Let’s talk body image and pregnancy – all my honest thoughts…the good and the hard.

Accepting that my body would change was one of the last things I had to let go of before I decided I was ready to have a baby. I remember a late-night walk, talking to God about how ready I felt for a baby, how deeply I wanted this—but there was still fear around my body changing and feeling out of control. That night, I felt His peace so clearly, like He was saying, “Give it to me.” So, I did. The next day, I told Nathan I was ready.

I went into pregnancy genuinely excited for the changes. As I grew this little human, I felt an overwhelming love to care for him by caring for myself. But then… the changes actually started happening, and things got real.

Early in my second trimester, fears crept back in. I felt insecure, frustrated that nothing fit, and I joked about my body with others. I broke down in tears with my sister and husband many times, overwhelmed by how out of control it all felt. I cried to my counselor and realized I was still holding onto beliefs from years ago when I struggled with an eating disorder in high school and college. I thought I’d let go of those things long ago, but they were still there. I was determined not to let those thoughts define me anymore.

With my mentor’s guidance, for weeks I worked through these beliefs, breaking down one thought pattern at a time

I also made a promise to myself in the mirror: no more talking down about my body to others or myself. I put away clothes that no longer fit and only kept the ones that made me feel confident. Day by day, I felt like I was peeling back layers that had unknowingly been weighed me down for so long. After weeks of hard internal work, I started to feel different—like a new person.

Now, in my third trimester, I can honestly say I’ve never felt more beautiful or loved my body more than I do right now. There are still hard days, but they don’t hold the same weight over me. People tell me I’ve had an “easy pregnancy,” and while it’s gone smoothly, it’s also been one of the hardest, most growing experiences I’ve ever had. Yes, there are the tough parts that I relate to so many mommas on—round ligament pain, exhaustion, sore boobs, fears, insecurities, the morning sickness I tried to deny lol, back pain, hormones, acid reflux, and clothes not fitting. But I still LOVE being pregnant, not because it’s easy, but because it’s stretched me, physically and mentally, in ways I didn’t know I needed.

And yeah…If I had focused only on the hard parts, I know it would have been miserable. But this pregnancy is my favorite time in life, and I am so in love with this little life inside me that it hurts.

I’m also not worried about “getting my body back” after pregnancy. My body will be new and different—a body that carried and birthed a human, and to me, that’s amazing. That’s not to say I won’t have or work for abs again, but I’m not in a rush to get chiseled right away. It’s normal to look like you’ve had a baby after having a baby. My focus will be on nourishing myself and my baby.

My body is different now, and it will be different after, but it’s not damaged or ruined. It’s more beautiful, open, and surrendered than ever before.

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If you’re wanting kids in the future, currently pregnant, or have had a baby and struggled or are struggling with the body changes, here are a few tips to help:

1. Go in with a plan. Try to prepare mentally and physically for pregnancy. Not preparing mentally or physically is like running a marathon without training for it. Make sure you’re taking care of yourself beforehand—eating healthy 80% of the time, staying hydrated, supplementing, moving, knowing where you are at mentally, getting quality sleep, and avoiding a calorie deficit. Establishing these habits before pregnancy will help you keep them up, even if they look a bit different later on.
2. Know that your body will change—and that’s okay. Change is part of the beautiful process of creating new life. Your body growing means your baby is growing too!
3. Be prepared for body image challenges. Lingering issues may come up, and that’s okay! Just don’t shove them down or let them control you. Acknowledge them, and have someone you trust to help you process through them . Working through these emotions instead of ignoring them makes a world of difference.
4. Know your triggers. If the scale is triggering, don’t weigh yourself. If certain clothes make you feel bad, put them away and only keep items that make you feel amazing.

and if you’re looking for guidance on nutrition, movement, or mindset, my team of nutritionists/trainers (who are moms themselves!) would love to help you. Whether you’re hoping to get pregnant, are currently pregnant, or are in the postpartum phase, having support can make all the difference. Book a free call with me here to see if one of our programs could be a good fit for you!