(This is another pregnancy-focused post. If you aren't in a place where you want to read that, I understand. Hope you'll come back soon.)
**********
I'm sure by now that many of you have seen photos of Beyonce displaying her "baby bump" at last week's VMAs on MTV. I honestly don't have an opinion about her pregnancy or the way she chose to announce it or the media's reactions. But the photos that have circulated of her "bump" have caused some consternation in our household.
I know I've mentioned here before that MM is a worrier. At least a few times a week, he expresses a new concern that something may be wrong with the Wonder Twins. There are always different reasons for his fears, and I do the best I can to provide information that will allay them when I can. (He has even been losing sleep some nights because he's worried "something is wrong.")
Well, seeing the photos of Beyonce's "bump" and hearing that she is also due in February prompted him to wonder why *I* don't look pregnant. I mean, I have *two* babies in there. . . . I should definitely be showing by now, right? I have tried explaining to him that everyone's bump shows at different times and that the fact that Beyonce is normally quite thin while I am, um, plus-size (size 16-ish), also makes a difference, but so far he has not been reassured. He thinks I have no bump because the babies have (inexplicably) stopped growing since the NT scan.
For the record, I do have a "bump." It just wouldn't be noticeable to anyone who doesn't regularly see me unclothed. (Oh, and in case anyone is thinking of asking. . . . no, I won't be posting photos of my bump here. At least not until it is a definitive baby bump instead of just looking like a fat belly. ;-) )
Unlike Beyonce, I have what I (lovingly) refer to as an "insulating layer of fat" over my bump. So it simply looks like I am fat, not pregnant. When I lie on my back, it is clear that the rounded bump is, in fact, my uterus and not just fat. It's also obvious to the touch. But no one would ever look at me and think "Aha! She's pregnant!" let alone "Aha! She must be having twins!"
I've seen photos posted by other bloggers pregnant with twins who are not as far along as I am (15w2d) and are showing. But again, all these bloggers started out their pregnancies much thinner than I.
I'm sure because I'm having twins, I will soon be showing and will get plenty big enough to assure even MM that I'm pregnant and have growing babies in there. And I really don't mind that I don't look pregnant yet; I certainly *feel* pregnant, I'm not worried about the babies (much--have no reason to be), and it's been nice still being able to wear most of my same clothes. I do kind-of feel bad, though, that this has given MM something else to worry about.
Darn Beyonce.
Its cute that MM worries! Right now I look like I'm pregnant but its just from the IVF drugs, I'm excited to get a real bump, but who knows when that will be?...
ReplyDeleteYou should just rent one of those dopplers so he can hear the heartbeats whenever he wants for reassurance. In got mine at babybeat. It's the same kind used by the docs.It gave me peace when I needed it.
ReplyDelete@My Vegas: I'd be inclined to agree with you if I were having a singleton. I've had a friend offer me her Doppler BUT I'm not sure using one would be a good idea for us. Even my OB uses ultrasound, rather than the Doppler, to measure the babies' heartbeats because she says twins makes it hard to use the Doppler. If it's hard for her, how much harder would it be for us novices? MM would be even more freaked out if I couldn't find one or both heartbeats with the Doppler, so I think that might create more problems than it solves.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's hard not to want to judge your bump, once you finally have one. I had what I referred to as a "beer gut" until I was about 20 weeks. That's when it started to round out a little...
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain, love. I promise before you know it, you'll be spilling food on it, and running in to things. ;-)
I am amazed at all the ways MM is worrying about this pregnancy! He gets an A plus in the worry department:) I am sure your bump will pop out around 20 weeks and then MM will be able to relax? You are totally right that everybody develops their bump at different rates, the important thing is that it doesn't worry you! Stupid Beyonce and her bump! Ha ha!
ReplyDeleteOne of my co-workers is pregnant with twins. She was full figured at the start, and she's just now started to look "pregnant" at 7 months.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, my SIL is rail thin. She's 3 1/2 months and she still doesn't look pregnant at all, tiny as she is.
Everyone is different, no matter what their size. Also, with the first pregnancy, it always takes longer to show.
You will be noticeably showing soon enough! Tell MM to take a deep breath and trust that things are fine. It's tough to do, but sometimes you just have to sit back and let whatever is going to happen happen. Which in your case will be the birth of two perfectly healthy babies!
ReplyDeleteSorry your husband is worrying.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have to laugh a little about your post...I am 10 weeks tomorrow and my belly is so big...so much bigger than it "should" be at this point...and I so worry something is wrong, lol. But I think the truth for both of us as you say above is that everyone is different, just like hair and eye color and body size, every pregnant woman does not look exactly the same when they are X weeks along...what they tell you in books about when you should start showing is just averages, right? Speaking of which, in your first pregnancy it can be 4-5 months before you start showing, according to the experts. So you are right on track. :)
When I was pregnant with twins, I was sick for about 20-22 weeks. I lost so much weight that I didn't increase from my starting weight until week 30 or so. And I had 2 full term 6 pounders. I didn't really look pregnant until about 18-20 weeks, just chubby.
ReplyDeleteSo thrilled for you and hopeful you start feeling better soon!
It takes FOREVER for it to show up!
ReplyDelete