Pregnant model’s ‘flat stomach’ sparks uproar

Pictures posted on social media by a Los Angeles model showing her relatively flat stomach while being over eight months pregnant have sparked controversy, with some claiming her chiseled look and lack of extra weight could be causing damage to the unborn child.

Sarah Stage, a 30-year-old underwear model, who regularly uploads revealing photos to her 1.3 milllion followers on social network Instagram, insists that doctors say her baby is healthy, and attributes her physique to clean eating and constant exercise.

On a photo posted on Instagram by bikini-clad Stage showing her svelte physique, one user commented:

“What about the baby you crazy lady!!! Why even have a child if you're just concerned with how you look?”

“Where’s the baby hiding at? Definitely not in her stomach!” wrote another.

“I would be so nervous!” another wrote. “The baby is probably really small and I would imagine she will have a hard time making milk.”

In an interview with U.S. channel ABC News, Stage dismissed her critics, saying she “felt sorry for them” and “especially if they’re mums, maybe they should be doing other things more productive.”

Meanwhile, others expressed admiration.

“Why can't I just look like that?” wrote one user.

An article on Health.com said that “people should be more concerned about the fact that nearly half of all pregnant women gain more weight than recommended during pregnancy.”

Geetha Venkat, Director at Harley Street Fertility Clinic, said: “If a woman is healthy - physically and mentally - to start with and if she looks after herself well then she will look radiant,” according to the Daily Mail.