Documenting the Bump: Weeks 15-18

We’re well into the 19th week, me and my baby. And we’ve become the best of pals.

Weeks 15 through 18 were really easy and really difficult all at the same time. I felt amazing. Besides a nausea stint last week during our drive back from Florida (ew, it was so not fun), things have been incredibly smooth sailing. Sort of like when I wasn’t pregnant, even. In fact, sometimes I had to remind myself I was pregnant. Like, No, Tina, you can’t have raw oysters at the oyster bar. Or, No, Tina, lifting that 50lb suitcase is not a good idea.

At the same time, it’s been very hard. And still is. My body has changed in ways I never imagined it would. I’m well into the fat stage of this pregnancy where I just look like I’ve let myself go. I have a little heavier of a chin, my butt’s definitely bigger, my arms are thicker, my boobs are gigantic, and then there’s this little bump. If you know pre-pregnancy Tina, you know I’m pregnant. But to any passerby on the street, I just feel fat. And my bump isn’t big enough to carry around like women do. But now I know why they do. When you hold your belly, you are definitely pregnant. So I try and pretend.

I still just feel fat.

That being said, I’m so happy to be here. I’m so happy that I’m halfway to the end (or even closer, since the doctors think baby may come early). I’m so happy that this peanut is growing and that I’ve gained weight and that I have a pregnancy glow (the glow is real, people, it’s very real).

So here are the photos from weeks 15-18. It was between 17 and 18 weeks when I “popped” and it was clear that there was no turning back. This belly is growing. Things aren’t in the same position, if you know what I mean. I’m thicker in places to make room for my child. And it’s all really cool. I love seeing what my body is doing for this little miracle.

Oh, and if you want to compare these shots to weeks 11-14, they are documented here.