A mother who faced ridicule for her “big” baby bump refuses to let pregnancy stigma affect her.
Eliana Rodriguez, 29, recently gave birth to her second child, Sebastian. Although her pregnancy and baby were perfectly healthy, her larger-than-average bump sparked comments like “Are you expecting twins?” and “You must be so uncomfortable.”
A large baby bump can sometimes signal health issues, but often, it’s just a natural variation in body shape. Rodriguez reassured others that both she and her baby were in excellent health.
“I had large pregnancies; both of my children were born weighing 8.3 pounds. My daughter Sofia, now 3, was 19.5 inches at birth, and Sebastian was 20.5 inches,” she shared.
While online trolls were easy to ignore, Rodriguez noted that people’s curiosity in person could be intrusive. She responded kindly, saying, “Yes, I am huge, and it’s hard.”
Rodriguez, a health and wellness entrepreneur from Las Vegas, explained that her shorter torso (she’s 4’11”) made her bump appear larger. Doctors assured her it was normal.
She revealed her excitement about the pregnancy, saying, “We had been trying for a second child and hoped for a boy.”
During her pregnancy, Rodriguez carried extra amniotic fluid, a condition called polyhydramnios, though her doctors confirmed she didn’t have it. They monitored her fluid levels and baby’s size to ensure everything was normal.
Chicago-based OBGYN Dr. Kiarra King (not Rodriguez’s doctor) noted other causes of a larger bump, like maternal diabetes, fetal macrosomia, or Diastasis Recti. However, Rodriguez avoided all these complications.
Rodriguez highlighted the harm of body-shaming remarks, especially for women dealing with prenatal or postpartum depression.
“I feel so bad for people who use cruel words,” she said, emphasizing her wish for greater empathy toward expectant mothers.
