How do you celebrate being pregnant?

[escher]

What do you do to celebrate or enjoy your pregnancy? Do you do prenatal yoga? Maternity photos? Belly casting? Prenatal Massage? Do you buy special clothes? Eat special foods? Do other things?

[Tonia Starr]

I do prenatal yoga each night and my5 boys like to join me. :)  I also take a monthly progression belly pic. When I am really huge I let the kids paint with fingerpaints on my belly and we take pictures of it. I slowdown everythng in my life and spend far more time internalizng and meditating and communicating with my unborn child. I also do olive oil/lavende oil belly masages every night to relieve itchiness, avoid stretch marks and relax me.

[contactmaya]

by eating all the time.

[springbride]

Lots of desserts, unapologetic naps during the day and buying at least 1 new baby carrier  <<----- *mild obsession 

 

[cameragirl]

We did a belly cast last time. I'm not sure if I'll do it this time.

[Katico]

Originally Posted by contactmaya 

by eating all the time.

 

This time around, it is all about making myself feel more attractive than I did when I was pregnant with DD.  So, i have been splurging on new clothes, new sandals, dresses etc. to make the summer as pretty as possible.  I am also trying to take really good care of myself and do special things like nice toenail polish, bubble baths etc. 

I would also like to do a family portrait to celebrate this time of it being just the three of us

[maptome]

taking naps and letting DP take care of more chores (without feeling too guilty)

[mammamo]

pedicures! woohoo!

[starling&diesel]

Enjoying my curvy, round self.  Usually I don't much enjoy my body as it is, but I loooooooove being pregnant and round and big-boobed! 

[cparkly]

I LOVE my pregnant body, too. I feel like a real mother goddess; round and fertile.

[Jaimee]

I take a belly pic every two weeks and put together a progression.

[Buddhamom]

My husband just did henna on my belly this morning in preparation for our UC any day

Edited by Buddhamom - 5/31/11 at 9:25am

[APToddlerMama]

Originally Posted by contactmaya 

by eating all the time.

Yes. This.  Haagen Daaz every day

[Mommel]

I LOVE this thread!

Honestly, this pregnancy has been such a difficult time for me (I found myself unexpectedly single at 4 months pregnant) that I haven't even thought about this until now, but I am going to start a celebration ritual TONIGHT!

Thank you! I needed that.

[tourist.]

Is being obsessed with being pregnant considered celebrating? 

One of the things that makes me happiest is talking to my DS1 about his baby brother and then in turn when DS1 brings up DS2 on his own in conversation.  It delights me a ridiculous amount.  Things that I do for *me*...hopefully getting belly pictures taken soon, hopefully going for a massage soon.  I take naps at every opprotunity.  I eat when I should, even if it means stopping for some type of fast food, instead of skipping a meal like I usually would.  I take weekly belly photos.  I blog my pregnancy thoughts and emotions in an online journal.

Being pregnant is one of, if not the most amazing things ever.

[escher]

I love all these ideas--thanks for sharing them!

So many great suggestions: massage, naps, journaling, pedicures, eating good food, meditating, slowing down.... I'm going to have to try some of them.

[Mommel]

I got a massage and a pedicure on Saturday... it was lovely. 

[gumblossom]

I love my pregnant body too. It feels like the only time it's okay to be round and soft! I celebrate through clothing. I love clothes anyway, but I especially like making new maternity clothes. I'm having my 6th baby (7th pregnancy) and have never had a pedicure or treatment despite saying I would every time. Well, this time I definitely will. And I would love to have a henna painting done on my big belly later in the pregnancy and would love a Blessing Way.

I think my best crunchy mama friend will be nearby close to the birth (She lives thousands of mile away from me) and she does the henna painting, so I might get lucky this time!

It is so nice to talk about how women celebrate pregnancy, it's beautiful.

[Mama~Love]

Wow, you ladies are some very happy pregnant mamas! I love being pregnant, but don't do anything to celebrate it. I hardly even talk about it. No one else is interested in it, so I don't bug anyone about it. I wish it could be all sunshine & lollipops & happiness for me, but it isn't. DH isn't involved at all, and doesn't do anything special for me. It seems silly to celebrate something that is only enjoyed by me.

[cparkly]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mama~Love 

Wow, you ladies are some very happy pregnant mamas! I love being pregnant, but don't do anything to celebrate it. I hardly even talk about it. No one else is interested in it, so I don't bug anyone about it. I wish it could be all sunshine & lollipops & happiness for me, but it isn't. DH isn't involved at all, and doesn't do anything special for me. It seems silly to celebrate something that is only enjoyed by me.

Mollie, I am so sorry that you feel the people around you IRL do not share in your excitment. Does it count that I am happy for you? We lost babies last year right around the same time and I remember identifying deeply with your pain and sense of loss. I am so very, very happy that you are now carrying twins!

I am not trying to be trite, but maybe you would benefit from some simple kind of celebratory ritual; soaking your feet after work, going for a slow, gentle walk or swim, allowing yourself a few minutes each morning to focus on your little babies and "talk" internally to them, or anything else that seems appealing, really. 

I can only imagine how it must be to fell unsupported, and I am sorry.  Does your DH know how alone you feel in this?