[mommaxo]

This is my first pregnancy. Among many other things I struggle coming to terms with, my body changing is one of them. I'm scared of getting stretch marks. I've seen them on other girls. and Yes people can say "they are simply tiger stripes, beautiful evidence of motherhood" But I still think they look horribly unappealing. I don't want my belly hanging out under my shirt. I don't want to have a fat face. I already had body issues before becoming pregnant, and I feel like my self esteem will just drop even more when I start gaining more weight. I know carrying around some extra weight seems like the last thing I should be worrying about right now. I just can't help it. I have worries in the back of my head that no guy will want me, and I will no longer be desirable to men. I don't even know how I will even have the time to work out, or exercise with a screaming baby around.

I guess my biggest fear is not having a father around for this baby. So many questions run through my head. How will I even date anymore? Has my sex life/social life gone down the drain at the age of 21? How will I cope as a single mother? Will I be able to get a babysitter every now and then without feeling guilty ? How am I going to survive financially with no child support? How am i going to deal with labour? the pain?
I guess you can't have pregnancy without axienty, and worry for the future.

[CosmicRose]

As long as you eat very healthy, mostly fruits and veggies and rice and beans and all the other yummy healthy nutrient rich foods, you'll be fine! You can even buy a pregnancy food book that tells you what you should or shouldn't eat. I have a friend who gave birth to two children and you would never know it because her body is amazing, and just look at all the celebrities who go right back to their original size after a month (lol). It's definitely possible. You won't ruin your body don't worry. Eat as much as you want though, because you're eating for two, so don't try to stay skinny for that reason, just eat healthy portions and healthy food and drink lots of water and do very light exercises and you'll be fine.
As far as the stretch marks, rub lotions and body butters and oils on your skin every day of the pregnancy and after. This actually makes a difference.
This is a time to feel gorgeous and beautiful and glow. Enjoy it its a beautiful time for your body. Just knowing your body can harbor life and do such amazing things should boost your confidence, not bring it down. But of course don't try to stay skinny because this can cause harm to the baby by being born underweight but I'm sure you already know this.
When the baby is around, just put the crib next to you while you work out in front of the tv, that's what my sister did. Her baby was in a little gated baby crib playing with toys while she worked out in her living room. Your sex life definitely hasn't stopped after having a baby, my sister's husband also wasn't around for their baby and she has had like 2 boyfriends since then and they had their own kids too so its not a big deal. Why isn't he offering child support? Can you take him to court for that? Can you ask his parents for help with their grandchild? Don't feel guilty for getting a babysitter. Do a water bath if you want during the labour, the water is usually luke warm and it helps because its a more calming environment to be floating in a tub. The doctors have drugs for the pain. And guess what? Being a single parent can be a really good thing because you get to raise your baby specifically how YOU want, without having someone else raise them in a different way or fighting over parenting styles.

Knowledge is power. If you educate yourself as much as you can about what is to be, then you will feel a million times more confident.

You will also find that many of these things that you're anxious about now, will go away when you hold your baby for the first time.

As far as men go, if he's that concerned with stretch marks, then he's too superficial for you.

FWIW, I have had four babies. I have one stretch mark on my hip. It's about one inch long.