Mindy Kaling on hiding her second pregnancy: It ‘was kind of easy’

When Mindy Kaling announced she’d given birth to a son in September the internet was like—record scratch—”wait, you were pregnant?”

In a new interview with Elle, Kaling reveals how she managed to keep her pregnancy a total secret while also updating us on her #momlife and posting outfit of the day pics on Instagram. Being quarantined at home helped and so did knowing her selfie angles.

“I mean, clearly, I was not going anywhere, like everybody else, so nobody found me out. So that was kind of easy,” she tells Elle. “And then just being at home and taking photos, I’d largely just kind of shot around my pregnancy. Shot myself from the waist up and then also wore baggy things. I never got super huge, so it was a little bit easier.”

For reference, Kaling would have been about 8 months pregnant when she posted this to Instagram:

We never would have guessed there was a bump under that cute sweater! Every body is different and every pregnancy is different and Kaling’s just happened to be camouflaged by a baggier wardrobe.

Even when photographers “caught” her when she was out running errands, no one realized she was eight months pregnant.

Kaling also got candid about the difference in how people reacted to her first pregnancy and how the world reacted to her becoming a mom of two.

“The difference between having a first child and a second child is so funny. The first time it was like every person in my life came out of the woodwork to send gifts and cards and notes and emails. And then once you have a second kid, everyone’s like, you’re fine. You’re okay. It’s definitely more of a muted excitement from everyone in my life. Which, by the way, makes total sense, particularly during a pandemic.”

Every parent who has welcomed more than one child can relate to the fanfare being a bit more subdued when your second or third comes along. If you are expecting your second (or third, fourth or fifth) and are filled with anticipation, don’t let an underwhelming reaction from family and friends get you down.

Remember mama, just because the novelty isn’t there doesn’t mean the love won’t be!