Entertainment
Magazines, films, society — the media perpetuates this idea that pregnancy is a time in a woman's life when she is glowing, flawless, and the embodiment of life itself. Though some of that is true, the messy, uncomfortable side of pregnancy is rarely talked about outside of hushed conversations between close confidants. Thankfully, the tide is turning and people are realizing there is an entire spectrum on which bringing a child into this world occurs, and not all of it looks like it does in the movies. There are plenty of celebrity moms who got super real about pregnancy, proving that even the Hollywood elite are subject to swollen ankles and unbearable constipation.
In all actuality, sometimes it takes the recognizable voice of a famous individual to lend validity and bring awareness to certain issues. So, in my opinion, I think it's great and fully welcome all the realness today's celeb moms are bringing to everything from pregnancy and stretch marks to motherhood and post-baby bodies. The more something is talked about, the less taboo it is and the more people there are who feel supported enough to step out and share their own stories. So check out some of these celeb moms who got super real about pregnancy.
1Chrissy Tiegen
Chrissy Tiegen has a pretty spotless record of always keeping things one hundred. So it's no surprise that she would be unabashedly honest about all the aspects of pregnancy. On Twitter, Tiegen took on the pregnancy shamers and passive agressive advice-givers where she said, "you better unlock your profile so I can see your perfection."
2Jessica Alba
Though there's no right or wrong way to feel about yourself during pregnancy, Jessica Alba kept things real about her pregnancy when she told People, "I just don’t associate being pregnant with being sexy. It's not a sex thing to me."
3Kim Kardashian West
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and, boy, does this one speak volumes. Since Kim Kardashian West is a working mom, she doesn't always have the luxury of kicking back in pajamas and slippers. Kim Kardashian West posted a photo of her swollen feet on Instagram, a common experience during pregnancy, and what they looked like after a night of networking.
4Camilla Alves
Camila Alves got very candid about the pregnancy struggles she faced carrying her third child. "I had a really tough pregnancy," she told People. "I had all kinds of things happen throughout the whole nine months." Alves went on to elaborate how trusting her instincts proved to be the right move. "I told the doctor right before I went in, ‘Once I’m there just take a look, because I know something is wrong.’ They ended up finding all kinds of things in there that we had to take care of."
5Olivia Wilde
Since Olivia Wilde got real about her post-baby body after her first child, and was lauded for her frankness, it's not surprising that she would take the same approach to all aspects of motherhood. On Twitter, Olivia Wilde confirmed, "baby brain is real. I should not be permitted to operate heavy equipment including iPhones." It's a bit of a relief to find that even celebs aren't immune to the mental fog that comes with pregnancy.
6Jennifer Lopez
Many women, stars included, feel the pressure to keep going strong throughout their entire pregnancy. Yet most moms know that it's a virtually impossible task, unless you want to completely burn yourself out. In an interview with People, Jennifer Lopez said her pregnancy, "is the first time in my life where I'm just going to be a little bit selfish." In my opinion, more women should follow her lead and stop apologizing for taking the time to care for themselves before, during, and after pregnancy.
7Drew Barrymore
There's this unattainable standard (set by God know's who) that women are supposed to gain a speck of weight during their pregnancy and be back in a bikini the day after giving birth. OK, maybe I'm exaggerating, but, according to People, Drew Barrymore keeps it real about gaining weight when pregnant. "It took nine months to build. It should take nine months to get off." Amen, Drew Barrymore, amen. She went on to say, "I wanted fettuccini alfredo. I didn’t want a barbell." The stars truly are just like us.
8Blake Lively
In addition to juggling all of life's responsibilities while pregnant, you're apparently supposed to do it all with a smile, too. On The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Blake Lively talked about the taboo of complaining when pregnant. "Everybody says, 'how are you feeling?' but they don't really want to hear how you're feeling," she said. "They don't want you to complain." I'm pretty sure a lot of women can relate to that sentiment; I know I do.
9Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi
Never one to shy away from the public eye or filter what she says, Nicole "Snookie" Polizzi said, "pregnancy is disgusting. It's hell," according to an interview she did with TMZ. Not to say that everyone should agree with her viewpoint, but it's refreshing to hear someone be so honest about pregnancy and how it's not always glamorous or cute.
10Fergie
There may be some expectant mothers who feel completely prepared for motherhood, but I'd argue they're in the minority. On Good Morning America, Fergie echoed the same fears many moms-to-be have when they find out they're with child. In response to how she felt when she realized she was pregnant, Fergie said, "this s*** got real. I have no idea what I'm doing."
11Alyssa Milano
An advocate for breastfeeding and an all-around badass woman, Alyssa Milano was honest about pregnancy with E! News. "I don't think it's as romantic as we project it to be through the media." She continued with her take-down of societal pressures, saying, "the female body is not made to look good in a bikini, it's made to give birth."
12Christina Applegate
On Lopez Tonight, Christina Applegate destroyed a popular pregnancy myth. "You hear that you feel like a flower the whole time, but bulls***, you do not." As if that wasn't honest enough, she got even more real with it. Applegate said during pregnancy, "you feel like a fat a** and are exhausted."
13Kristen Bell
Not all expectant moms get that warm and fuzzy feeling during pregnancy. According to Us Weekly, Kristen Bell shared that she didn't feel an immediate bond during pregnancy. "It could've been a water bottle in my belly, that's about how connected I felt to her during my pregnancy." And you know what? That's OK.
14Kelly Clarkson
Sometimes you can only get full perspective on a situation after you've been through and had time to reflect. The same applies to pregnancy, for many. According to Women's Health, Kelly Clarkson said, "[pregnancy] was the worst experience of my life." In addition to being open and honest ahout things, she went on to say, "I didn't feel attractive, either," she said. "You hear people taking about a pregnancy glow, but I had no glow!" Is it finally safe to say that "the glow" is just a myth?
15Tess Holiday
In perhaps one of the most epic instances of a celeb mom shutting down the haters on Instagram, model Tess Holiday responded to pregnancy shaming. "I'm part of a small minority that's telling you it's okay to not have a perfect baby bump, or not show at all, to be plus size & have a healthy child."