You May (but Probably Won’t) Have Six Packs While Pregnant
Pregnant bellies come in all shapes and sizes, and they are all beautiful. But when people on the Internet saw the big shot of fitness model Sarah Stage, they shouted, “COLLEGE!”
In a photo she posted on Instagram this month with hashtag # 6monthspregnant, Stage didn’t have a bump – not even a baby cheeseburger. Instead, she showed off a Sports Illustrated washboard press, causing those of us who don’t have human growing bodies to instantly fall on the table and clean up the beef jerky we’ve been chewing all day.
“What for what.” “You’re lying.” “Where is the baby?” Commentators have denied that this is biologically normal. While I myself had the opportunity to slide the seat in my car all the way back while he could go further to accommodate my pregnant belly, I have friends who, at nine months old, seemed like they might have just eaten large burrito. Pregnancy is different for everyone, and Stage had the same flat stomach when she carried her first child, James, who was born at almost 9 pounds and was healthy.
Dr. Anthony Schialli, Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and MotherToBaby Expert, tells me that pregnancy is business as usual, not the appearance of pregnancy. (Although a six-pack is rare.)
“Due to hormonal changes, the breasts may become larger and the abdomen may look bloated, but the uterus does not come out of the pelvis after three months,” says Schialli. “A woman with hard abdominal muscles may not show much bulge until she is seventh or more months pregnant.”
Exercise is important during pregnancy – it has been shown to improve mood and sleep patterns and can promote faster weight loss after childbirth – but there is no ideal body shape for a pregnant woman. “During pregnancy, it is important to eat well and gain adequate weight, as this is best for the woman and her baby,” says Shialli. “Women who are six months pregnant are allowed to look like they are pregnant and should not feel the need for diet or excessive exercise.”