Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – a very healthy saying that pushes folks not to judge anyone by their looks, yet somehow our society still seems to be missing the point. It's not a secret that our world is highly invested in other people's business, especially when it comes to appearance. Even though, for the past decade, celebrating the diversity of others has become very encouraged, you'll still encounter a few individuals that'll make sure to let you know that they're not happy with the way you are.

The constant misrepresentation on TV and social media doesn't help either. People assume that what they see on the big screen is what the world is all about, making the real-life stuff seem unrealistic or not up to the standard. All this toxicity has even spread to pregnant women. Society expects every mother to have a perfectly rounded and petite baby bump – when pregnant bellies, just like human bodies, come in all shapes and sizes. Luckily, pregnant women are not standing still and are constantly reminding folks that bumps are unique to each person. Today, Bored Panda decided to gather a few baby bump photos to celebrate mothers and their strong spirit.

#1

Image credits: dwilsonphotography

Let's begin with the fact that pregnancy is a highly challenging process that is often overlooked and underappreciated. Mothers spend 37 to 42 weeks growing a baby, most of the time feeling pretty under the weather. The potential complications both during pregnancy and delivery, the incredibly draining symptoms like constant sickness and raging hormones, but most importantly, no sleeping on your stomach – all these things, plus many more, are the daily "burdens" of a pregnant woman.

Moreover, the postpartum period is equally exhausting. Things like postnatal depression and anxiety often crawl up to mothers unexpectedly, making it hard for them to enjoy the long-awaited bliss of motherhood. Physical changes like hair loss caused by plummeting estrogen levels is also a very frequent side effect, as well as pelvic organ prolapse, back pain and an unexpected, but at the same time fairly self-explanatory change – altered bone structure.

#2

Image credits: _brookemaureen

Apart from having to go through all these life-changing events, and the physically and emotionally draining aftermath of pregnancy – mothers also have to deal with a bunch of societal pressures.

For instance, since the whole “social media influencer” phenomenon took off, the boundaries between our offline and online lives often get blurred. Many folks are in love with the idea that it allows us to create this perfect lifestyle while having all the control in the world in the form of editing. Though the majority of us are aware that social media content doesn’t represent people’s real life, we still struggle to accept it and repeatedly fall into its trap.

#3

Image credits: jeffgetcash

#4

Image credits: leanne.x.x

When scrolling through your Facebook or Instagram feed, it’s hard to not get self-conscious about your way of living, your body, your face – the list could go on and on.

However, when it comes to motherhood and family/mommy influencers, things can get quite toxic. It's important to realize that not every influencer's aim is to positively affect your life, as there are quite a few creators that do it for the sake of popularity. The well-known channels and accounts turn out to be strictly money-driven individuals with their own dirty secrets. It’s crucial to surround yourself with healthy content that will inspire you to get going, even when you feel like you’re failing.

#5

Image credits: plusmommy

#6

Image credits: thesunnyplayroom

Women get pressured on a day-to-day basis, and it's a shame that even when we're growing a human being inside of us, we're still expected to look "perfect", whatever that might mean. What a pity that a few stretch marks, a very natural occurrence, by the way, can be so looked down upon. It’s rather dumbfounding that the majority of the population still struggles to comprehend that people don’t get copied and pasted and that every inch of our body is unique to us and us only. People should be appreciated and diversity should be celebrated instead of belittled.

#7

Image credits: onelove_cut

#8

Image credits: superpregnant_

#9

Image credits: renate.pettersen

Motherhood is a magical thing, and as tough as it might be, we need to learn to accept the fact that we’ll get judged no matter what. Our world is filled with toxic individuals that won’t miss a chance to make a derogatory remark whether you’re Kris Jenner herself or a single mother from a small town. Who knows why people have so much evil in them, however – what’s truly important is your and your family’s well-being, so how about we try to focus on that?

#10

Image credits: nursestallion

#11

Image credits: manegirlmia

#12

Image credits: bella.oak20

The moral of the story is that we're all different and that we'll still get shamed no matter what and how we do it. All these people who expect every mother to "carry beautifully" and have that "pregnancy glow" are simply romanticizing the childbearing process that, most of the time, is immensely difficult. However, Bored Panda hopes that this article has put a smile on one or two faces, and remember that your body has given you the greatest gift of your life.