Dear Advertisers, Writers, and Producers,
As a woman nearing the end of my nine-month journey into pregnancy, I feel compelled to express my frustrations with your idealized portrayals of this experience. While there are certainly beautiful moments filled with joy, there are also many real and unglamorous aspects that deserve attention.
Just the other day, I returned home from an appointment, let my dog outside, and suddenly found myself in the throes of an unexpected bout of vomiting. To make matters worse, I also had a little accident—yes, I completely soaked my pants. It seems my body has decided that multitasking with bodily fluids is the norm now. Sneezing? A little leakage. Coughing? More than just a little. It’s a constant battle, and I often find myself going through pants as if they were going out of fashion. I still have some pads left over from my last period, but using them would imply I have any clue when my body might decide to rebel again. Spoiler alert: I don’t.
The exhaustion can be overwhelming. There are days when I’m so depleted that functioning feels like an impossible task. Yet, life continues, and I have to push through, which usually ends in chaos. Then there’s the emotional roller coaster. For example, I recently watched the series finale of a show and found myself sobbing—not just because of the sad ending, but also out of sheer frustration. I didn’t take my grievances to social media; instead, I just cried for an hour.
And let’s not even get started on the physical changes: aches and pains, anxiety about health issues, and constant worries if the baby is moving enough. The acne, stretch marks, bloating, and heartburn that feels like it’s setting my insides on fire are just a few of the many challenges. This isn’t to say that some women aren’t glowing with happiness; they do exist, but their joy often exists in brief intervals between the tears and anxiety.
If we want a more accurate depiction of pregnancy in media, let’s see a woman sitting on the bathroom floor, overwhelmed, surrounded by used tissues and maybe even a bit of her own urine, crying over a broken lipstick. That’s reality—not the pristine, serene images we often see. It might not sell as many beauty products, but it would resonate with many.
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In conclusion, pregnancy is a mixed bag of emotions and experiences that deserves to be portrayed with honesty. Let’s move beyond the glitter and show the real journey.