Belly Shots (weeks 4-7) Yeah, it's early, but we like to see growth!

[Spark]

Ok, so should we start belly shot stuff? It might be fun to take a picture for where we started out. I actually wanted to take one just after finding out, but I just didn't feel well enough. Now... I've popped out a bit. So I won't have a "true" starting point. Ahhh... I wish you all to pop a bit though, it means less bathroom runs. The bad part is... strangers at an appointment I had asked me when I was due. Uh... last time it happened at about 6 weeks. So I guess 4.5 weeks isn't so unreasonable this time? I thought I was just looking pudgy... but nope. I got asked.

Makes me think we'd better start documenting. Anyone else up to posting early belly shots?

What if we did threads like: Belly Shots Weeks 4-8. And Belly Shots Weeks 9-12. Etc? That way when people arrive for end of Dec, they can feel not so far away from the others. 4 weeks sometimes makes a big difference.

[Geofizz]

:thumb

Sounds great.

I thought the frequent peeing was more hormonal that space at this point :scratch

I've seen no change yet. No frequent peeing either :LOL

Maybe I can get DH to take a picture tonight. He'll think I'm crazy.

[dandelions2]

k, should this pic be of us standing up straight or slouching...I think if I slouch I can make it look like I'm preggo. lol

[camprunner]

Gosh I didn't pop out until like 8 months last time :lol:

[Geofizz]

I was like you, camprunner. Some people didn't know I'd been pregnant until I showed up with a baby! I do kinda hope to *look* pregnant this time, but I'd be happy to wait a bit. My belt is still tightened to it's regular spot today.

**breaking out the almonds for the day after a particularly stressful morning**

[camprunner]

I'd like to wait again to pop out only because of the looking for a new job thing. I would really like one closer and i don't care how illegal it is. If they suspect I'm pregnant there is no way they are going to hire me. They can't fire me though for taking maternity leave after signing a contract I'm pretty sure. Especially since I won't be taking off for doctor's appointments.

[Geofizz]

Ok, camprunner, we're in this together. How long can we go before popping out? :fingersx:

Of course, I might pop out due to work stress. ARGH! Any other time, I'd be going out for a long lunch for burgers and beer after dealing with bs like this. Sigh.

[IncaMama]

i think i'm a bit pudgier in the front but it could be all of the crap i've been eating this week. LOL!!!

i'm up for belly shots.

[Spark]

Gosh I didn't pop out until like 8 months last time :lol:

Wow you and Geofizz are at one end of the spectrum and it seems like some of us are at the other end. THey both have their benefits... I mean, for work it's much nicer to not show. For having to buy maternity clothes it's much cheaper to only need them for one season. But, then you don't get all the "ahh, how cutes" or doors held for you. And, you feel sick but no one knows. Showing early has it's benefits, you get doors held for you longer, people cut you slack and you get to feel all mother earthy. ;) The drawbacks are you can't hide it even when you want to, you have to buy maternity for every season... I mean folks... summer through winter? And, if you're like me some poeple I don't get around to telling and I just show up 6 weeks pregnant and they think I've been hiding something for 4 months! That's kind of tricky.

[Spark]

i think i'm a bit pudgier in the front but it could be all of the crap i've been eating this week. LOL!!!

i'm up for belly shots.

:LOL

[dziejen]

Belly shots sound ok to me. I am just trying to find something "nice" to wear today to dd's school and it's not working :eyesroll I have been wearing these jeans for days -- I'm afraid if I wash them they won't fit :LOL

[selazenby]

sounds fun! ok - stupid question from the new kid - how do you post pictures here?

[Geofizz]

My first shots (http://www.geology.ohio-state.edu/~panero.1/pregpicts.html)


selazenby, you need to have the picts on another site and then link them here. You can just post the url or you can put the url in as a link like I did above by typing:

[ URL = webaddress ] link [/ URL ]

but leave out the spaces.

[Minnow_]

Hey Wendy, nice photos! Are you a biker (it looks like a bike logo on your shirt)? I bike a lot and have some questions about biking during pregnancy... any good resources for that?

[Geofizz]

Yeah, I'm a bike commuter, but that sweatshirt has my college logo on it. On the back is a list of stupid physics and engineering jokes.

I biked to work through week 20 during my last pregnancy, when I stopped biking and running after my physical therapist told me it would make my sacro-iliac joint injury worse (the injury is a result of sitting too long, not biking). Looking into this more, I think she was wrong about the effects of biking in particular on my SI joint.

I've read that the main concern with biking while pregnant is balance. I honestly don't see how more weight in front will affect my balance much, though. I am a tad concerned with how it will feel to have the weight hanging, but I honestly don't recall how sitting in the position felt late in pregnancy. I'm pretty much planning to continue biking to work until my body says I shouldn't anymore. I rode in this morning for sure!

[Minnow_]

My biggest concern is mountain biking. I'm guessing that I will have to stop riding trails at some point due to risk of falling, but I haven't found much real information on it.

For road biking, we ride a tandem. That's nice because since I don't steer, I have more freedom to change my position and adjust to a more upright position if I need to.

We'd been planning a biking vacation for this summer, and I'm trying to figure out if that's still possible.

BTW, I apologize for hijacking the belly photo thread. I haven't got any posted yet but hopefully soon.

[Geofizz]

I like my route paved :LOL

I would bet a lot of people would caution you against mountain biking because of the jarring. I'm not convinced this is a problem, though.

Good information is hard to find! My general rule of thumb that I used with dd, and will use this time, is to keep my perceived exersion level constant when running, biking, walking whatever. That means that on Monday I ran a 9:20 mile, but yesterday I ran a 12 min mile. (Normal, non pregnant pace is ~10.) I have stopping trying to increase my pace, and I'll just do whatever pace feels right. I figure towards the end, my pace will be indistinguishable from my walking pace, but the perceived effort will be about the same as my pre-pregnancy 10 minute mile.

[Minnow_]

See, that's the thing - if it is a real risk, obviously I don't want to mtn bike. But if it's a 'they say' thing, rather than a known danger, I'd like to keep doing it, at least for a little while. But I don't know that I can find that out, so I may have to take a conservative approach and stick to pavement.

Funny, I just realized I must like biking better than beer... it's much easier to pass up the beer! :mischief

[Viriditas]

Here are my first belly shots at 4 weeks 3 days:

front shot (http://www.wildcod.com/chris/amy2.jpg)

profile (http://www.wildcod.com/chris/amy1.jpg)

And you guys also get the first public display of my armpit hair (that's 6 months growth!)

and a bonus shot: the flax seed represents the baby!

baby at 4 1/2 weeks (http://www.wildcod.com/chris/amy3.jpg)

[Geofizz]

I love the flax seed pict! So cool!

Both your other picts are of the front shot. Can you fix the profile link?

[Minnow_]

OK, Amy and Wendy, ya'll have beautiful abs. I may not post my belly shot after all. :LOL

Yikes - the flax seed looks too much like a tick to me. I had a horrible experience 2 weeks ago with our dog, a camping trip, and about 30 ticks, and I'm still having flashbacks.

[Spark]

Amy, Wendy! You guys are like suppa models! :jaw Wow!

I'm thinking I really missed the boat to get a good before shot. I'll try to take my poof belly tonight... I WILL keep my shirt down though. I'm not a suppa model... I'm more of a showing already preggo woman.

[Geofizz]

Yikes, you guys are very kind. I'm just thrilled to be starting at the same pre-preg weight as last time. I ran 4-5 times a week for a year to get to this point!

I can't wait to see other people's picts! Now I'm really sorry I don't have belly picts from Karen. :(

[Viriditas]

Thanks for the compliments, guys! :shy
It's a good thing my thighs weren't in the picture :bag:

[Geofizz]

It's a good thing my thighs weren't in the picture :bag:
That's exactly what I was thinking.

I :love your sig!

[Spark]

Alright, I feel like missed the boat to get before pics. I look pregnant already. Wendy can attest, I don't usually look like this. And... I've never shown quite so early, although I always DO show early. No hiding this rider.

Four and Half Weeks (http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5dd10b3127cce90a0edc267a600000016109AZOW7Rw0bu)

Oh, and look, I'm showing off that I can turn my head now. :LOL

[Geofizz]

:( It makes me sign in...

[Spark]

I think I fixed it. It should work.

[ljpmom]

Great belly shots, Spark you look great, I am so glad I am not the only one showing already. I look very similar to you and I am trying hard to suck it in, I don't want to have to tell quite yet.

Megan

Landon 10-23-02, and #2 due December 2005

[Viriditas]

Great belly shot, Spark! I wish I was showing already! Or at the very least I wish my boobs were getting bigger...aside from the euphoria and maybe some stretchy feelings in my uterus (these might be psychosomatic) I don't even feel pregnant yet. No symptoms at all.

Ah, well. Next week (the last week of classes before I finish my BA) I'll probably be falling asleep on the subway and sick as a dog! :LOL

Oh, and I'm glad you like my sig Geofizz! :)

Amy

[Geofizz]

Thanks, Claire! Great picture!

[IncaMama]

wowza. nice abs!
um...i'm still jiggly from DS who is a little over 2!!! LMAO!! and i've got a lovely set of stretch marks to show for it too. i'll take some belly pics this weekend.

[Minnow_]

Here are my belly shots, taken last Friday at 4 weeks (LMP).

Front (http://img72.exs.cx/img72/165/41058kn.jpg)

Side (http://img72.exs.cx/img72/8315/4105s3vd.jpg)

Sorry no face. I'm not intentionally trying to be mysterious. My husband just didn't put my face in the picture; I guess he took me literally when I said belly shot.

[Spark]

Sorry no face. I'm not intentionally trying to be mysterious. My husband just didn't put my face in the picture; I guess he took me literally when I said belly shot.

:LOL That's so funny! Great shot! Wow, add another suppa model to the list... :D It will be so fun to watch us all POP! :D

[Alvenchrst]

yes, I'm popping already too :) So, what website can I go to to post my pictures on for free?
Thanks. :)

[Geofizz]

Sorry no face. I'm not intentionally trying to be mysterious. My husband just didn't put my face in the picture; I guess he took me literally when I said belly shot.

:LOL

My dh did the same thing the first time, too. I made him do it again.

[IncaMama]

OMG i've NEVER looked that good!! HAHA although i think my 34F boobs would look pretty hilarious on such a small frame. LMAO!! i am starting to pop out a bit. but it's still pretty soft so it's really just looking like more pudge. :(

[jillybeans]

ok girls, i am all for the belly shots, but not after i saw you skinny girls!
I already look pg! not really, i just have a little pudge...... But i can say that i can't wear my old pants anymore...mostly due to the pain, but i am "supposed" to show early, according to my mother. Both she and my grandma did. we'll see. This is baby #1 so might take a while. I will think about those belly pics......lol

[juliasmum]

Wow... beautiful bellies you have there!

I think I am probably bigger right now than some of you will be when you are delivering!

Definitely waiting until the belly is sticking out nice and smooth before I post a belly shot!!

[juliasmum]

Here is a question for those of you with 2 already. Do your stretch marks kind of smooth out when your belly gets big or do they still look the same, only stretched more?

I have a feeling I'm going to have stretch marks on my stretch marks :LOL

[Spark]

Post #26 is my belly shot... defiitely NOT super skinny guys. I'm like a size 14 regularly. But, that was before my belly got ahead of me. It's already bigger than that shot though. Oy.

Anyway, post your belly shot. You don't have to show your skin if you don't want to!

[Spark]

Here is a question for those of you with 2 already. Do your stretch marks kind of smooth out when your belly gets big or do they still look the same, only stretched more?

I have a feeling I'm going to have stretch marks on my stretch marks :LOL

With my 2nd pregnancy, my stretch marks from #1 were enough to give my belly the room it needed. I didn't get new ones on top of the old ones or anything. I did however get a cute little crown of four 1 in long stretch marks right about my pubic bone. Then they were new and bright red they really looked like a crown for my uh...where's a good euphamism when you need one.

[Minnow_]

looked like a crown for my uh...where's a good euphamism when you need one.

... princess!

[juliasmum]

princess.... that is funny!! :LOL

[Spark]

:rotflmao

[IncaMama]

juliasmum - i was wondering the same thing about my stretch marks. they are NASTAY and SO dark still. i'm hoping i don't get any more. :( will cocoa butter do ANYTHING to help this time around?? LOL

[DustysSweety03]

i'll post mine later.. this is gonna be baby #2 :)

[DustysSweety03]

i removed the pics since i'm gonna get dh to take better pics where i'm not slouching

[marisa]

Okay, here's one of me...I'm in the already showing way too much camp!
http://hometown.aol.com/mmvw56/index2.html

[*Amy*]

OK, I've definitely got a buldge (http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/t/thanksgivingbabe/)! I am 8w1d. This morning DH emailed me to tell me how gorgeous my little "baby belly" is. :D

[Geofizz]

Great pics, ladies! Thanks so much for sharing!

[DustysSweety03]

Everyone looks great :)

[littleteapot]

I'm less bloated this time then I was with my first, so I don't have a bulge yet.
I'm finding it difficult to take pictures without my toddler getting in the way. I can't expose mys tomach without her running up to me going, "Teeteetee!" (tickle tickle).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/babyslime/761f58b6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/babyslime/e297d9f8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/babyslime/1mth2.jpg

If anyone wants to see belly shots from my last pregnancy, go here www.summerstorms.ca/maternity.htm

[*Amy*]

Those are great!! :LOL

[littlemomma]

For *Amy*


That is one cute "baby belly!" If you can even call it that!!! That looks like my normal belly, especially after a good meal. BTW, that picture is a little scandalous!!! =) Hahahaha....I bet your DH emailed you!!! =)

[DesireeH]

Great pics everyone! I am a chub with mega stretchmarks so I am a lil shy to post a pic just yet! LOL As soon as I get a baby bulge, I will! LOL

[*Amy*]

Well he did say, "you're naked!" when he saw it, but I told him only the mamas have that link right now, so he was OK with it. :D Next week I'll have him take the picture, and I'll actually be wearing clothes.

[girrllie]

the flax seed is hilarious!!! LOL!

[judybean]

Oh you mamas are gorgeous!

No pics here though... probably for at least eight months :bag: ... That's when I actually really looked pregnant both times before. And even then, people would ask when I was due, I would say in a couple of weeks and they would look shocked! My belly just doesn't get huge (which yes, I am sad about).

I think it has something to do with being 5'11" ... just a thought ;)

[kofduke]

Marisa, that poem is beautiful!

[Geofizz]

Judy -- I didn't show (at least with clothes on) until the 8th month either. When I went to the hospital to deliver, I had to be very clear that I was *full term*. Two people tried to shuttle me to the high risk area.

I'm 5'7" by the way with nearly non-existant boobs. I really don't know where DD hid all that time.

Clothes off, however, you could see a buldge clearly by 4-5 months.