Mom’s Photo Of Her Feet Reveals Something Fascinating About Pregnancy

We all know every woman experiences a pregnancy differently, but we don’t often consider how one woman can have such vastly differing experiences from one pregnancy to the next.

Australian model and trainer Chontel Duncan is sharing her pregnancy journey and showing that, even for the same woman, no two pregnancies are alike. To prove her point, she posted an Instagram photo with side-by-side images of her feet during her first pregnancy, and then her second.

During her first pregnancy, her feet are visibly swollen with the straps of her sandals cutting into the flesh. This is in stark contrast to the second photo where her foot doesn’t appear to be swollen at all. She adds that she didn’t do anything different between the pregnancies, and writes, “This is the raw truth on how bad my fluid got towards the end of my first pregnancy. Second time round I have done nothing different but have absolutely no fluid retention.”

The post is resonating with other moms who are hoping that their second pregnancies will be easier than their first ones. One wrote, “I had exactly the same thing. First pregnancy I was a water balloon … second pregnancy nothing. I guess the body knows what do to second time around :)”

Another said, “I’m the same!! … With number one one was swelling like crazy. Number two is treating me so well, though feeling a lot more movement, too.”

Most women experience differences between their first and second pregnancies, and any additional ones. Parents points out that common differences include carrying the baby lower because the ab muscles have stretched out, and feeling the baby kicking sooner because moms are familiar with it. Women’s Health reports that a lot of women experience symptoms sooner, especially when they’re busy already raising one child. Additionally, other moms reveal that they normally “feel” bigger in their other pregnancies.