9-Month Pregnant Instagrammer Explains Shockingly Flat Stomach

By Dave Basner

January 5, 2018

Omg #9monthspregnant today!! I’m so nervous eeek and going to miss the constant squirming in my belly so much ❤️ even the hard rib kicks 😂 36 weeks and counting 🙈

A post shared by Yiota Kouzoukas (@yiota) on Dec 23, 2017 at 6:02pm PST

Fashion designer Yiota Kouzokas has gotten some backlash for posting photos of her 9-month-pregnant belly on Instagram because it is so flat.

This photo is from 2 weeks ago at #25weekspregnant Throwback as I’ve been sick with migraines and haven’t been able to take any new pics. Thank you to everyone who messaged me with their own personal migraine cures ❤️My migraines are muscle/scar tissue related from multiple car accidents, so I usually stay on top of them with remedial massage, physio and regular exercise. Unfortunately due to being pregnant, I haven’t been able to stay on top of my management as well as usual so I’ve been down and out with migraines again. 4 days, lots of sleep, crying, vomiting and massages later, I woke up feeling great today! Let’s hope it stays this way ❤️ Anyone else suffer from migraines while pregnant that aren’t hormonal? PS. thanks @gkazoo1 for the endless neck and back massages

A post shared by Yiota Kouzoukas (@yiota) on Oct 22, 2017 at 3:41pm PDT

She received a ton of comments from people questioning the health of her child because of her tiny baby bump.

#30weekspregnant OMG where is the time going!! Third trimester, welcoming back the fatigue but other than that, so far so good! I definitely miss my 8 hours of sleep but I guess we’re just being prepared for what’s to come haha @gkazoo1

A post shared by Yiota Kouzoukas (@yiota) on Nov 12, 2017 at 1:34pm PST

Yiota has since explained that there is actually a medical reason behind her flat tummy: a backward-tilting uterus, tight stomach muscles and past endometriosis surgeries have all led to her current figure, however her baby is perfectly healthy.

*BUMP SIZE* I receive a lot of DMs and comments regarding the size of my bump, which is why I want to explain a few things about my body. Not that I’m upset/affected by these comments at all, but more for the reason of educating in the hope that some people are less judgemental on others and even themselves. For the first 4 months of my pregnancy, my uterus was retroverted/tilted which means that I was growing backwards into my body rather than outwards. Most people with this type of uterus tilt forward at around 12 weeks and continue growing outwards like you normally would. My uterus didn’t “flip forward” until well into being 4 months pregnant because of the backwards tilted position paired with decade old endometriosis scarring that I have on my uterosacral ligaments. Basically, these ligaments are acting like anchors keeping my uterus “inside” rather than “outside”, which is why I appeared smaller than most people for the first 4 or 5 months. Now, at #6monthspregnant I’m growing forwards just like everyone else while the scarring on my ligaments slowly breaks down. My torso is also short and my stomach is naturally toned which is keeping my belly super tight, so I’ve had to personally stop all ab exercises to avoid any issues with possible ab separation. This is for me personally, as instructed by my doctor and is in no way a blanket rule for anyone else. I’m perfectly healthy, baby is perfectly healthy and that’s all that matters. Our bodies and bumps are all different and our shapes and sizes are all different too ❤️

A post shared by Yiota Kouzoukas (@yiota) on Oct 9, 2017 at 2:53am PDT

She explained:

*BUMP SIZE* I receive a lot of DMs and comments regarding the size of my bump, which is why I want to explain a few things about my body. Not that I’m upset/affected by these comments at all, but more for the reason of educating in the hope that some people are less judgemental on others and even themselves. For the first 4 months of my pregnancy, my uterus was retroverted/tilted which means that I was growing backwards into my body rather than outwards. Most people with this type of uterus tilt forward at around 12 weeks and continue growing outwards like you normally would. My uterus didn’t “flip forward” until well into being 4 months pregnant because of the backwards tilted position paired with decade old endometriosis scarring that I have on my uterosacral ligaments. Basically, these ligaments are acting like anchors keeping my uterus “inside” rather than “outside”, which is why I appeared smaller than most people for the first 4 or 5 months. Now, at #6monthspregnant I’m growing forwards just like everyone else while the scarring on my ligaments slowly breaks down. My torso is also short and my stomach is naturally toned which is keeping my belly super tight, so I’ve had to personally stop all ab exercises to avoid any issues with possible ab separation. This is for me personally, as instructed by my doctor and is in no way a blanket rule for anyone else. I’m perfectly healthy, baby is perfectly healthy and that’s all that matters. Our bodies and bumps are all different and our shapes and sizes are all different too ❤️

Belly beach day 🧡 I’m going to miss you kicking around in there lil bae! I didn’t understand how people could miss being pregnant but now I get it! #9monthspregnant

A post shared by Yiota Kouzoukas (@yiota) on Dec 28, 2017 at 7:47pm PST

It's definitely a good reminder that no two pregnancies are alike and all pregnant women should be respected and appreciated. Stay up to date with Yiota here.