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It makes a ton of sense if your feelings about pregnancy changing your body are complex.
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Theyre not just aboutyoutheyre entangled in social stigmas that can be especially sticky when youre expecting.
It seems the smaller you are physically, the greater your worth is as a person.
Finding a way to feel better starts with acknowledging that youre having a hard time.
Find a meaningful way to connect with your body.
Dont feel great about the way you look?
(This kind of self-care can also help ease potentialdepressive symptoms.)
Gantt recommends starting with activities you already enjoy that make you feel strong and happy.
Remember that changes during pregnancy are normalandhave a purpose, Dr. Wood-Barcalow says.
Aim for balance in your diet, but keep in mind that you deserve to enjoy food too.
You may have aversions.
You may have cravings.
You may be ravenous.
You may only be able to stomach butter noodles.
Gettingnutrition through your mealsno matter how you do it or what foods you chooseis essential for a healthy pregnancy.
Even if the balance isnt there, all food provides nutrients, Gantt says.
Heres something fun to remember too: Love Indian food or spicy Mexican?
If social media is making you feel crappy, give your feed an overhaul.
If you follow accounts that leave you feeling good about yourself and your body, thats great.
Taking that kind of thing in can be tough on anybody.
Checking in with your responses to the content you see and curating your feed accordingly can help.
Take a look at the accounts you follow and ask yourself how scrolling through them affects your mood.
Are you excited, happy, or inspired by the posts you just saw?
Or are you maybe feeling self-critical or less-than?
In the latter case, its time to unfollow or mute.
How you spend your time offline matters too.
Share your experiences around eating and mental health with your care team.
Open up about your hesitations too.
There are actionable ways to speak up about the care you receive too.
Dont want to seethe number on the scaleat your prenatal appointments?
Find a mental health provider who specializes in perinatal care.
Even if youre feeling mostly decent right now, its good to think ahead.
If youre worried youre showing signs of disordered eating, talk to a pro who can help you.
But there are some signs that you should reach out for the sake of your health.
No matter what youre going through, its easy to feel like youre the only one.
