?” “My body is growing a human and it’s doing what it needs to do to create a healthy little human?” “Yes my body is growing the way that it needs to, isn’t that cool?” However you respond should feel authentic to you. And as a reminder, it’s a reflection of them and not you.

It took 9 months to grow and house a human so finding kindness for your body once the baby is here is key. Removing the term, “bouncing back” should help take pressure off of you. This is a chapter of a much longer story and you will find your way.