The Beauty of Pregnancy

My sister is pregnant. One of my friends is pregnant. Several of my friends have recently had babies. Several acquaintances are pregnant. As a result, we've had a lot of talk of pregnancy lately. And, it's got me thinking about pregnancy a lot.

There is something inherently beautiful about pregnancy. People used to say that a woman was "with child" when she was pregnant. I think that is such an evocative way of describing pregnancy. When you are with child, your entire being is consumed by the small being that is ever reliant upon you. Your body works hard to support and grow this small child. At first, there is not much change in your belly. But, even in the very early stages of pregnancy, your body changes to become the home, the protection, and indeed the very life support of the baby.

Many women do not breast feed because they are not comfortable with it. However, that is one of the changes that you first notice in pregnancy. Your body begins to ready itself to support the life of your child after it is outside the womb. What perfect beings we are that we can completely support the lives of children while they are both still inside our bodies and after they are outside.

Then, your belly beings to grow. You watch, in awe, as your belly stretches and grows over the shape of your baby. It grows slowly at first. Every newly pregnant woman watches eagerly for the first sign of a baby bump. Many pooch their bellies out before there is a bump because they are so proud of the baby that is growing inside them. Finally, you are able to see it growing. As the weeks go by, your belly grows faster and faster. Soon, you can look down and see it stretched taut over the child you eagerly await. You can rub your belly and know that you are also rubbing your child. That stretched belly signifies that soon you will hold your new child in your arms. But, until then, you get to enjoy the knowledge of your child safely inside your womb waiting to greet the world. You may also get to use your belly as a table, if you are lucky. Of course, the stretched belly is so attractive that perfect stranger may rub your belly as though for good luck. But, there is something about a pregnant belly that makes people happy and want to touch. So, try not to be offended. Understand that there is awe, love, happiness, and caring emanating from more strangers than at any other time in your life.

One day, you'll notice a flutter. Slowly, over the days, the flutters will become more forceful as the child grows. The feeling of having a child move within you is like nothing else. Sure, if your child is particularly exuberant, he might break a rib, but this doesn't happen often. And watching your belly stretched over your child as he does his first somersaults holds a certain amount of amusement for everyone involved. When you allow someone else to hold their hand over your belly while the baby kicks, you allow them to share in the experience of feeling a new life forming.

It is not to be discounted that you may accidentally close your belly in the refrigerator. Perhaps you may not fit behind the steering wheel of your car. Maybe getting in and out of bed will not be easy. But, seeing that belly full with child is the most wonderful, most beautiful thing in the world.