3lor

“Criticism Over Her Baby Bump: ‘The Largest Pregnant Belly I’ve Ever Seen

Advertisement

A mother who faced criticism for her “larger” baby bump is standing strong against pregnancy stigma.

Eliana Rodriguez, now 29, recently welcomed her second child, Sebastian. Despite her pregnancy and baby being perfectly healthy, Rodriguez received comments like “You are gigantic,” “Are you expecting twins?” and “Is there another baby in there?” Her pregnancy and baby were in excellent health, but the size of her baby bump drew attention.

While a large bump during pregnancy can sometimes indicate health concerns, it is often perfectly normal, reflecting how a woman’s body adjusts. Rodriguez reassured everyone that both she and her baby are in great health.

“I’ve had large pregnancies; both of my children were born weighing 8.3 pounds. My 3-year-old daughter Sofia was 19.5 inches at birth, while my newborn son was 20.5 inches,” Rodriguez shared.

Rodriguez mentioned that while it’s easy to ignore online trolls, people can be just as curious in person.

Though she noticed the curiosity, Rodriguez always responded with grace. “Yes, I am big, and it’s challenging,” she would say.

Rodriguez, a health and wellness entrepreneur based in Las Vegas, Nevada, reflected, “I wondered why my belly was bigger than others’. My doctors explained it was normal due to my height—I’m only 4’11” with a shorter torso.”

Rodriguez began showing early in her pregnancy, but she embraced it. “I’m an open person, and I was thrilled to share my journey. We had been trying for a second child and hoped for a boy.”

Advertisement

During her pregnancy, Rodriguez carried an abundance of amniotic fluid, which fills the amniotic sac, protecting the baby and allowing it to move freely.

The Mayo Clinic explains that “polyhydramnios,” or excess amniotic fluid, occurs in 1% to 2% of pregnancies. While it can sometimes lead to complications like preterm labor, most cases are uneventful.

Advertisement

Rodriguez’s doctors confirmed that despite the extra fluid, she did not have polyhydramnios. “They measured the baby’s size and the amount of fluid to be sure,” she explained.

According to Dr. Kiarra King, an OBGYN based in Chicago (who did not treat Rodriguez), other causes of excess fluid include maternal diabetes and fetal structural anomalies. However, a larger belly can also result from factors like fetal macrosomia, maternal obesity, or Diastasis Recti, a condition where abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy.

Fortunately, Rodriguez avoided all of these issues.

Rodriguez also highlighted the importance of refraining from body-shaming comments, especially during pregnancy. She emphasized that such remarks can deeply affect women who might be struggling with prenatal or postpartum depression.

“I understand that some people lack empathy,” Rodriguez said. “As a person of faith, I feel for those who use hurtful words.”

Related Posts:

Our Dog Barked at My Sleeping Wife—Then We Knew Why

Advertisement Semy, The Family’s Protector Nights at home were always peaceful. We lived in a quiet neighborhood, where neighbors greeted each other in the morning and children played in the street without fear. Our routine was simple: we ate dinner together, watched a little television, and when we grew sleepy, we each retired to our ... Read more

Found Daughter Caged by Babysitter—Her Unblinking Response Chilled Me

Advertisement I was only gone two hours. Enough time to run errands and finally pick up that birthday gift for my sister. The sitter, Kelsie, came highly recommended—a quiet college student, early childhood education major, CPR certified, the whole checklist. I figured it’d be a chill afternoon. But the second I stepped through the front ... Read more

My Daughter on the Slide: A Mother’s Look and My Lingering Fear

Advertisement This photo? It looks ordinary. A kid on a slide. Ponytail lopsided. Shirt riding up. Pink shoes full of bark chips. You’d scroll past it in a heartbeat if she weren’t mine. But that day, I remember exactly what I was thinking as I took it: Please let her feel normal for five minutes. ... Read more

Her Grave Visited Yearly—This Time, a Discovery Changed Everything

Advertisement They were too young when she passed to understand it, really. I remember holding them both at the service, one on each hip, while trying not to fall apart myself. I told them she was in the sky, watching us. That she loved them more than cookies and cartoons combined. Now they’re five. Old ... Read more

He Threw Her Out—Six Years Later, She Returned with Twins and a Shattering Secret

Advertisement Six years ago, Emily stood on the creaking front porch of the house they once called home. The air was thick with summer humidity, but her hands trembled more from the chill in Mark’s voice than the weather. She was pregnant — twins due in a few short weeks — and held nothing but ... Read more

Found Abandoned Baby in Business Class—His Note Changed My Life

Advertisement The flight from New York to London had been smooth—uneventful, even. As a flight attendant with nearly a decade of experience, I’d seen almost everything: nervous fliers, crying toddlers, the occasional argument over reclining seats. But nothing—not even my worst turbulence nightmare—could’ve prepared me for what happened after that plane landed. We had just ... Read more