This Is Also No Big Deal

So... in case the title of this entry didn't tip you off, there is another No-Big-Deal-Actually-It-Is-A-Big-Deal-Kind-Of  event that occurred.  I mean, really, as much as I say eating a doughnut on Saturday was "no big deal" it is.  It's a doughnut and I have an eating disorder.  That's a big deal.  It wasn't a big deal physically (in fact my weight didn't budge between September 5's OB appointment and September 15's, in spite of that doughnut and a few pieces of Nutella toast consumed earlier in the week) but mentally, sure.

This new NBD (no big deal) event is different.  Perhaps a little more permanent, although only time will tell the extent of its' permanence:  I've gotten a few stretch marks.

Yesterday I made a video for my YouTube channel (Link to video HERE).  It was a multi-purpose video.  30 week update, lab update, live belly "pic" and stretch marks, EEEK!  All crammed into a 10 minute video.  Not bad eh? ;)  Yes, I actually stand up and show you my belly in real life.  Not just a picture, although I'll put a picture on the end of this entry for those of you who aren't inclined to watch my videos.

Okay, so about the stretch marks:  It's really not THAT bad.  Believe me, I am completely aware of how trivial a thing stretch marks are.  But for whatever reason my brain has grabbed onto the possibility of stretch marks and I've dreaded their (likely inevitable) appearance since like week 12!  I've put Palmer's Lotion and Vitamin E oil on religiously since week 16, despite being told there is no real evidence that those things help prevent stretch marks (apparently it's mostly genetic.)  I just figure it can't hurt, and I do it for the peace of mind, if nothing else.  And ultimately, the ONLY thing that matters to me is that Mara is healthy, which she is.  I would take 100,000 stretch marks if I had to, as long as she would be okay.  I wouldn't be happy about that, but I would do it in a second!

The stretch marks themselves are not huge, nor numerous, and they are concentrated in one main spot about 2.5 inches to the left of my belly button.  Interestingly, that is the spot where Mara kicks out the most.  I have a little cluster of them in the corresponding spot on the right of my belly button, but Mara Soleil prefers the left so there are more of them over there.  They aren't very noticeable.  In fact, when I lifted my shirt to show my mom yesterday, she couldn't find them!  Nevertheless, I know they are there.

But I'm really not that worried about it.  They say a large percentage of pregnant women get stretch marks.  I've been to quite a few tropical places where people walk around in bikinis and do you know how many times I've noticed stretch marks (or remnants of them) on the bellies of women who are clearly mothers and wearing bikinis?  ZERO.  I've never ever noticed it.  And the likelihood that every single mother wearing a bikini on the beach in those places just happens to be the ones who never got stretch marks is ludicrously low.  So it stands to reason that nobody will notice my faded-out stretch marks the next time I go to the beach.  

When I have realizations like that, I always feel so stupid.  So incredibly stupid to have even thought for a second that anyone would care enough to notice that on me.  I'm not special enough for that!  If I were a celebrity, maybe.  But the next time I go to Hawaii or wherever, I'll just be another mom on the beach with an unremarkable bikini body.  That works for me!

Mara Update:
I had an OB appointment on Monday, September 15th.  Mara is doing great!  The OB was laughing when we were listening to her heartbeat on the doppler because she was kicking the wand like crazy and it was making this loud "GWOOM, GWOOM" sound whenever she connected with it.  

"Sorry," I apologized for my daughter's behavior.

"She's a feisty one," the OB said, laughing.

From across the exam room Corky deadpanned, "She gets that from her mom."

Mara's Stats (approximately)
Length: 17 inches head to toe
Weight: 3.3 lb
Uterus measurement: 32 weeks