This Pregnant Woman's Powerful Instagram Post Explains Why You Can't See Her Baby Bump

When you’re pregnant it can seem like everyone wants to chime in with their insights and advice on everything from gender and names to cravings and labor. People also frequently comment on the size of your stomach — from saying you look like “you’re going to pop” to exclaiming that “you don’t even look pregnant.” Here’s the thing: There’s no such thing as a “one size fits all” pregnancy.

After months of sharing her pregnancy on Instagram — to a chorus of unrequited comments and messages about the size of her stomach — one woman shared why her baby bump may not look the way most people would expect. 

*BUMP SIZE* I receive a lot of DMs and comments regarding the size of my bump, which is why I want to explain a few things about my body. Not that I’m upset/affected by these comments at all, but more for the reason of educating in the hope that some people are less judgemental on others and even themselves. For the first 4 months of my pregnancy, my uterus was retroverted/tilted which means that I was growing backwards into my body rather than outwards. Most people with this type of uterus tilt forward at around 12 weeks and continue growing outwards like you normally would. My uterus didn’t “flip forward” until well into being 4 months pregnant because of the backwards tilted position paired with decade old endometriosis scarring that I have on my uterosacral ligaments. Basically, these ligaments are acting like anchors keeping my uterus “inside” rather than “outside”, which is why I appeared smaller than most people for the first 4 or 5 months. Now, at #6monthspregnant I’m growing forwards just like everyone else while the scarring on my ligaments slowly breaks down. My torso is also short and my stomach is naturally toned which is keeping my belly super tight, so I’ve had to personally stop all ab exercises to avoid any issues with possible ab separation. This is for me personally, as instructed by my doctor and is in no way a blanket rule for anyone else. I’m perfectly healthy, baby is perfectly healthy and that’s all that matters. Our bodies and bumps are all different and our shapes and sizes are all different too ❤️

A post shared by Yiota Kouzoukas (@yiota) on Oct 9, 2017 at 2:53am PDT

Yiota Kouzoukas wrote that her uterus was tilted throughout the first four months of her pregnancy so her baby grew inward, not outward. “My uterus didn’t ‘flip forward’ until well into being four months pregnant because of the backwards tilted position paired with decade old endometriosis scarring that I have on my uterosacral ligaments,” she wrote, adding that both factors contributed to having an inward-facing uterus and a smaller “baby bump” that some women. “Now, at #6monthspregnant I’m growing forwards just like everyone else while the scarring on my ligaments slowly breaks down,” she wrote.

This photo is from 2 weeks ago at #25weekspregnant Throwback as I’ve been sick with migraines and haven’t been able to take any new pics. Thank you to everyone who messaged me with their own personal migraine cures ❤️My migraines are muscle/scar tissue related from multiple car accidents, so I usually stay on top of them with remedial massage, physio and regular exercise. Unfortunately due to being pregnant, I haven’t been able to stay on top of my management as well as usual so I’ve been down and out with migraines again. 4 days, lots of sleep, crying, vomiting and massages later, I woke up feeling great today! Let’s hope it stays this way ❤️ Anyone else suffer from migraines while pregnant that aren’t hormonal? PS. thanks @gkazoo1 for the endless neck and back massages

A post shared by Yiota Kouzoukas (@yiota) on Oct 22, 2017 at 3:41pm PDT

So what exactly does it mean to have an “inward-facing” uterus? According to ob-gyn Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine (who has not treated Kouzoukas), it’s likely she has what’s known as a retroverted uterus. “About 30 percent of women have a uterus which is tilted towards the back, and it is seldom a problem during pregnancy,” says Minkin, “As the uterus grows, it almost always starts tilting forward.”

#6monthspregnant today ?I can't believe how fast this is going. This is my belly growth from months 3, 4 and 5! So blessed with no issues these past 2 months ❤️ My placenta is at the back of my uterus, which is why I've been so spoilt with kicks, big and small. Anyone else have this?

A post shared by Yiota Kouzoukas (@yiota) on Oct 1, 2017 at 2:12am PDT

If you have a retroverted uterus, you may not really “show” when pregnant, until your uterus changes position. And for most women, you start to look larger by about five months, says Minkin. 

Minkin also notes that if you do have a retroverted uterus, don’t fret, since it’s not associated with any health risks.

Beyond opening up the convo about this pretty common uterine situation, Kouzoukas’ real talk on Instagram is also helping to quash all cases of “bump-shaming”. Her post even includes the perfect clapback: “Our bodies and bumps are all different and our shapes and sizes are all different too.”

This article originally appeared on Women’s Health US

Source: Read Full Article