Blooming Beyond the Fairytale

What is with this idea that pregnant women let themselves go? I recently saw a soon-to-be mother post a video on Instagram documenting what she ate that day with the caption, "POV: You don't use your pregnancy as an excuse to let yourself go." I was appalled. Let me tell you what I saw her eat: 1 egg white, and half an avocado. Now I've never been pregnant, and I'm pretty healthy for my height, and even I eat more than that. Keep in mind, this woman has a child inside of her. I saw the message that she was trying to spread, but the delivery was just awful. Do you mean to tell me that pregnant women who eat more than an egg white and half an avocado are letting themselves go?

As I said before, I've never been pregnant, but I have taken biology 101 and a general health class; I can clearly see and know that a pregnant woman should be eating for herself and for her child. Do you want to know why? Because she's literally with child! This entire diet culture is now reaching the body that is literally nurturing both the child and the woman. In what world, is it okay for anyone to eat so little? Let alone, a pregnant woman? It brought me to my first myth that I would like to debunk. It's quite ironic that I have to say this, being that I am someone who has not reached my baby-making time. JUST BECAUSE SUSIE OR JESSICA FROM DOWN THE STREET HAD THIS FAIRYTALE PREGNANCY, DOESN'T MEAN YOU WILL. I see all over social media, people sharing their pregnancy progress and documenting their cute maternity outfits and meals, BUT, and this is a huge but, it DOES NOT show the entire picture. Women are over here wondering why they've got the pregnancy nose and why Miranda didn't. But they don't know that Miranda had swollen feet during her pregnancy. "Social Media isn't accurate," literally applies to everything.

Continuously, when has any experience ever been the same? I know girls who get their periods for 3 days, where the next has it for 6 days. It's been in front of us the entire time. When has any experience ever been the same? Just because Nara Smith looked beautiful and slender during her pregnancy, doesn't mean she didn't have other issues and annoyances during it. It just isn't shown. And for goodness' sake she's like a 5'11 model. Stop comparing yourself. The same way you complain and compare yourself to another woman, there is someone behind you doing the same thing to you.

In addition, when did pregnancy become so much about documentation and the aesthetic? And when did the documentation and aesthetic become more important than being healthy and delivering a healthy baby? Isn't that the end goal? Who cares that you put on weight? Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, pregnant or not pregnant has and will put on weight. It's called the circle of life. I ate a cheeseburger and fries from McDonald's yesterday and the scale said my weight went up by 3 pounds. The next morning, the scale said I was at my normal weight, and it was as if the 3 pounds had never existed. Our bodies will forever be a mystery. Mysteries can be scary, but they can also be beautiful. Imagine being able to push out a child and then naturally regain strength, fitness, and nutrition. Oh wait, I don't have to imagine, because there are already so many beautiful and wonderful women who do that.

In conclusion, to the mothers and soon-to-be mothers, cut yourselves some slack. You are in the midst of a life-changing process, and no matter how hard you try to convince yourselves that you aren't beautiful, there is something especially magnificent about the woman who will go through an uprising transformation to deliver a loved child. For every swollen foot, there is the service of a woman willing to provide for her child. For every pound gained, there is a reminder of a beautiful growing child. For every stretch mark, there is a story of personal growth.