Belly at 28 weeks
Here I am with my 28 week belly shot! Belly is getting bigger and I’m hovering around the 9-9.5lb mark since the beginning. Speaking of weight, I had some friends who told me that I’m starting to get fat. These are obviously my friends in Asia, the culture is just so different here. I don’t feel very big and my doctor says everything is checking out perfectly so… I find it kind of hilarious that my non-pregnant/not wanting children friends say that I’m starting to get fat. They think the average weight gain for a pregnant woman is 15lbs. (I’m not kidding) Of course, my pregnant friends here tell me I’m fine and that non preggos (in Asia) really have no clue.
I told them that the average in America ranges from 25-50lbs. I have friends in that whole range, who had beautiful, healthy babies! They just scoff at me and say that it’s just way too much weight and that I should be more careful. Umm, ok… as if I can be any more careful with what I eat. I already eat so healthy and exercise too!
It ended up really getting me to but in all honesty, they didn’t mean any harm by it. I know it’s their way of “helping” me but that’s just one thing you don’t say to a pregnant woman. Obviously, I am gaining weight… you should just trust that I know what I’m doing. No need for the commentary. I’ve been slowly distancing myself from them too… I just can’t handle that right now.
On a lighter note… Kick counting is going well. Boram is unbelievably active, he keeps me up at night with his strong kicks. He is doing 10 kicks in under 10 minutes now and at times under 5 minutes. I feel very tired from not being able to sleep since I feel like he’s always waking me up. “hey umma! hey umma!! let’s play, let’s play!” I can only hope that’s what he’s thinking. 
I am currently packing up some of our things for a quick get away to Hong Kong. Very excited about going, I love Hong Kong and hope that one day we’ll live there. I would love to show Boram where his father is from, get to eat AMAZING Cantonese food and learn about HK culture. I feel lucky in those regards because he’ll get to experience Shanghai, whether he remembers it or not. And hopefully we’ll move around every few years to big cities like Hong Kong.
I really want to wear yoga pants the whole time in HK. Is that bad? LOL I am so happy that it’s warmer over there so I can wear my ballet flats again. (I live in them!) It’ll be good to get away from chilly Shanghai to sunny Hong Kong. We have to stock up on things while we’re there since it’s cheaper and some things we can’t find in China.
I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!
Ignore your friends in China.
Seriously. I think that Asia has a very skewed view of weight sometimes. More so than even in US. Because Asian women tend to be very thin and small to begin with. Then they try to follow celebrities and they try to lose even MORE weight. It becomes very anorexic in my opinion…
I know someone who was born in Canada. She is XXS in Canada. She’s about 105 pounds. NOT EVEN. Doctors in Canada say she’s malnourished. She should be eating more and gain 5-10 pounds more to be healthy. Same girl goes to HK to work abroad as she has a HK birth certificate. She goes for a check-up and the doctor there says she’s TOO FAT and needs to lose 5-10 pounds. She asks how this is possible when her doctor in Canada says she’s too thin. The Chinese doctor remarked, “OH! You’re from Canada. You’re fine then.”
True story. What does this show you? Weight and health in each country is relative. And Asia is really messed up. I’m not saying go and gain 300 pounds this pregnancy but you’re a good weight right now and even if you do gain extra, you can lose it later. Getting nutrients into your body right now for Boram is more important than being overweight by a few pounds.
Sorry for the ramblings! Anyhow, have fun in Hong Kong!
yeah, people will talk and say stuff without knowing what they’re talking about and how it might affect you.
take that on top of the pregnancy hormones and it’s not a pretty picture!
your doc does know what she is doing. so trust her. and as for those weird friends…..well….if they’re not helping or enriching your life in some way…..they’re not really your friends.
i think yoga pants + ballet flats = très confortable et chic!
You look beautiful!!! And don’t worry, I’ve gotten called fat and I’m clearly not even pregnant. The Chinese mindset on bodies and nutrition is totally off. Have a great trip to HK. Did I tell you we are going March 13-16? See you when you get back!