Wednesday, 8 January 2014

23 weeks: loving the body

It is a known fact: Pregnancy is when the body changes drastically.

My feet seem strangely distant now. For the first time in my life, trimming my toenails felt awkward. I had to trim them at a very different angle from that which I am used to - and so I misjudged, over-did the trimming and there was an iron-leak. I guess, the hubby will be the one trimming my toenails for me in a few weeks time. Scary thought. It is a bit like anticipating a trip to the dentist's. Seriously.

The most drastic bodily change of all? New curves. They say that the maternal shape is a sensuous one... and I am sure that most of you will agree. However, I fluctuate between feeling gorgeous and... fat. No matter how passionate are the praises that my hubby sings of my glow and bloom, there are days when I find it a little more difficult to appreciate my reflection in the mirror. The roundness of all things (and not just my belly) can be quite intimidating. What helps? (1) my monthly visits to the obstetrician's clinic - where I can immerse myself gracefully into that gracious, comfortable world in which most people have swollen, puffy feet, are round everywhere and still look blissful; (2) pampering myself with scented body scrubs and other beauty treatments (even the simplest ones - like slathering myself with milky lotion) just because they make me enjoy being in my skin much, much more; (3) beating my tendency to be anti-social whenever I feel fat by going out with close friends... and this makes a whole lot of difference to my self-esteem; (4) eating my favourite foods; (5) cooking (particularly those soul-warming soups and porridges); and last but not least (6) talking to my baby.

I am beautiful.

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