Kim Kardashian spoke about bodyshaming during her first pregnancy: "It killed my self-esteem"

Kim Kardashian spoke about bodyshaming during her first pregnancy: "It killed my self-esteem"

Eight years ago, Kim Kardashian became a mother for the first time — the TV star gave birth to a daughter North from her now ex-husband Kanye West. But, as it turned out, the pregnancy had an extremely hard impact on her morally. 40-year-old Kim admitted that she faced bodyshaming when she was pregnant with her first daughter. In the podcast of Kristen Bell and Monica Padman, she said that this pregnancy experience killed her self-esteem, as the media were extremely cruel to her.

I hated being pregnant. I hated the way I felt, the way I looked,

"I'm sorry," she said.

Kim admitted that after learning about the pregnancy, she expected something completely different, as she relied on the experience of her mother Kris Jenner and older sister Kourtney Kardashian — their pregnancies proceeded without problems, and the birth was easy.

She noted that the way the media wrote about her pregnancy at that time, she was very traumatized.

It was crazy. It killed my self-esteem. I can't believe it was acceptable and seemed normal. I was sitting at home and crying,

"I'm sorry," she said.

Kim struggled with medical issues during her first two pregnancies. This subsequently led to the fact that she and Kanye West twice turned to the services of surrogate mothers, who gave birth to their daughter Chicago and son Psalm.

I had preeclampsia, and I didn't know about it. Because of this, my legs and face were swollen. I had to give birth six weeks ahead of schedule, and the birth was an emergency. And then, with both children, I had an increment of the placenta. It was crazy,

"I'm sorry," she said.

After the first birth, her life did not become easier — she admitted that she was stressed because of her body and was even afraid to go to a public gym.

I didn't want people to watch me trying to lose weight. During pregnancy, I gained 31 kilograms. I was sitting in my mother's garage, and in the summer it was 45 degrees in Calabasas. My daughter was in a wheelchair, and I just trained in the garage and did everything I could while I had the strength. It changed me as a person,

— she remembered.

Kim said that this experience made her rethink what and how she showed on social networks, as she realized how cruel the public can be. Kim added that now she takes a more balanced approach to publications in social networks, realizing that people may find some posts inappropriate.

There's definitely a side of me that says, " Be who you want to be and publish what you want to publish. But there is another side of me that says: "I'm a mom, I'm 40, I need to cool down",

— she concluded.

More in the section Celebrity

Joe Manganiello at SXSW 2016
Celebrity

Joe Manganiello says Tom Cruise blocked his Reacher role over Sofía Vergara

The Magic Mike star claims his team suspected the Top Gun actor vetoed his Reacher casting due to Vergara's past with Cruise.

Leonardo DiCaprio smiling on the red carpet at Berlinale 2010
Celebrity

Jennifer Meyer married Geoff Ogunlesi in Hawaii — and ex Tobey Maguire officiated

Jennifer Meyer married billionaire Geoff Ogunlesi in Hawaii, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Hudson and Courteney Cox among guests and ex Tobey Maguire officiating.

Meghan Markle at a public event
Celebrity

Meghan Markle shares rare clip of Archie and Lilibet strolling after U.K. move

Meghan posted a Sunday Instagram Story of Prince Archie riding a skateboard and Princess Lilibet walking beside him on a tree-lined path.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce holding hands outside Madison Square Garden in New York
Celebrity

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce hold hands on NYC date night amid Ohio neighbor feud

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce held hands on a New York date night Friday as Ohio neighbors keep pressing complaints about their $5 million lakefront estate.

Meghan Markle portrait
Celebrity

Meghan Markle's first U.K. appearance: afternoon tea with Malala Yousafzai

Meghan Markle reunited with Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai over afternoon tea at Claridge's in London, her first public appearance since returning to the U.K.

Kim Kardashian speaking in a Government of California public service campaign video
Celebrity

Kim Kardashian wears Elizabeth Taylor's 1969 'Scorpio' cape in All's Fair Season 2

Kim Kardashian wears the black velvet 'Scorpio Evening Cape' Elizabeth Taylor wore to Grace Kelly's 1969 birthday party for her All's Fair character.

Billie Eilish performing on stage at Pukkelpop Festival in 2019
Celebrity

Billie Eilish goes strawberry blond — her lightest hair in six years

Billie Eilish returned to Instagram with a shoulder-length strawberry blond, her lightest hair color in six years.

A glowing carved jack-o'-lantern at Halloween
Celebrity

Kim Kardashian's pumpkin misspelled Kylie and Timothée as 'Kyle and Timothy'

Kim Kardashian shared a carved celebrity pumpkin that spells Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet as 'Kyle' and 'Timothy.'

Anne Hathaway smiling in a portrait photograph
Celebrity

Anne Hathaway is 'Team Letter' in Verity — and she doesn't trust Lowen or Jeremy

Anne Hathaway lands firmly on Team Letter in the Verity ending debate — and she says she doesn't trust Lowen Ashleigh or Jeremy Crawford.

Lewis Hamilton in racing suit and cap at the 2022 British Grand Prix
Celebrity

Kim Kardashian: 'I was really single for five years' before Lewis Hamilton

Kim Kardashian says she stayed single for five years after her split from Kanye West, and only recently felt ready to open up to Lewis Hamilton.


Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes W08 car during a Formula One event
Sport

Lewis Hamilton's F1 Africa dream is on: Rwanda secures a 10-year Grand Prix

Two mugs of hot cocoa on a tray
Food

Bon Appétit taste-tested 15 hot chocolate mixes — 3 actually won

Director Greta Gerwig and actress Saoirse Ronan
Entertainment

Greta Gerwig's 'Narnia: The Magician's Nephew' trailer reveals Meryl Streep as Aslan

Joe Manganiello at SXSW 2016
Celebrity

Joe Manganiello says Tom Cruise blocked his Reacher role over Sofía Vergara

Zendaya in a studio portrait looking at the camera
Lifestyle

Zendaya's Tabi wedges and Jennifer Lawrence's clogs: 6 cozy-chic fall looks to copy

Arthur's Seat, the ancient volcano hill rising over Edinburgh, Scotland
Travel

Florence Pugh names Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh her 'eighth wonder of the world'

Marvin Harrison Jr. warming up in an Ohio State uniform in 2022
Sport

Texans land Marvin Harrison Jr. in trade — and he reunites with C.J. Stroud

Plate of crispy fried chicken pieces
Food

Popeyes beat KFC in a weighed 8-piece taste test — by 121 grams of chicken

Taylor Swift in 2007
Entertainment

Taylor Swift's 'Patient Zero' rules the Hot 100 again — her 51st week at No. 1

Leonardo DiCaprio smiling on the red carpet at Berlinale 2010
Celebrity

Jennifer Meyer married Geoff Ogunlesi in Hawaii — and ex Tobey Maguire officiated

Pills of magnesium glycinate supplement on a surface
Lifestyle

Magnesium: 60% of adults don't get enough — experts say 300mg daily

A Dubai Metro train at the Dubai Internet City station in the UAE
Travel

Etihad Rail's Dubai–Abu Dhabi train: 64-minute ride, fares from Dh39

Paul George in action on the basketball court
Sport

Paul George's Celtics debut: 30% shooting, but a game-high 5 steals

A Butterfinger candy bar broken in half showing its layered peanut-buttery center
Food

Butterfinger's Hulk Green Apple Smash bar spotted ahead of Summer 2027 release

Todd Haynes, American film director, portrait
Entertainment

Todd Haynes says new Pedro Pascal film 'De Noche' will 'most likely' be R-rated

Meghan Markle at a public event
Celebrity

Meghan Markle shares rare clip of Archie and Lilibet strolling after U.K. move

Kim Kardashian speaking in a public health campaign video
Lifestyle

Kim Kardashian swapped Ferrari red for pastel pink at the Singapore Grand Prix

Panoramic view of the Philadelphia skyline
Travel

14 Philadelphia Airbnbs near Rittenhouse Square, the Italian Market and Magic Gardens

Carlos Alcaraz playing tennis during a match at the 2026 US Open
Sport

Carlos Alcaraz's wrist is '100%' healed, Patrick Mouratoglou says after Tokyo title

A dark chocolate-colored cocktail served in a martini glass
Food

On The Rocks' bottled Chocolate Martini means no shaker, no mess — holiday hosting solved