If you find yourself feeling somewhat less than Demi Moore-like these days (ie you’re more inclined to hide your pregnant body away in some tent-like maternity dress than volunteer to be photographed in the buff) perhaps it’s because you’ve yet to discover the unexpected perks that go along with your pregnant status. Here are six great reasons to fall in love with your pregnant body.

1. Here’s some good news if you’ve had a love-hate relationship with your body over the years: the chances are you’ll be able to call a truce during the nine months of your pregnancy. The reason is simple; pregnancy is the ultimate disguise for any ‘figure flaw’ that may be troubling you. Hips too big? Not to worry. They’ll look positively svelte in comparison to your blossoming belly. Breasts too small? Not for long. Just wait until those maternal hormones have a chance to work their magic. Carrying a bit of extra padding round your middle? No problem, everyone will simply assume you’re carrying an extra big baby. There’s just one small problem with this pregnancy ‘disguise’; you have to relinquish it nine months down the road. As much as being pregnant may suit you, you can’ be pregnant forever.

2. The things that are likely to bother you the most about your pregnant body aren’t likely to be visible to the average guy or girl on the street. Unless you’re in the habit of parading around in a bikini.

Odds are you won’t be flaunting some of the less pretty pregnancy-related body changes to the world: things like stretch marks, the dreaded linea nigra (the brownish crayon-like mark that runs from your belly button to your pubic area), and your newly-popped belly button.

And if the only people who are able to view these particular changes to your bodily landscape are yourself, your partner, and your doctor or midwife, these things aren’t really worth obsessing about anyway now are they?

3. You may not have the body of Jessica Alba right now but at least you can have her hair. Imagine nine months without a single bad hair day. If that doesn’t do something positive for your self-esteem, then frankly, I don’t know what will.

When you’re pregnant, your body stops shedding hair at its usual rate of 100 hairs per day – something that results in a lush, full head of hair that could put any shampoo advert model to shame. So instead of obsessing about the things about your pregnant body that you could live without, take a moment to appreciate the fact that – from the shoulders up at least – you could be Jessica Alba’s body double.

4. The regular rules of fashion do not apply to pregnant women. Pregnancy is your chance to be daring – to experiment with your own unique sense of style, it’s okay to have fun and look a little eccentric; to put together a one-of-a-kind look by pairing up charity shop finds and items snatched from your partner’s side of the wardrobe. So rather than playing by the rules and wearing the same old boring outfits as every other mum-to-be in your antenatal class celebrate your changing body by redefining your sense of fashion. Think pregnancy chic.

5. Everyone loves a pregnant woman. It doesn’t matter what you look like for the next nine months. You’re going to be the centre of attention as it is. So stop fixating about whether you look fat and vow to enjoy your new-found (and short-lived) celebrity. I hate to break it to you but the spotlight will soon shift from you to your baby so you may as well enjoy your star billing while it lasts.

6. Your body is busy performing a miracle. And last, but not least, we come to the most important reason for learning to love your pregnant body; because of what’s going on inside. It’s something to think about the next time you’re feeling badly about the fact that your waistline has gone AWOL, you seem to be sprouting a new stretch mark every day and you haven’t seen your feet in months. After all, how can you do anything but love your body when it’s busy performing a miracle?

Ann Douglas is the mother of four, parenting author of numerous books about pregnancy and parenting and the creator of The Mother of All ® Series, including The Mother of All Pregnancy Books and The Mother of All Baby Books.