So who else out there is feeling terribly sorry for Britney Spears? As the media continues to portray her as a nutcase, parading around with no underwear, shaving her head, attacking paparazzi cars with a golf umbrella and all of the failed attempts at rehab, no one has been talking about what some insiders claim is the real cause of Britney's pain: post-natal depression. Whereas Brooke Shields became the poster girl for PND awareness coupled with her best-selling account of her darkest times, our dear Britney, once heralded as America's sweetheart, is the next celebrity in line to go to rehab (with no mention of her PND). Has rehab become the new baby bump?
Also, I was just perusing The Guardian this morning and found another article about Gwen Stefani (see previous post) and how much she hated being pregnant. This is incredibly interesting to me because Stefani is consistently quoted as loving motherhood and not being able to wait to have a second baby. She says:
"I was surprised how much I didn't enjoy pregnancy," she admits. "Having something growing in your stomach feels so unnatural. Your body's changing and you can't control it. You just feel gross. I was having to get up on stage wearing bathing suits, looking fat. Nobody knew I was pregnant except me. They were constantly having to add extra panels into my costumes. To be honest, I was feeling pretty bad about myself."
(for full article see http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,2024019,00.html)
When did women start referring to themselves as 'fat' in pregnancy? My own research is trying work out what the fear of fatness in pregnancy means. Out of the 40 women participating in The Baby Bump Project, I have been amazed by the number of women that refer to themselves as 'fat' and not pregnant as if the weight gain is a failure more so than biological necessity. Pregnancy brings not only a changed body but also a changed lifestyle. My thought is that some of this fear around fatness has to do with anxiety around having children. Wearing maternity clothes and seeing the numbers rise on the scale means that you are not yourself anymore. The body you have always known is different. Many women are consumed with 'getting back into their jeans' because it's a sign of more than just getting the top button done up; it represents a return to the old 'you'. As Stefani says, 'Then after three months, I was like, enough's enough, I want my life back. I'd gained 40lb, so I went on a diet.' Regaining control of the postnatal body is equivalent to regaining a sense of identity.
gwen stefani on motherhood, weight loss and Hollywood
On her public pregnancy: "It was weird being pregnant in a fishbowl situation. Especially on days when you feel really fat and disgusting and not cute. Pregnancy was challenging in a way I didn't expect. I was on tour and I was so sick. It was like PMS times a million."
On baby weight: "I worked out with my trainer throughout my whole pregnancy until about two weeks before. I cried during my last session. I was like, 'I can't breathe, I can't do this anymore. What am I doing?' It was crazy. All my life I had to work hard to stay in shape. I've always struggled with it. I was a little chubby when I was younger, and I didn't want to be that person forever. I became a swimmer at school - but only because I wanted to be skinnier! I'm extremely vain. I like wearing cute clothes."
On getting her body back: "There aren't any tricks, it's simple math: you put this much food in, you burn that much working out. I gave myself three months - but if I didn't have an album coming out, there's no way I would have gotten back into shape in that time. I worked out with my trainer five days a week, with weekends off. I would really recommend doing weights. I'm not into yoga and pilates - they don't work for me and I don't have the patience. I'm more like a man. I like going to the gym and lifting weights or doing a little boxing."
On the Hollywood body ideal: "It sucks that that's what is supposed to look good and that's what everyone strives to be. There's more to life than being on a diet. Clearly, I spend time thinking about it, and it's something I've had to deal with in my life. As I get older, I try not to focus on it, it's boring, it's a waste of life. What I have learned is that whether I'm fatter or thinner, people seem not to mind, they like me either way. It's more in your own mind than anyone else's."
the reality of motherhood: photos
These are some really thought provoking photo sets from an American photographer, Torrie, who is documenting her own pregnancy:
This is her photo set of her pregnancy (http://flickr.com/photos/torrie/sets/72157594304111463/)
She has also started a new series called "The realities of pregnancy and motherhood"
(http://flickr.com/photos/torrie/sets/72157594516155043/).
Torrie says,
"I thought it would be interesting to highlight the trials and tribulations of pregnancy and motherhood instead of just the typical happy belly and baby shots.
This is her blog www.iprettymuchhateeverything.com
This is her photo set of her pregnancy (http://flickr.com/photos/torrie/sets/72157594304111463/)
She has also started a new series called "The realities of pregnancy and motherhood"
(http://flickr.com/photos/torrie/sets/72157594516155043/).
Torrie says,
"I thought it would be interesting to highlight the trials and tribulations of pregnancy and motherhood instead of just the typical happy belly and baby shots.
This is her blog www.iprettymuchhateeverything.com
Smart Mums
Hi everyone. I just wanted to let you know about a fantastic site www.smart-mums.com.au which has everything you need to know about motherhood, parenting and pregnancy. I've written a feature article for this month on the site called 'Baby Bump'. You can view it here: http://www.smart-mums.com.au/site/1435875/page/898531
mother machines
I came across this article in The Age today. Women are 'birth-giving machines' according to Japan's Health Minister....of course everyone has to blame women for a falling birth rate....
Fury at Japan MP's baby gaffe
Tokyo, January 30, 2007
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/fury-at-japan-mps-baby-gaffe/2007/01/29/1169919273239.html
Japan's Health Minister has angered female voters by describing women as "birth-giving machines" and imploring them to "do their best" to halt the country's declining birthrate.
In a speech to Liberal Democratic Party members in western Japan, Hakuo Yanagisawa said women of child-bearing age should perform a public service by raising the birthrate, which fell to a record low of 1.26 children per woman in 2005. Experts say an average fertility rate of 2.1 children is needed to keep the population stable.
"The number of women aged between 15 and 50 is fixed," Mr Yanagisawa, 71, said. "Because the number of birth-giving machines and devices is fixed, all we can do is ask them to do their best per head … although it may not be so appropriate to call them machines."
Mr Yanagisawa's reported admission that the description had been "too uncivil" failed to silence his critics. "It was extremely rude towards women," said Democratic Party leader Yukio Hatoyama.
GUARDIAN
Fury at Japan MP's baby gaffe
Tokyo, January 30, 2007
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/fury-at-japan-mps-baby-gaffe/2007/01/29/1169919273239.html
Japan's Health Minister has angered female voters by describing women as "birth-giving machines" and imploring them to "do their best" to halt the country's declining birthrate.
In a speech to Liberal Democratic Party members in western Japan, Hakuo Yanagisawa said women of child-bearing age should perform a public service by raising the birthrate, which fell to a record low of 1.26 children per woman in 2005. Experts say an average fertility rate of 2.1 children is needed to keep the population stable.
"The number of women aged between 15 and 50 is fixed," Mr Yanagisawa, 71, said. "Because the number of birth-giving machines and devices is fixed, all we can do is ask them to do their best per head … although it may not be so appropriate to call them machines."
Mr Yanagisawa's reported admission that the description had been "too uncivil" failed to silence his critics. "It was extremely rude towards women," said Democratic Party leader Yukio Hatoyama.
GUARDIAN
katie holmes
As if our dear Katie needed more grief about her body....why does the world insist on shaming women and their postnatal bodies? Where is the 'fat' on this woman? Seriously....WHERE IS THE "FAT"????
The secret's out now, Kate January 26, 2007
Victoria Newton- Biz UK
IT’S comforting to see that even beautiful KATIE HOLMES has her “fat” days.
She was spotted at a fashion show wearing tan control pants under her peppermint gown – the sort women rely on to hide unwanted bumps.
I admire her for not having a tummy tuck like so many other celebrities. And who would have thought she gave birth to baby SURI just nine months ago?
Mrs Cruise was a guest at the Armani catwalk show in Paris on Wednesday.
During her trip there for fashion week she has been hanging out with super-skinny pal VICTORIA BECKHAM.
You have to sympathise with Katie – however slim you are, standing next to pencil-thin Posh is always going to make you feel a bit porky.
Let’s hope Katie keeps looking trim the natural, Bridget Jones way.
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