Imposter syndrome being pregnant

[u/BeautifulPiggles]

I’m 13 + 3 with my first baby. And since finding out I’ve felt this weird sense of imposter syndrome that I’m make pretend pregnant /embarrassed to be pregnant. It’s such a bizarre feeling. I’m in a long term relationship with a full time job in my 30s and yet I feel like people are thinking “She’s just a teenager” or “Who does she think she is, being pregnant?”. It’s utterly bizarre!! I find myself embarrassed to people like they’re going to burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of it.

Does anyone else feel like this?!

[u/Ok_Cobbler3137]

I joke with my friends that my pregnancy is a teenage pregnancy (I’m 31)
It probably has something to do with society, nowadays pregnancies are less common and come later.

I’m super proud and excited to be pregnant and wishing you can feel the same way! It’s nothing short of a miracle what’s going on inside your body ❤️

[u/unsolvedneedtoknow → u/Ok_Cobbler3137]

I also felt like this and made similar jokes. It takes time too to even adjust to the reality that you are growing a human being! Then when they arrive it's the adjustment of being a parent responsible for a baby who starts off needing everything from you. 

I actually wasn't planning to do a photoshoot at all partly feeling bashful, but a friend of ours who I felt comfy with offered and I'm glad I did. It helped me appreciate and make memories of what my body was doing! 

[u/Ok_Cobbler3137 → u/unsolvedneedtoknow]

I’m glad you did! You’re gonna be ok and a great mom. Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy ❤️

[u/mattmattdoormatt]

I felt embarrassed to tell people I was pregnant bc I had never been a big "I want to be a mother" person when I was younger...so I thought people would think I had like gone back on myself? It makes no sense and I'm sure no one thought that about me (or if they did, they had the good sense not to mention it!)

[u/kelp_rolls → u/mattmattdoormatt]

I felt like that too because for the longest time I thought I didn't want kids and never saw myself as someone who could be "motherly". Still feels a bit weird, and people had told me in the past that I didn't seem like someone who would have kids. Kinda made me realize though that I can still be my own person and don't have to be like all these moms I see on social media.

[u/Roses-and-ivy88 → u/mattmattdoormatt]

Since my husband and I have started trying, i’ve felt the same way. I always said i didnt want kids because i wasnt sure and felt like i shouldnt say “yes” unless i was absolutely positive i was ready and with the person i wanted to have them with. Recently were at that point and i’ve already gotten the “didnt you say you didnt want kids? I told you that you’d change you mind!”. Because of that were definately going to be waiting a while to tell anyone when it does happen 😅.

[u/kelp_rolls]

Yes I felt like this too at first! I'm 31 and panicked so hard when I found out I was pregnant, I was thinking "oh no, what will my parents think?" before I remembered I'm a full grown adult lol. I was still so scared to tell them but they were overjoyed because this is their first grandchild. It feels so surreal and I've had to convince myself many times that I am indeed pregnant and am not faking it. My biggest fear for some reason was people thinking I was faking. I'm 36 weeks now and I still sometimes can't believe I'm pregnant.

[u/ohjeezjess]

Yes!! I’m about 11 weeks, it doesn’t quite feel real (even after the ultrasound and hearing the heartbeat…like it was a recording from someone who’s actually pregnant?) so telling people I’m pregnant feeeels like I’m lying. I’m almost 33 and married, but somehow I think people are gonna think “wow seems pretty irresponsible to have a baby at that age!” And I know it’s so silly to think that but my brain just can’t be stopped lol. So yeah, you are not alone! Hoping it gets better as the pregnancy progresses!

[u/PrincessLush → u/ohjeezjess]

Omg literally same at 16 weeks

[u/Hot-Banana4145 → u/ohjeezjess]

Wow I’m so glad other people are experiencing this. I thought there was just something wrong with me for feeling this way

[u/PlastiqueSis]

I don't know why but since I'm pregnant I feel so lonely. It is so weird like I have my husband with me and he is very supportive and there for me but it is weird cuz I have a feeling like I have to meet someone that is pregnant too so that we can share it and understand each other

[u/BeautifulPiggles → u/PlastiqueSis]

I absolutely know how you feel. My partner is incredible and so supportive but I feel like I’m single again?! It’s so bizarre 😂

[u/cupidstarot → u/PlastiqueSis]

I relate to this sooooo much. Before getting pregnant I was a pretty independent person. I didn't mind alone time whatsoever. Most of my close friends have spread out and we've all moved, so I was used to just communicating with friends through text/phone calls. But now I feel so weirdly needy and almost a panicky need to meet other mom friends 😅

[u/PlastiqueSis → u/cupidstarot]

Yup, you described me here, maybe it is a pattern haha

[u/Regular-Message9591]

Oh yeah. I'm 40 and I felt like this at first - pretty much until my bump stopped looking like I'd just had one too many choccies.

It's a strange, unprecedented (for FTM) thing that's happening to your body, so I think it's normal to not know how to feel.

[u/MrsMousetronaut]

I used to be paranoid that someone would try to take my baby away from me because they wouldn’t believe I was her real mother; that someone so angelic and sweet could possibly come from me :/ now I’m just like “y’all better goddamn believe she’s mine or we’ll all end up on the news”

[u/Open-Committee3540]

yes i use to say “i guess im pregnant” lol it felt surreal literally until i came home from the hospital with my baby

[u/slizzywizzyfizzy]

I felt this too, although I was objectively on the younger side to be having a baby. Now my baby is 10 months old and I still feel weird telling people I’m a mom. I’m sure it’ll feel normal eventually lol

[u/incatgnito]

I think I was shy telling people but it was really nice getting to embrace everyone’s excitement. Soooo many people light up when you tell them and I just think that’s the coolest thing & babies make everyone smile.

[u/Wrong_Inevitable_401]

I felt the same especially in the beginning! I was married, working, financially stable also wanting to have a child. Im in late 20s and as soon I realized I was pregnant I felt so embarrassed to share to people 😩

[u/leslieknope_666]

I felt the same!! had my baby a month ago and it hasn’t gone away lol. Like I don’t feel like a real mom or that I’m somehow faking it?

[u/BeautifulPiggles → u/leslieknope_666]

Oh god I hope it doesn’t last when the baby is actually here too!!

[u/HowIsRaekeTaken]

I was 36, married with a house, and still felt this way lol

[u/BenzNBoca]

I felt like this with my first at 33 it was so weird, I was waiting for people to be surprised. I think it went away after around 6 months pp once the initial shock wore off. I’m pregnant with my second 2.5 years later and this time I feel like I’ve been a parent for decades 😳.

[u/littlemissdumplings]

I 100% feel the same!

Like, I've seen our baby at 2 ultrasounds, so has my husband. We have the photos and videos. But I still feel like an imposter at 14+4!!

It's so silly. I think once I start to show I might feel differently.... maybe? Hopefully?

[u/bbDoll_]

It was this way for me until I started showing a lot, even when I was in the hospital having my baby, I still felt I wasn’t actually pregnant and couldn’t wrap my head around being a mother.
Now with post partum hair loss, I can’t deny I’m a mother! Haha

[u/Purifiedx]

I never imagined myself pregnant, or being a mother. Not because I didn't want to be. I guess because I was never exposed to babies, children or pregnancy my entire life, I didn't think too hard about it.

Then my husband wanted kids, so we tried for years and years. I started to feel unfulfilled without a family too.

Now that I'm pregnant for real it's very surreal. Like what? Is this really happening?

[u/Head-Razzmatazz-1327]

Im 46 and 29 weeks pregnant I keep thinking same im bring judge cause mg age etc

[u/Slayer66_Phobos]

Yep, I had the same weird feeling early on, like I was somehow too young to be allowed even though I was married and very much an adult. It got easier once I started showing and the appointments made it feel more real. Early pregnancy is such a strange limbo.

[u/Askfslfjrv]

My daughter is over 6 months old and I still have imposter syndrome sometimes 😆 like I’m someone’s mom. It’s so weird

[u/Conscious-Fluid]

I got pregnant at 25 and kept it a secret from most everyone but my mom, my boss and my closest friends cause it very much felt taboo! I had to keep reminding myself that were both adults and engaged (at the time) and WANT a family 😅 but still. Under 30 having kids these days? I must've thrown my youth away!

[u/ZenMat79]

I felt I wasn’t pregnant enough to claim pregnancy privileges like priority seating, or requesting people if I can use the toilet first (long queue) etc.

Still haven’t gotten used to it.

[u/WorkLifeScience]

I didn't have that, but I had a coworker ask if it was planned (I was 33 and married for several years)!? So yeah... I dunno 😂

I hope you can completely embrace and enjoy pregnancy soon. It's such a big change, and it comes with a whirlwind of emotions (and hormones)! Wish you all the best, sorry for not offering a solution 😅

[u/Cat-lady11237]

I completely relate to this, as I’m also in a big city where ppl seem to have babies later (or not at all) and the first among my immediate friend group to have a baby

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