By BEC SPARROW
Imagine there’s a fence and I’m sitting on it. Because that’s how I feel about some new research findings that have come out about pregnant women obsessing over celebrity baby bumps.
Here’s the thing. You know how all women (okay, not all women. My mum is really not Googling Mila Kunis every day. Or ever). I’ll start again. A lot of women like looking at celebrity baby bumps. Conversations in obstetric waiting rooms routinely go like this: Mila Kunis is pregnant! Look at what she’s wearing! How far along do you think she is? I look way further along than her. When is she due? I’m loving those leggings. Is she eating fried chicken in that photo?
Well new research has come out to say that when non-famous pregnant women start obsessing about celebrity pregnant women the outcomes aren’t terrific.
Here’s how it was reported on Jezebel:
A study suggests that obsessing over celebrity baby bumps does not only affect the self-esteem of a pregnant mother but also the actual connection she feels to her baby.
The study, published in the journal Psychology & Marketing looked at 478 expecting mothers, and found that pregnant women who more closely follow pregnant celebrities, along with other factors, were more likely to have body image issues and stress regarding weight gain, something a lot of moms already deal with. But the researchers also found it had another effect. As Melissa Dahl at NY Mag writes:
“But Krisjanous was also curious what impact this might have on these women’s feelings toward the pregnancy in general. In short: It wasn’t great. These women also reported lower prenatal attachment, something she defined as “the feelings of attachment or love a mother feels for her developing baby during a pregnancy.”
Let’s be honest – 478 people isn’t exactly a massive case study. But do they have a point? I certainly recall during my fourth pregnancy that I behaved in a somewhat stalkerish fashion towards Duchess Catherine who was pregnant with Prince George at the same time.
And sure, there were moments where I realised that despite being only days apart … I looked like I was carrying triplets as compared to Her Royal Highness.
Did that make me depressed? I can’t remember. I was too busy eating Milo from the tin and trying to find my ankles. But I can certainly say it didn’t impact my bonding with my son when he was born.
So what do you think? Would being pregnant at the same time as a celebrity make you a bit obsessive or competitive with them? And hands up if anyone else out there ate Milo from the tin when they were up the duff?
Is there anything wrong with obsessing over celebrity baby bumps?
Top Comments
I definitely understand what they are referring to; my constant comparison to looking fabulous connected of not worrying as much about the actual health of myself and bubs. Also this media is not helping . Now other people think I had to look like that... To note my boss' s reference of Miranda Kerr!!! He said and I quote. "Well you are not looking like Miranda but you look well"!!!!!! Wtf?! I only wish I ate milo out of a tin and told "them" to get stuffed.
I was due the same week as the Princess, and it wasn't me comparing myself, but others. My belly was huge and I was threatened prem labour. It made me feel terrible as she was still walking around in heels and looking tiny. I ended up giving birth over a month before Kate (my bub early, hers overdue) and a traumatic birth left me in a bad way. I felt even worse seeing her the day after her birth with zero signs other than a small belly. I don't think this affected bonding, but my self esteem took a hit :-(
My friend had her first baby the same day Prince George was born. Thirteen months later George is walking while my friend's child isn't the slightest bit interested! It's amazing how much variability there is between both mothers and babies throughout pregnancy and the first year of a child's life.