Jump to content

Menu

JAWM/Rant- Belly Pictures


Paige
 Share

Recommended Posts

Taking pictures of your pregnant belly and sharing them or showing it off however you want is fine, not weird, and a personal choice of each woman. I think they are beautiful when the mother is happy to share and feeling awesome herself. Asking or demanding pictures of or to see someone else's pregnant belly is rude, invasive, and creepy. 

 

I'm so annoyed with family members sending me cranky e-mails asking for pictures of my belly because they feel left out. I can't imagine why they want or need the pictures except to point and stare and judge. I'm normally very thin, so I always think there's a voyeuristic element of "hahaha, look at her all big and swollen." This is my 5th child, so whatever novelty was there has worn off for me. I rarely took pictures in my previous pregnancies either, and I don't take or post selfies even when not pregnant, so it's nothing new. I'm fine with and happy to share family pictures that include me where I just happen to be pregnant, and you can tell I'm pregnant, but where that's not the point of the picture, but I find staged pictures focusing on the belly weird and uncomfortable. I have pictures of me with the kids or DH at the beach, in front of exhibits at the museum, and other touristy things from vacations, or at birthday parties, etc., but apparently those pictures aren't good enough. They want pictures of just me posed to show off maximum bump. Although, they've been "polite" enough to mention that I don't need to raise my shirt- the hell?? Why is that not a given and it's not some nice concession on their part. 

 

I've also been feeling pretty sick for this entire pregnancy (36 weeks now), and who wants to take pictures while feeling nauseous, uncomfortable, or in pain? My other pregnancies were much easier, so maybe I spoiled people by being more cooperative. 

 

SO- PSA; if someone isn't posting or sending pregnancy or belly pictures, it's probably because she doesn't want to- don't ask even if it's your daughter, sister, DIL, cousin, or BFF. 

 

 

  • Like 17
Link to comment
Share on other sites

LOL I did not know this was something people asked others to do.  :P

 

Honestly I'm not a fan of belly photos, but it's not my business if other people want to post them. 

 

Maybe ask them why they haven't posted a belly photo for a while.

 

Or post a stock line drawing of a pregnant belly and say "this is what it looks like for anyone who doesn't already know."

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

How weird! I'm glad I have (relatively) normal family members, as I can honestly say that was never, ever an issue during either of my pregnancies.

 

Do you live near them? We don't which is part of why they want pictures. It's come up every time from both mine and DH's family but I'm older and crankier this time. They keep saying they feel left out, but I'm not sure how anything is about them in the first place even if we lived nearby. 

 

My stretch marks aren't on my belly- they're on my butt and nobody's getting pictures of that!  ;)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it's an absurd trend, personally. (Sorry if that offends others here. You certainly are free to do it!)

 

I don't I want pictures of my belly, and I don't want you to touch my belly. And I don't really need you to comment about how big or small you think my belly is.

 

And as a side note, unrelated to this, it took me 5 babies to get a stretch mark. It's tiny, but there is one. (So to the person upthread that suggested sending THAT photo, it might not work for the OP)

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That is weird and out-of-line. Let the mom decide whether or not she wants to have her picture taken.

 

The only "bump" photo I did in any of my pregnancies was a shot of me by the Christmas tree with my 3rd child (she has an early January birthday). I took that one because I had gotten jury summons and I included it with my request to be excused since my midwife had warned me that the judge might make me go to the courthouse in person. I was very clearly about to "pop" in my photo and I got my excusal without having to show up in person. 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A friend of mine does belly painting where she paints pregnant bellies and takes beautiful arty pictures of it. The first time I heard about this I have to admit, I cracked up. I've come around a little - another friend was one of her early test subjects to give her a portfolio of images and the photo was drop dead gorgeous. My friend had a largeish print up of it for a long time.

 

But obviously all of it is up to the individual. I mean, good grief.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Taking pictures of your pregnant belly and sharing them or showing it off however you want is fine, not weird, and a personal choice of each woman. I think they are beautiful when the mother is happy to share and feeling awesome herself. Asking or demanding pictures of or to see someone else's pregnant belly is rude, invasive, and creepy. 

 

I'm so annoyed with family members sending me cranky e-mails asking for pictures of my belly because they feel left out. I can't imagine why they want or need the pictures except to point and stare and judge. I'm normally very thin, so I always think there's a voyeuristic element of "hahaha, look at her all big and swollen." This is my 5th child, so whatever novelty was there has worn off for me. I rarely took pictures in my previous pregnancies either, and I don't take or post selfies even when not pregnant, so it's nothing new. I'm fine with and happy to share family pictures that include me where I just happen to be pregnant, and you can tell I'm pregnant, but where that's not the point of the picture, but I find staged pictures focusing on the belly weird and uncomfortable. I have pictures of me with the kids or DH at the beach, in front of exhibits at the museum, and other touristy things from vacations, or at birthday parties, etc., but apparently those pictures aren't good enough. They want pictures of just me posed to show off maximum bump. Although, they've been "polite" enough to mention that I don't need to raise my shirt- the hell?? Why is that not a given and it's not some nice concession on their part. 

 

I've also been feeling pretty sick for this entire pregnancy (36 weeks now), and who wants to take pictures while feeling nauseous, uncomfortable, or in pain? My other pregnancies were much easier, so maybe I spoiled people by being more cooperative. 

 

SO- PSA; if someone isn't posting or sending pregnancy or belly pictures, it's probably because she doesn't want to- don't ask even if it's your daughter, sister, DIL, cousin, or BFF. 

 

I totally agree with you and at this point would very bluntly tell them you don't like pictures like that and won't be taking them.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yes, creepy.

 

And actually I am usually not crazy about it when belly pictures of people I know crop up on my FB feed.  With rare exceptions they feel intimate in a way that seems odd for me to be sharing.  I find the same with some newborn pics I've seen too - a few people I've known have done these family photos with newborns where they are all in their underwear.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do you live near them? We don't which is part of why they want pictures. It's come up every time from both mine and DH's family but I'm older and crankier this time. They keep saying they feel left out, but I'm not sure how anything is about them in the first place even if we lived nearby.

 

My stretch marks aren't on my belly- they're on my butt and nobody's getting pictures of that! ;)

I have never in the course of seven pregnancies been asked for a belly picture, and my family are scattered all over.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm surprised that this isn't normal in other families! Maybe since I said JAWM, people who disagree stayed away, but I'm amazed at how unanimous this is. I thought more people would tell me to suck it up and take pictures if it makes people happy. My family gets really grumpy with me about not sharing belly pictures every time I'm pregnant.  

 

FWIW, I sent my mom a picture last night, fully clothed of course. It's the same picture DH persuaded me to take for his mom who'd been harassing us about it a couple of weeks ago. I know I have a right to say no, but it's not worth the stress and drama. I dislike the picture- my face is so puffy and swollen, I'm super pale, bloodshot eyes from puking, and my smile is fake. 

 

The hive helps me maintain my sanity. :001_wub:  I'm not the weird one...my family, on both sides, lacks boundaries. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...