Life
It's no secret that pregnancy is a time of intense change. I mean, you're literally growing a tiny human inside your body. For as full of wonder as gestation may be, though, it's also filled with some gross, exhausting, scary, and not-so-fantastic moments, too. They can make you feel like you can't possibly continue and like you'll never be the sexy, confident, badass you were before getting pregnant. It was during those times that I needed some serious reinforcement. Fortunately, my grown-ass partner helped me feel confident when I was pregnant. I honestly don't know if I could have done it without him, and thank goodness I never have to find out.
I expected my body to change during pregnancy, sure, but I wasn't expecting my body image and self-confidence to change as much as they did. I went into pregnancy believing I could do anything, but as the months of morning sickness, aches and pains, and scary moments dragged on, I started to lose that confidence. I needed someone to tell me things would be OK and to tell me that I was still sexy in spite of (or because of) my huge belly.
I learned a lot about my partner and our relationship during those 40 weeks (more or less) of pregnancy. Most of all, though, I learned that his support, encouragement, and sex were just what I needed to feel confident and capable. We've had to overcome some pretty stressful and scary situations, more than a few gross moments, and some seriously silly arguments. Through it all he made me feel great about my changing body, and showed me that moments of pure love can (and will) absolutely involve vomit and other bodily fluids. He made me feel confident about myself, my body, my pregnancy, and our relationship, like every grown-ass partner should.
He Told Me How Strong I Was
It's hard to feel strong when you also feel exhausted, nauseated, and scared. Pregnancy is not for the faint of heart. Every single day, though, my partner told me how badass it was that I was literally growing a human in my body. He made me feel strong, when I felt anything but.
He Encouraged Me To Get Help
I hate going to the doctor, and I will almost always minimize my symptoms and tell myself that it's not a big deal to avoid a potentially scary diagnosis. My husband kept me honest and encouraged me to get medical help with hyperemesis gravidarum and prenatal depression. He was constantly telling me that getting help didn't make me weak, and that we couldn't make decisions without information.
He Told Me How Hot I Was
Even when I thought I looked more like a beached whale and less like Beyoncé, my husband told me how sexy my round, growing body was. It made me feel way less insecure about how my body was changing (and if he'd still want me after growing a human), and way more confident.
He Went With Me To The Doctor
During my first two pregnancies I was totally on my own for doctor's appointments. My current husband went with me any time I asked, though, and that definitely gave my self-confidence a boost during my most recent pregnancy. It helped me feel way more confident to have another set of ears to hear information, not to mention a hand to hold in case I received bad news.
We Had Amazing Pregnancy Sex
Having sex when you feel insecure or unattractive can be difficult, to say the least. It helps tremendously when your partner tells you you look like a sex goddess and shows you exactly how much you turn him on in the bedroom, though. Amazing sex is such a confidence booster.
He Was Present With Me Through Challenging Moments
When things got intense or scary, my partner held space for me, letting me freak out but also talking me down from the proverbial ledge when things were too much for me to handle on my own. He was there in so many ways, asking me what I needed and paying attention when I asked for space. It made me feel like I could get through the painful and scary moments.
He Wasn't Phased By The Gross Stuff
I really thought I knew my husband well before I got pregnant, but pregnancy really taught me what he could handle. More than once he held a barf bag while I puked, helped me clean up after I peed my pants, and ran to the pharmacy for laxatives or hemorrhoid cream. Pregnancy is so glamorous, right? He wasn't phased at all (or at least he didn't let it show), and that made me feel more confident.
He Believed In Me
His statements of confidence were unwavering and continued through labor and delivery. After hearing him tell me that I could do it, that my body was amazing, and that I was a badass, baby-growing goddess for nine months, I actually started believing it. He made me feel confident during pregnancy, like a grown-ass partner should.
