Despite the advent of mainstream photography at the start of the 1900's, women tended to avoid being photographed during pregnancy.  There were very few "baby bump progression" pictures back then, but we've been delighted to have some of our old photo archive readers share some with us!  These photos represent a rare look in to maternity photos from 1920-1940.  Enjoy!

From Gale Vanselous:  "My grandmother pregnant in early 20's Either 1917 or 1921 with one of my uncles."

 

From Angela Fletcher:  "My mom and dad in 1948. My mom was pregnant (in a family way!!) with her first child, my sister."

From Jill Barker Longstaff:  "My mom pregnant with me eight days before I was born in 1946."

 

From Cynthia Powell Pagano:  "My mother Helen Rudesill Powell 1946"

From Ray Morris:  "1933 Double Maternity Photo - The mother on the right (My Aunt Ethel) is pregnant with her second child Jean. The mother at the door is Ethel's mom (my grandmother) pregnant with her 11th and last child, my mom, Martha."

From Jean Price Robich:  "My aunt and uncle expecting their second. Jones Beach. 1950."
 

From Mary Anderson:  "My parents in the summer of 1958. As far as we know, this is the only picture of her expecting."

From Ivy Jo Olah:  "My mom, Carolyn Smith, pregnant with her first child Sally in 1959. My Uncle Rex Smith, Aunt Justine Smith and my Grandmother Vera Smith on the couch. The painting on the wall was painted by Grandpa Howard Schick."

From Susan Gray Croyle:  "My great-grandmother, pregnant with my grandmother in 1896."

From Z Elizabeth Barrett:  "My mother pregnant in 1950. Cara Kent Olds, New London, Connecticut, USA"

From Brenda Fonner Cats:  "Rare pic of my dad and of my mom pregnant with me. Dad was 29 here, mom was 23. I was born Feb 1959, this was Christmas 1958. I don't think there are any others of her pregnant. Us kids (four) were born between 1959 and 1969. I had my two kids in 1987, 88 and there's probably a dozen pics of me pregnant between the two of them. Even less of me pregnant with my second. No time or money after the first baby lol. In the age before cell phones ha."

From Deborah Jensen:  "My mother, pregnant with me, 1954."

From Debbie Thompson Mullins:  "My Mom in 1958 "

From Cassandra Romans-Lucero:  "This is my Grandma Betty, pregnant with her 2nd son. I believe it was taken in 1949-1950. It is one of my favorite photos of her. That's my dad in the stroller."

From Sadie Nelson:  "My grandma had 9 children, and only two photos exist of her pregnant. This was with her 6th in 1956. How did they avoid the camera so well when pregnant??"

 

From Judy Dennison:  "Late 1946. Near Las Vegas, Nevada. Mom. My uncle's horse."  We love this photo!

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