“PREGNANCY CHIC: If you’ve got it, flaunt it: That was the new ethos of the pregnancy experience, with chic clothes that emphasized the bulging belly, personal pregnancy photos, and endless coverage of celebrity pregnancies.” That excerpt is from Jocelyn Noveck’s (AP National Writer) story from last week, entitled “50 Things That Changed Our Lives This Decade.”
I’m not going to lie, ten years ago I was getting my driver’s license and pregnancy was the last thing on my mind. This new age of pregnancy is the only way I’ve ever known. I never thought twice about posting pictures of my growing belly on my Facebook page or wearing a fitted maternity shirt that cinched above my belly. I don’t remember a time when I didn’t know which celebrities were expecting and when. I draw the line at inviting the entire world into my labor and delivery room via live internet feed. (For those of you who never got a chance to read about Lynsee’s very public birth, check it out here.)
I think the driving force behind this shift is the internet. I’m not knocking it, seeing as it brought us together. If it weren’t for the prevalence of the web in people’s lives and the public’s fascination with pregnancy, I probably wouldn’t be here writing to you. It is interesting to note, however, the number of forums, blogs and websites devoted to pregnancy. It has made us all increasingly comfortable with pregnancy and how we discuss it. It is no longer taboo to wear a bikini while pregnant any more than it is to discuss one’s mucous plug amongst strangers. It seems that nothing is off limits and our stories are out there for the public to enjoy. Entire communities have risen up around the topic. Search for “pregnancy” on Google and you will get 78,100,000 results. That’s incredible! How does a person even begin to sift through all of that (mis)information? Shameless plug: just stick to the Families pregnancy blog!