Secrets and Lies: On Pregnancy & Body Image by Angélica of On Motherhood & Sanity

I took this photograph at 22 weeks. I wanted the veins to show. I was amazed by what my body was doing. I was amazed by what I could do with my body. I wanted to show the truth…. and the magic .

I could write a book about all the misconceptions and misapprehensions around pregnancy and motherhood, (actually, I kind of am)

Why do the magazines insist on selling pregnancy almost like an accessory?

Something trendy and easy, that you can do while carrying on with work, your life, the gym and the spa…

Why can’t the images that surround us reflect the truth: that most women don’t look fantastic during pregnancy: we look fat, and bloated beyond the breasts and belly, even if we do look after ourselves.

There is cellulite and ankles that reach out to the stars.

There are blue veins that invade the body like a map trying to show us the way to a secret hide away.

Skin tags, dark spots, dark eyes, stretch marks.

For the most part pregnancy looks nothing like Demi Moore or Cristina Aguilera’s cover.

And postpartum?

Layers of malleable fat and skin only evened out by humongous breast, soon to become deflated balloons.

This last photo was taken shortly before birth. This is what I looked like. And that is quite alright with me.

Angélica Arbulú is mom to 2 toddlers, an aid worker, and an aspiring writer. She is currently writing her first book “Crossing the River: a letter to my daughter on becoming a mother”.  Some excerpts can be found on her blog, On Motherhood & Sanity. She occasionally takes photo commissions as well.

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