I have been pregnant twice in the last 6 years , meaning that I have spent over 80 weeks carrying another human being inside me. It sounds scary when I say it like that but despite the associated pregnancy hiccups it was quite and exciting and unique time for me. I have my pigeon pair a complex 5 year old daughter and charming 21 month old son. My children are two different flowers but from the same garden and the same can be said for their associated pregnancies.
I come from a family of healthy , curvy and thick Basotho women so my natural size is above the average of a female my age. However in high school I was blessed enough to fall in love with rowing. Naturally the sport which has took up most of my time a day nearly all my parents money a a Weeke d's required a certain level of fitness which came at a cost. Early morning runs, hours on the ergo machine and my favourite daily swimming and rowing at the Victoria Lake Club in Germiston. Apart from commitment and endurance the sport taught me the wonderful effects of exercise on the human body. I spent all my teens and most of my young adult life as a sexy size 32/34 with curves and hips that gave Beyonce and JLO a run for their money. After I got married I gained a little more weight but nothing that a week off dieting or few gym sessions could fix.
So when in 2008 I discovered I was pregnant with my daughter I was ecstatic , thoughts of weight gain never once crossed my mind....that is until the second one trimester kicked in. Despite being fairly disciple I gained 28kg with my first and couldn't loose it no after how hard I tried.
I worked for weeks trying to be one that sexy woman on the cover of the pregnancy magazines who despite being pregnant gain just enough to look it but not so much that you can mistaken their 6 month belly with that of someone already full term. However this dream was shattered by explanations of pregnancy side effects who have for me included everything from water retention , hormone imbalance a day good old fashion genes. I will not lie the matter of weight consumed me for a couple of months and as a result I wasn't always in the moment when things like the first time your baby kicks or sits on your bladder... not that I mind having vague memory of the latter. Apart from the pics room my shower a day other random I don't really have may pictures or looks from my first pregnancy. I refused to take pictures due to crazy insecurities and now when want to look back on that chapter there is little to no photographic evidence but luckily I have a happy healthy almost 6 year little girl who is living proof of the miracle of becoming a mom.
In 2012 after having an almost fatal appendix rupture which resulted in me being home for six weeks doing nothing but reading all the fifty shades of grey books , I was blessed with yet another opportunity to carry a little angel in me. This time being a little older I was prepared for the changes that would occur and after almost three years of fighting the weight battle I was happy with myself and still wanted the ideal body but it was no longer top of mind. So this time I made an effort to enjoy this time and embrace my belly a day bump. I refused to hide away a day dress in tents but rather because the poster child for a healthy , happy yet stylish pregnant lady. I relished in getting dressed for work in the mornings and finding clothes a day looks that showed off my bump yet still worked for the office. I traded in my stiletto for my comfortable kitten heels and wedges. I decided to let my outside appearance reflect the miracle that was happening inside and pulled it off most of the time.
The one thing that pregnancy gave me apart from my beautiful children is the love of dresses , to me it is the most versatile and agile pieces of clothing a woman can wear. Dresses come in all shapes and styles and have the ability to age anyone even a highly pregnant woman feel like a lady. Add a few accessories and a great shoe a day you ready to go out and conquer the world or in the case of a mommy to be, conquer the laws of gravity by staying upright in your high heels all day. The great thing with dresses it that even post the birth they can still hide the extra weight till you shed it or become comfortable enough to embrace it a a make it your own. I am a huge fan of be, ts coz with just a quick move my maternity dress becomes an outfit perfect for work or a social event with a cinched waist.
I am grateful that I was afforded a second day chance to enjoy and embrace the miracle of being pregnant. It is still not my favourite fashion figure but it is one I remember fondly and it part of the journey to my favourites role in life a day that is being a mother. Ladies whether you are pregnant , planning to be pregnant or done with that phase of life, please do not focus so much in the way you look but rather spend that energy letting the miracle of that moment shine from within you. As the old saying goes there is no such thing as an ugly pregnant woman. I am not sure if I will ever do it again; become pregnant I mean but either way being a Mamanista is something I already crossed off my bucket list
xoxo
MissNikiM
