Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? NYC Reading and Panel Discussion Tonight!

If you're in the NYC area, Claire will be reading from Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? tonight and moderating a panel discussion about body image, pregnancy, and motherhood. The event is hosted by Momasphere and Bump. All the details are right here.

Date: Thursday, October 29, 2009
Time: 7-9pm
Place: The Old Stone House, 336 3rd St (bet. 4th & 5th Ave), Brooklyn, NY 11215
Price: Tickets are $10 online & $15 at the door

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Girls Incorporated, a national nonprofit youth organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

Space is limited so please RSVP by purchasing tickets online. Tickets are available for sale at the door for $15.00 on a first-come-first-served basis. Cash only to purchase tickets at the door.

Kendra Loves Her Pregnant Body. Now Begins the Countdown to her 'Postbaby Body' Reveal.

Former "Girl Next Door" Kendra Wilkinson is on the cover of the new issue of InTouch Weekly dishing about how much she loves her pregnant body. Now we love a celebration of the curves, but forgive our cynicism when we predict that along with that little bundle of joy, there is another cover in the making that will appear in a few months--one with bullets outlining how Kendra shed the baby weight.

Let's also pause for a retouching reality check. Forget stretch marks and cellulite, there's not even the tiniest blemish to be found on this photo! In other words, the body that Kendra feels beautiful in has surely been altered for the cover.

At the end of the day, celebrity pregnancy and new mom media coverage is filled with the same mixed messages you'll find in women's magazines that feature weight loss stories alongside tips on how to love your body. "Embrace your pregnant shape!" by looking at this digitally perfected image of a former Playmate in a bikini. "Feel sexy!" now, but it won't be long before we'll be feeding you this celebrity's "exact" diet and workout plan to help you slim down that fat ass. Stephanie, 40, expressed her frustration with this contradictory approach when we interviewed her for Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?:

"It's a strange phenomenon because some celebrities are hailed for accepting their new shapely bodies and others are bashed for not bouncing back sooner. It doesn't make sense because the tabloids constantly flip-flop between celebrating a woman's curves and condemning postpregnancy weight."

While these stories might be packaged to make us feel like we can identify with this or that A-lister or reality TV star, the real reality is that they usually end up playing into our insecurities and vulnerabilities. As if pregnancy and new motherhood aren't stressful enough.

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News, Reviews, Readings, and Book Giveaways

We've been mighty busy with the book launch over here! In case you missed any of the action, here's a quick roundup:

Win a copy of Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?
There are two book giveaways running right now. Go throw your name in the hat!

1. Singlemommyhood says: "Every woman deserves to feel good about herself — and to pass along healthy attitudes about weight and body image to her children." Contest ends October 20th.

2. Workoutmommy (one of our new favorite expecting moms!) says: "This book helps to remind me that NOW is the time to be grateful, not hateful, of my body." Contest ends October 24th.


Read the latest book buzz on Jezebel, I'm Not Obsessed, The Girl Revolution, Demo Dirt, Girl w/Pen, and The Lamp NYC. We're also offering some body image advice to new moms in the November issue of Babytalk magazine, out now. Other interviews and guest posts are in the works so stay tuned.


See us live and in-person
You can catch Claire in NYC on October 29th for a Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? panel discussion presented by Momasphere and Bump Brooklyn. Get all the details here.

A reading and signing is planned for December in Los Angeles. More on that soon.

Want to book us for a discussion, signing, or workshop? Contact us.


Become a fan of Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? on Facebook.

Write a review on Amazon.

Definition of the Day: Body Confidence

Body confidence: The belief that you are your most beautiful when you are healthy--both in body and mind. A feeling that results when you give up the mission to mold and shape yourself and make a commitment to take care of yourself. Body confidence breeds positive body image--it enables us to see ourselves through a meaningful lens, not a superficial one.

From Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? The Essential Guide to Loving Your Body Before and After Baby.

Related: The Healthy Beauty Pledge for Mothers and Mothers-to-Be

Motherhood & Body Image: Illustrated in Women's Words

We asked mothers to tell us how they see themselves. These illustrations reflect their answers. The words we use to describe our own bodies have a direct impact on how our children learn to value their bodies. It is our responsibility to lay a positive foundation, to celebrate our strengths and treat ourselves with kindness and compassion. But when we speak the language of what we lack or what is "wrong" with us, our children will learn to speak that language, too. When we sigh, roll our eyes, and turn away from the mirror, there is no doubt that our children will absorb those lessons. Remember that we all have the power to stop the legacy of body hatred--one word at a time.

Related: "Pregnancy & Body Image: Illustrated in Women's Words"

Illustrations by Monica Martinez, from Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? The Essential Guide to Loving Your Body Before and After Baby. Click on images to see them at full size.

"It's Funny Because It's True!" A Pregnancy WTF on "The Office"

On last night's episode of "The Office," Pam faces the ultimate lady conundrum. She wants to look slim and trim in her wedding dress, but she's also pregnant. And hungry. As she reaches for a doughnut, obnoxious co-worker Ryan chimes in on cue: "You know, it's a myth that women need to gain more than nine pounds during pregnancy."

Versions of this scene take place in offices all across America, and anywhere else pregnant women happen to be. There is something about being in the presence of an expectant mom that causes otherwise rational people to say and do inexplicably inane things. And for those who are already lacking in the tact department? Well, their blunders can be downright epic. We heard so many doozies from the women we interviewed, we wrote a whole chapter in Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? on how to deal with them: "The WTF Files: How to Deal With Dumb Comments and Stupid Moves."

Women face such intense pressure to have the "perfect" pregnancy (including the perfect-sized bump, which of course transforms into the perfectly flat, toned stomach right after childbirth). It certainly doesn't help that there is an endless parade of colorful characters--The Know-It-Alls, The Judges, The Space Invaders, The Horror Show Oversharers--lining up to question everything from the weight you've gained to the food choices you're making, and to tell you that you're doing it wrong.

How about you? Were you on the receiving end of any WTF comments or stupid moves during your pregnancy? Have you witnessed any?

5 Ways You Can Help Us Launch Our New Book, Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?

The countdown is over and our "due date" has arrived ! Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat? The Essential Guide to Loving Your Body Before and After Baby is out today.

First, a heartfelt to all of you who took the time to fill out our surveys and share your thoughts, experiences, and expertise in interviews. There are more than 400 women represented in this book--and we are two very proud parents (yes, we plan to milk these birth and parenting puns for all they're worth).

Now that our baby is officially out in the world, here are five simple ways you can help us make it a success:

1. Buy the book.

2. Spread the word to the moms and moms-to-be you know.

3. Sign our Healthy Beauty Pledge and add a badge to your blog or website.

4. Know of a moms group, birth education class, retail store or book club that would be interested in a signing or workshop? Contact us.

5. Join the discussion on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter.

And of course we welcome your book reviews on Amazon and your own blogs/websites. We're looking forward to hearing your feedback on the book, and thanks again for your continued support of our mission!