When a woman gets pregnant, she goes through many emotional and physical changes. The most obvious change is her growing belly and the re-shaping of her body to accommodate a new being. For many women, gaining weight is associated with being unattractive and does not match their societal consciousness of what is acceptable. The media and print magazines tend to dictate what is, and what is not, beautiful and many women have their self- image tied primarily to their body image.

Growing a baby means gaining weight. Pure and simple, your baby needs you to gain weight in order to blossom into a healthy newborn. The question is how do you feel about this new body of yours and how it relates to your self-image?

Reflections
Take some time to honor your new body as it blossoms into a mother’s body: one that will produce milk to nourish your baby; one that will expand to let your baby enter into the world; and one that will need mothering hips to carry your baby when she needs to be close. Meditate on all of your feelings that arise in relation to gaining weight and having a newly developed body. Ask yourself if you feel sexy and attractive or do you have feelings of being undesirable and ugly? Take notice of all of your feelings and acknowledge them, have compassion with yourself and own them. We are perfect in every moment and remember that your new curves are luscious and full of life!

Ideas

• Stand naked in front of a mirror and let your belly be full and glorious and see what feelings it brings up in you.
• Wear something that makes you feel sexy and gorgeous that accentuates your new body.
• Have your big belly decorated with a lovely henna design to honor its beauty.
• Have a pregnancy photo shoot to document and show off all of your new curves!