If you are looking for tangible, helpful advice when it comes to seeing your body change while you are pregnant, you are in the right place. Some of my advice may seem a little insensitive, but I promise it comes from a caring position, and I am just a non-sugar-coated person.

Don’t  keep reading if you don’t want some brutally honest advice from my two first-hand experiences. 

If you have stumbled upon this blog, hello. My name is Sarah. I am a fitness professional, business owner, and prenatal and postpartum certified trainer. I have two children that are 19 months apart. Oakley was born in August 2020, and Dean was born in March 2022. I gained 28 lbs with each pregnancy. If anyone should have been terrified of their body changing while pregnant- it should have been me. The “influencer” that has over a million followers with so many people just ready to watch me fail. Yet, I wasn’t scared at all of my body changing. 

Pause. Your feelings are valid. If you are scared of your body changing- I am not here to invalidate you. You should feel your feelings. And then address them head-on if they are consuming your mind. 

Ok, back to the actual advice. Fitness influencer with lots of followers; my body is partially what makes us money- so how wasn’t I scared of my body changing while pregnant? I was EXCITED to see active I could remain while pregnant. I was beyond excited to have a postpartum transformation. Why? Because for almost a decade, I was told, “Oh, just wait until you have kids- your body will never be the same after.” Talk about a fire lit under my ass. 

I know not everyone can remain active while pregnant. I was fortunate to not get morning sickness with either child. I didn’t have any food aversions. I really didn’t have many cravings. I was able to stick to my prenatal nutrition plan. I didn’t look at pregnancy as a time to let loose. Fat cells, unfortunately, never go away. And I know that talking about weight with a pregnant woman is a super sensitive topic, but ladies, the HEALTHIER you can remain while pregnant makes your PP journey that much easier. Not only that, you are setting your child up for a healthier life if you stay active and gain an appropriate amount of weight. ON TOP of that- labor, delivery, and recovery are all easier, according to the ACOG. I have a FREE prenatal and postpartum guide on the homepage of my blog (linked here). 

I guess my point- you can still remain disciplined while pregnant. You can, of course, have things you are craving, but they should make up like 5% of your diet. You are growing a life, and your body needs to be fueled properly. I have a blog that breaks down every piece of prenatal nutrition (linked here). 

Ok, so we are sticking to our meal plan, remaining active, staying disciplined- and our bodies will still change. You will get softer and fuller, your hips will become wider (my husband’s favorite part), you may lose your cheekbones, and you may get some stretch marks and/or cellulite- but guess what- it is all temporary. Your pregnant body is not your forever body. It is a small moment in time when you are growing life inside of you. Embrace it. I never felt sexier than when I was pregnant. I never felt more badass than when I was lifting up to the day I gave birth to both kids. 

How to Reduce Stretch Marks While Pregnant Blog

The challenge of having a postpartum transformation was also inspiring to me. Hence why I really wasn’t concerned with the changes during pregnancy. I couldn’t have worked harder while pregnant with either child if I tried. I knew I could relate to so many moms out there, having been through it not only once but twice. 

I also took A TON of pictures. This helped motivate me after I was done breastfeeding. Believe me- even if you don’t feel like it in the moment, you will want those pregnant photos. So let the belly hang out! 

The last piece of advice I can give- is to show gratitude. Again, you are allowed to feel your feelings. You shouldn’t feel bad if you dislike your changing body just because someone else may never get the joy of being pregnant, and they would kill for a pregnant body. Of course, we pray for those women, and empathize with anyone going through infertility. That doesn’t mean you can’t feel your feelings. The gratitude I am talking about is simply gratitude for your body and the child you are carrying. It truly is a temple. A shrine. And you should feel that way your entire pregnancy. 

I do have a lot of tips and tricks for various body changes while pregnant (swelling, acne, etc), so if you need specific help- just ask in the comments below! 

I will leave you with this- our bodies are meant to change. How we view this time in our lives can make all the difference!