In her famous selfie-obsessed style, Kim Kardashian, who’s expecting her second child in November, has shown off her ever-blossoming bump with naked Instagram shots, saying everybody looks different pregnant and that she has ‘learnt to love her body at every stage’.
So we asked these brave mums-to-be to share their own bump selfies and reveal how they feel about their pregnant bodies.
"I love that I’ve got a rounded bottom and fuller breasts"
Rebecca Fredericks, 34, is a personal trainer and nutritionist. She lives in Greenwich, South East London, with communication trainer husband Joe, 40, and is 39 weeks pregnant with their first child.
I look at this picture of myself and I think it’s beautiful. I love the curves pregnancygives you – a more rounded bottom, fuller breasts.
Joe’s taken lots of pictures of me and I love looking at how my shape has changed over what have been nine blissful months
I put on a lot of weight to start with. I think that’s because, being a size 6 and so fit for my job, I had very little fat initially and my body craved it.
We went to a party at 10 weeks and I said to Joe ‘everyone’s going to be able to tell’ because my thighs and middle had got so much thicker. They couldn’t – but my body just looked so different to me. I’ve gone from 8st to just over 11st and most of that went on in my first two trimesters. I eat healthily, but I have a terrible sweet tooth. I wolfed down a family bag of Maltesers in one sitting yesterday.
Because I weight train I do eat a lot anyway. You need to consume a lot of calories. And that hasn’t changed during pregnancy. I’ve worked out five times a week for 45 minutes a time.
A lot of my pregnant friends have said they can’t wait to get back to exercise after the birth. I don’t understand why you’d stop. I know you can’t do contact sport, ride horses or do anything that might hurt the baby but why wouldn’t you go to the gym if it’s safe?
When I found out I was pregnant all I read was ‘you can do swimming and yoga’. So I booked onto a personal training pregnancy and nutrition course to learn more about it. I now hope to advise other pregnant women and have made lots of fitness videos.
I believe being fit has helped me carry better and will help my body stay strong during birth. And I’m looking forward to it. I want to see what my body is capable of!
"After body dysmorphia I feel liberated"
Sarah Jane Honeywell, 41, is 38 weeks pregnant with her first baby. She and partner Ayden Callaghan, 34 – who, like Sarah Jane works in the entertainment industry – live in Liverpool.
I was a little bit worried about how I would cope with being pregnant. For years I battled body dysmorphia, thinking I was at least two sizes bigger than my size 6 frame. But actually it’s been liberating. I am more comfortable now than I have been for ages.
It took a while for me to start showing because after years of gymnastics and dance training my stomach muscles are very tight.
However when I did I really embraced it and I love how I look. Yes, my stomach is sticking out – but it’s supposed to! I do admit I have looked up how long it might take to lose the weight after the baby’s born but that’s more about me looking forward to feeling like myself again than weight.
I have gained only 1st 3lbs in total. I’m only 4ft 11ins and there doesn’t feel a lot of room in there for a baby and food – particularly now I’m 38 weeks. I have to remind myself to eat because I feel so full all the time. I’ve been a vegan for 12 years so I am well aware of making sure I get enough protein. But my iron levels have been great during my pregnancy. I’ve been eating all my usual beans and pulses and I’ve felt fantastic.
I have, however, craved pork! Ayden’s not a vegan and every time I smell him cooking it I want it! I think it might be something to do with the salt in it because I have also fancied really salty soup.
I’ve been so lucky though. I’ve felt really well. I’ve had no swelling, no aches or pains. I’ve kept active – swimming and lots of walking – and I think that’s helped. My skin, hair and nails are amazing.
I’m really nervous about the birth – I said to Ayden that I feel a bit like I’m waiting to be beaten up – but I’m so excited to meet our little boy. And I’m looking forward to touching my toes again!
"I lost my last baby so this bump feels like a blessing"
Kelly Mitchell, 27, who works in a restaurant, lives in Loughborough, Leics, with her partner Tom Summers, a 23-year-old call centre worker, and her three sons aged 11, five and four. She is 37 weeks pregnant.
Looking at my bump I feel, in a small way, healed. My last pregnancy – my fourth – ended at 23 weeks. I suffered a problem with my placenta. Our little girl sadly died after just 40 precious minutes. She’d have been one now.
When I found out I was expecting again I was terrified. In fact I could barely acknowledge my changing body until that 23-week marker passed.
I was so scared lightning would strike twice.
Mercifully it didn’t. And to see my shape change and grow has been a blessing. Really cathartic.
I suppose I took my health for granted during my first three pregnancies with the boys. I suffered horrible morning sickness with one of them but otherwise I carried well with big bouncing babies at the end of it.
Losing our daughter made me appreciate how incredible pregnancy is.
Despite the fact I am having another boy my shape is quite different this time. I am bigger all round where usually I just have a football in the front and everything else stays pretty much the same. I like it though.
I always put on two dress sizes (I don’t really weigh myself). I go from a 10 to a 14 and always lose it quite quickly. And pregnancy makes me so hungry! I can’t stop eating and confess I see it as my time to indulge. I don’t have one biscuit, I have the packet!
My hair has grown masses as usual but this time I have been a little spotty which is not ideal. And although I have stretchmarks from my earlier pregnancies I haven’t developed any more.
I am breathless – particularly now I’m nearly at the end. I don’t like that aspect of being pregnant. Not being able to do what I want without getting out of puff. Even housework and going up and down the stairs wears me out now.
That said I love how strong my body is. And it might sound strange but I like looking different. I especially like the bigger boobs! Tom is so attentive and he tells me every day that I am gorgeous.
I don’t know if this will be my last pregnancy or not. With every child I’ve said I’m not having another – I am actually terrified of giving birth! If it was my last I would be sad not to see a picture like this again. A pregnant woman’s body is a wonderful thing.
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