Replying to @mellemons: You seem really pressed about people appreciating a pregnant woman. 😏 Sorry to break it to you, but a woman can be pregnant, confident, and feel good about herself. It’s not that deep. #selfies #fyp

I had to pull this comment from @mellemons. “Thirsting for our pregnant ladies 😏.”

The sarcasm, the little smirk emoji… wow.

I just have to ask, what exactly is the problem here? Is it that a pregnant woman is in front of a camera, feeling herself? Or is it that other people—God forbid—might find her attractive?

Let’s just clear the air, because this is a really tired, weird, and misogynistic attitude.

The second a woman becomes pregnant, society has this bizarre desire to completely desexualize her. It’s like you’re supposed to turn in your “Woman” card and immediately trade it for the “Walking Incubator” card. You’re expected to disappear for nine months, draped in a burlap sack, and only talk about cravings and doctor’s appointments. You are no longer allowed to be seen as sensual, confident, or beautiful. You are now just a mother, and in your world, @mellemons, those two things apparently can’t exist at the same time.

Well, I’m here to tell you that’s absolute garbage.

I am still me. I’m still a woman. My body is just doing something absolutely incredible, and yes, I’m going to feel good about it. I’m going to document it. I’m going to take #selfies where I feel beautiful. This body is literally building a person from scratch. It is the definition of power. It is the definition of strength. And yes, it is beautiful.

You use the word “thirsting” like it’s a dirty secret, something to be ashamed of. You’re trying to make something positive feel seedy.

But let’s call it what it is. What you call “thirsting,” I call appreciation.

It’s my partner looking at me and thinking I am hotter than ever because of what my body is doing. It’s other women, moms or not, hyping me up in the comments, telling me I’m “glowing” or “radiant.” It’s a community of people celebrating the female form in all its stages, not just the one narrow, sanitized version you’re comfortable with.

This journey is hard. There are days I feel exhausted, swollen, and completely alien in my own skin. So you better believe that on the days I feel strong, on the days I feel confident, on the days I feel beautiful—I am going to capture that. I am going to celebrate that.

This comment says so much more about your own discomfort than it does about me. Why does a confident, pregnant woman make you so pressed?

I’m not going to hide. I’m not going to apologize. I’m not going to shrink myself to make you more comfortable. I’m going to keep taking these selfies, and I’m going to keep feeling good about it. #fyp