Pregnancy is full of small indignities that rarely make it into the glossy announcements, and Norwegian illustrator Line Severinsen has built a following by drawing exactly those moments. Her comic series Kos og Kaos began as a funny diary she kept while pregnant, and these 19 cartoons cover everything from cravings and swollen feet to strangers touching the bump and the agony of choosing a baby name. Below, each comic comes with a short explanation of what it shows and what is known about the experience behind the joke.
Who is Line Severinsen and what is Kos og Kaos?
Severinsen is an illustrator and mother based in Norway who trained in animation, earning a degree from Emily Carr University of Art and Design (ECUAD) in Vancouver. Her professional work also includes UX design, 2D and 3D illustration and social media campaigns for brands. The name of her series is Norwegian: “kos” is the cosy, comforting feeling also expressed by words like hygge, and “kaos” means chaos. On her site she translates it as “Cuddles and chaos”.
What started as a pregnancy diary grew into a large online community of parents, and into printed books, including I’m So Pregnant and the Norwegian title Full pupp. You can find more at her website and on Instagram.
Shaving, stripes, cravings and the forbidden drink
Shaving with a bump in the way
The opening joke is about reach. As the bump grows, bending forward to shave the lower legs becomes a balancing act, and the comic shows the result: a razor in hand, stubble everywhere, and a woman who has clearly given up halfway. The shift in centre of gravity during pregnancy is real, which is why many people find tasks at floor level harder in the later months.
Stretch marks as tiger stripes
Here stretch marks become tiger stripes, complete with ears and a tail. Stretch marks, known medically as striae gravidarum, are very common in pregnancy and usually fade from red or purple to a paler silver over time. The comic’s spin is a kind one: the marks are presented as stripes that were earned rather than something to hide.
The chocolate heist
A pregnant woman hugs her partner while quietly stealing his chocolate bar from behind his back. Food cravings are among the best-known pregnancy experiences, though researchers still debate how much is hormonal, cultural or simply down to hunger. Sweet foods are a classic target.
The drink she cannot have
Wearing a party hat, the woman stares longingly at a bottle of bubbly she cannot have. The craving is played for laughs, but the advice behind it is clear: the NHS recommends not drinking alcohol at all when pregnant or trying to conceive, because no safe level has been established. Alcohol-free versions exist for exactly this kind of celebration.
Partners, birth videos, wandering hands and toilet sprints
Every future dad’s greatest fear
The partner leaps out of bed in panic, shouting that he “poked the baby”, while she looks on unimpressed. It is a widespread worry among expectant fathers, and the NHS is reassuring: in a typical pregnancy sex is safe and cannot reach or harm the baby. A doctor or midwife may advise against it in specific situations, such as after the waters have broken or with heavy bleeding.
Watching birth videos
Sitting on the floor, the expectant mother watches a birth video and practises her breathing, looking more alarmed by the second. Antenatal classes and videos can be genuinely useful for knowing what to expect, but the comic captures how intimidating they can feel. Breathing techniques are one of several tools for coping with labour, alongside the pain relief options a midwife can explain.
Hands off the bump
A crowd of eager hands reaches for the bump while its owner leans back in horror. Unasked-for belly touching is one of the most frequently shared complaints from pregnant people. The simple fix is to ask first and accept the answer, the same courtesy that applies to anyone else’s body.
The third-trimester workout
The “third trimester workout” turns out to be a sprint to the toilet. As the womb grows it presses on the bladder, so needing to pass urine more often is common, especially in the final months. If urination becomes painful or burns, that is worth mentioning to a midwife or doctor because urinary infections are more common in pregnancy.
The third-trimester body: bending, pillows, shoes and kicks
Dropped keys
The keys are on the floor and the bump is in the way, so the only answer is a two-word speech bubble that is not printable on a greeting card. Bending down late in pregnancy can be awkward and uncomfortable, and many people learn to squat or ask for help instead. The drawing captures the moment patience runs out.
More pillows, please
Wearing a small crown, the mother-to-be reclines on a mountain of pillows. Finding a comfortable sleeping position becomes harder as the bump grows, and lying on the side with pillows supporting the bump and between the knees is a common solution. Specially shaped pregnancy pillows were designed for exactly this.
The unreachable shoe
Sitting on the floor with one leg in the air, she tries to reach a trainer that remains just out of range. Slip-on shoes become a favourite for many people in late pregnancy for this reason. The humour is in the stubbornness of refusing help a little longer.
A kickboxer or an alien?
Tiny hands and feet press out through the belly as if the baby is kickboxing or trying to escape. Feeling a baby move is usually reassuring, and movements become stronger and more noticeable as the pregnancy progresses. If the pattern of movements slows down or changes, guidance in many countries is to contact a midwife or maternity unit straight away rather than wait.
Appetite, comments, swelling, sympathy bellies, waters and names
Eating for two
A giant ice-cream sundae is balanced on the bump, with two spoons at the ready. The old saying about eating for two is a myth: the NHS says you may feel hungrier but you do not need to eat for two, even when expecting twins or triplets. A varied, balanced diet matters more than doubling portions.
Comments that are not funny
Speech bubbles surround her with comments: is she expecting triplets, is she going to explode, how huge she is. The comic’s point is simple: remarks about a pregnant person’s size are rarely as funny to them as they are to the speaker. Bumps vary widely in size for reasons that have nothing to do with how healthy the pregnancy is.
That third-trimester feeling
In bed beside her sleeping partner, the pregnant figure has turned into a cow lying on its back with hooves in the air. It is a self-mocking picture of the exhaustion and heaviness many people feel in the final weeks. Rest is genuinely useful at this stage, even if sleep is broken.
The Michelin Man phase
Swollen hands and feet that no longer fit into shoes earn the Michelin Man comparison. Gradual swelling in the ankles, feet and fingers is common because the body holds extra fluid. The NHS warns that sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet, especially with headaches or vision problems, can be a sign of pre-eclampsia and should be checked by a midwife or doctor immediately.
Sympathy pregnancy
The partner stands beside her, proudly matching her bump with his own belly. “Sympathy pregnancy” has a name, couvade syndrome, a proposed condition in which an expectant partner reports symptoms such as weight gain, nausea or disturbed sleep. Researchers have measured some hormonal changes in expectant fathers, though whether the syndrome is psychological, hormonal or both remains debated.
Waters breaking in public
On a crowded train, her waters break while fellow passengers stare in shock. It is one of the most common fears about late pregnancy, largely thanks to films. In reality, for many people labour starts with contractions, and when the waters do break it is often a trickle rather than a dramatic gush; either way it is a signal to call the maternity unit.
Choosing a baby name
The final comic sits behind a baby-name book, with the caption that choosing a name mostly reveals how many people you dislike. Every rejected name seems to belong to someone from school or work. Couples often find it the most entertaining argument of the whole pregnancy.
Why these comics strike a chord
The appeal of Kos og Kaos is recognition. Few of these situations are dramatic, but almost anyone who has been pregnant, or lived with someone who was, will spot at least one. Exaggeration makes the frustration easier to laugh at and easier to talk about.
The comics also carry a quiet lesson for everyone around a pregnant person: ask before touching, think twice before commenting on size, and offer a specific kind of help, such as carrying a bag or bringing a meal, rather than a vague offer. A concrete offer is easier to accept or decline.
They are personal humour, not a checklist. Every pregnancy is different, and nobody is required to have every experience shown here. For anything that worries you, from swelling to changes in the baby’s movements, talk to a midwife or doctor. For more illustrated humour about family life, see Nathalie Jomard's Comics About the Messier Side of Parenting.
Sources: Illustrations by Line Severinsen, Kos og Kaos; NHS: Have a healthy diet in pregnancy; NHS: Drinking alcohol while pregnant; NHS: Sex in pregnancy; NHS: Swollen ankles, feet and fingers; Wikipedia: Couvade syndrome.
More from the archive:
- Playful Parenting: Funny Moments Between Dads and Children
- Creative Baby Announcements: Props That Make the Message Personal
- Calming a Crying Baby: Comforting Steps and When to Get Help
- A Pregnant Woman Eating Organic Vs. Eating Conventional: It’s Time To Think About Your Baby
- She put her arm around her dying sister. No one expected what would happen next.
- Woman Had Been Searching For The Nurse Who Took Care Of Her For 38 Years... What Happened Is Amazing!
- Washoe and Her Caregiver: A Story About Loss and Connection
- A Mother Of 4 Children Posts Naked Pictures On Her Facebook Page. The Reason Why She Does It Will Make You Cry
- Soosh's Illustrations of Fathers and Daughters
- Frans Hofmeester’s Time-Lapse Portrait of His Daughter
- CARE’s Dear Daddy Film About Violence Against Women
- The Dad Throws Her Doll And Drives Away. When He Looks In The Rear-View Mirror My Heart Breaks.
- Stone House's Evolving Portrait of a Woman's Life
- Tattoo Artist Offers Free Work For Survivors Of Domestic Violence
- Signs of Domestic Abuse
- Identifying Emotional Abuse before it Happens
Well, it's not that bad if you really want to become a mother. It's a choice, you don't have to make it if you don't want it. A lot of families live happily also without children. So, listen to your heart and make your choice wisely!
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