Hands on the Belly

Before I was pregnant I could not understand why pregnant women were always touching their bellies. Now I can't keep my hands off it! I have caught myself doing this on several different occasions and for different reasons as my pregnancy has progressed;

8-13 weeks: To see if there was a bump... there wasn't but it didn't hurt to check every ten minutes.

14-19 weeks: To make sure the "bump" was still there or to show people that I wasn't fat but pregnant. Before I could feel the little monkey, I had to reassure myself that there was indeed a bump and that I hadn't made it up. This was also the stage before people could really tell if I was pregnant or just gaining weight. So by putting my hands on my belly, I could let people know that I was expecting more than just a bad bathing suit season without yelling at them that I was knocked up (like I wanted to do constantly). I learned this trick after a personal trainer at my gym offered to sign me up for a free session with as he thought I need the extra help. My disgusted look and quick hands on the pregnant belly, aka the pregnant virgin Madonna pose, made him quickly shut his mouth.

20-24 weeks: To try and catch the little wiggler moving. 20 weeks is a long time to wait to know that there is life inside you. Sure I had seen pictures/videos of him dancing around inside of me but until I felt him for the first time it was hard to believe that he was really in there. Rourke also has a way of knowing if I want him to move and can then freeze on a dime if I'm trying to let someone feel his movement. Less than 2 pounds and already a rebel... So the hands constantly on the belly was a must!

25-current: To remind myself not to run the belly into things. I'm getting bigger every day and having a pregnant belly is nothing like being bloated or fat. It is hard and since it doesn't "jiggle", I don't always remember it is there. In fact a lot of the time it isn't until I walk by a window or look down that that I remember that I'm no longer a size 4. I am constantly trying to fit through spaces that just weeks ago I could manage and bending over to pick stuff up, surprised every time that my boobs hit my belly causing the motion to be impossible. It is not like he has stopped moving either, but we are not talking about the little kicks of a few weeks ago, where I needed my hand on my belly to be sure of the movement. Now I can feel his entire body shift and move inside me and when he kicks the movement can be seen through my clothes. The hand goes to my belly to steady myself and to reassure that my belly button is still in place.

So cheers to the needs of pregnant women everywhere to keep their hands ever on their bellies, whatever your reasons maybe. I'm sure the 18-25 year old version of me is out there judging us, but between you and me she has a lot to learn.

Now if I could just keep strangers hands off the belly...