Edwina Bartholomew’s pregnancy confession: ‘Scaring the bejesus out of me’

In my first pregnancy, I wrote about feeling like a beached whale. Second time around, I’ve decided to change my behaviour and my language, says Edwina Bartholomew.

I’m on the hunt for a costume and it’s scaring the bejesus out of me. Perhaps you think I’m looking for some fright night Halloween extravaganza, a Michael Myers mask or Chuckie wig? No, I’m actually in the market for a swimming costume, which is an equally terrifying endeavour.

It was only on a scorching day when I went searching for my old maternity swimmers that I realised I’d thrown them out in a fit of post-partum rage. I never wanted to see their loose elastic bottom and saggy top again. Until now, of course, when I find myself shvitzing in a pre-summer heatwave. I’m in desperate need of floating in a gravity-free environment and my daughter needs to return to her missed swimming lessons.

The search for my togs sparked an entire wardrobe clean-up last weekend. When everyone in Sydney was enjoying their first day out at the pub since June or dinner at a restaurant, I was completing a task I could have easily done in the months we all spent in lockdown, sorting out my wardrobe.

Sunrise's Edwina Bartholomew is embracing her pregnancy bod. Picture: Supplied

It was extremely cathartic. About this time in my first pregnancy, I wrote an article about feeling like a beached whale. I was envious of other women who just “popped out” and you could only really tell they were pregnant when they ate a big lunch or stood side on. That is not me.

The story was widely shared to the point I received a video message from the original Beached as Bro team in New Zealand wishing me well with my pregnancy. I felt seen by my fellow mammalian mothers.

Ahhh hindsight. Second time around, I feel nine months pregnant and I’m only halfway there but this time I’ve decided to change my behaviour and my language. After spending almost two years pining after the skinny jeans that are too small and the jacket that stops short of my hips, I sent them to the Salvos. Instead of making comments about how huge I feel, I’m embracing my bump in the knowledge that I’m growing a very healthy little baby.

Armed with the knowledge that anything can go wrong in pregnancy and parenting, I’m just grateful to have no other health issues to whinge about. When I finally find some swimmers, I’ll swan down in the beach like I’m in San Tropez and as for the Halloween costume, I could go as Pamela Anderson but I’m thinking more human avocado.