Her incredibly toned belly would be the envy of most women, but at 6-months pregnant, the barely-there bump of a fitness and lingerie model is instead drawing criticism and concern.
Now Sarah Stage, who drew similar reproach during her first pregnancy, is fighting back.
“I'm at a place in my life where happiness, peace and joy are my priority,” she wrote Wednesday in an Instagram post featuring her at the beach wearing a crop top and bikini bottom that showed off her taut abs.
“Especially being #6monthspregnant, there's no room for any negativity so please take it elsewhere. Baby #2 is healthy and measuring just fine,” she wrote.
Stage also noted that since her first child was born healthy and weighed nearly 9 pounds, she thought “people would be more understanding during this pregnancy and keep their ignorant comments to themselves.”
This is the most recent occasion Stage has answered her critics. Two weeks ago, afterposting a video of herself working out, she responded to online comments that called her “obsessed” with her body and urged her to “take it easy” because of her condition.
“Baby is perfectly fine in my tummy nice and safe while I work out. My doctor has given me the OK to continue exercising while pregnant but if you're expecting please check with your dr. first since everyone is different!” she wrote.
Stage experienced a similar backlash in 2015, when she was carrying her son and posted photos of herself during the final months of her pregnancy looking slimmer than many women on a good day.
She also drew ire after posting photos of herself nine days after giving birth showing off a taut stomach.
Other pregnant fitness fanatics have also felt the burn of critics after showing off their toned bodies. Last year, Australian blogger and midwife Hannah Polites was accused of "killing your baby" for exercising too much while pregnant.
