Living in a Society Obsessed with Skinny... 18 Weeks Pregnant.

     I am female, of course I have had thoughts about not being skinny enough or fit enough.  I've seen peoples' constant Facebook posts about going to the gym, or how far they ran on a particular day.  I have noticed the magazines at the check out boasting how quickly a celebrity got her pre-baby body back, or gasping at what celebrity put on a few pounds, so heaven forbid she should wear a bikini. I have lived my life trying to fit in to these unrealistic guidelines we set for ourselves.  Don't get me wrong, I have never had an eating disorder, I just try to watch my weight, and do what I can to fit in.  
     Most women attempt to lose weight for their wedding.  When I got engaged, my future husband told me I had to gain weight for our wedding.  Slightly offended, I led him to a mirror and said something along the lines of, "are you kidding me, I look hot."  He said, "I can see all of your ribs, you look sick."  (Yes, I do have the best husband in the world.)  I ended up gaining about 10 pounds for our wedding, and I still think I looked hot in our wedding pictures.
     About a year later, we are expecting our first child.  We are so excited!  I've been to the doctor 3 times so far.  The last time I went I was 16 weeks along, and the first thing my doctor said to me was, "I'm concerned you haven't gained any weight."  I made a million excuses and then it finally came out, I didn't want to gain weight.  I just want to be like one of those cute pregnant girls that you can't even tell are pregnant from the back, and then they turn around and have a totally cute belly.  She told me, "If you want to have a healthy pregnancy you'll gain at least 25 pounds by June."  Yikes, that was a lot for me to take in.  My body was changing, making room for the little one, but she was right, I hadn't gained a pound.  I figured, the weight would come at the end, right now my baby is like the size of a peanut.  We talked about what I was eating and if I was getting enough calories, etc.  Of course, I was getting enough calories - ice cream is my favorite food.  So, my job for the next 4 weeks, was to eat 4 proteins a day, and gain 4 pounds.  Later that week, I got a little bug and couldn't keep food down.  I ended up losing 2 pounds.  I thought I was doing the right thing for my baby, cutting out fatty foods, eating more fruits and veggies.  I wasn't focused on gaining weight, because I've heard you only need to eat 200 extra calories a day when you're pregnant.  You're not eating for 2 fully grown humans, you're eating for you and a tiny peanut.  
     I was so so excited to become a mom, it never even occurred to me that weight would be an issue.  Now my husband asks me how much protein I've eaten today, or when I go into the kitchen and look in the fridge he helps me choose something of value to eat, for me and the baby.  I have 2 weeks until my next check up and still a few pounds to gain. Now, I am more concerned with having a healthy pregnancy than having a celebrity-skinny-pregnancy.  I feel blessed to have a life growing inside of me, and a husband who loves baby and I enough to tell me to gain weight, not to look like a swim suit model.