Can I Get a Do-Over? (Megan)

One pregnancy, one baby, 13 months old.
I’m currently 22, 13 months postpartum.

If I could go back and do my pregnancy over, KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW, I’d do so much differently:

* I’d keep working out daily, just like I had been doing up until the moment I peed on the stick.
* I’d skip the mom haircut I got at 7 months preggo (thank heavens that’s finally grown out!).
* I’d eat little bits throughout the day between meals. Then maybe I wouldn’t have been STARVING after work and so willing to abandon my clean eating in favor of shoveling anything down!
* I’d go with my gut and have that home birth I wanted. I got my “natural” hospital birth but not really on the terms I’d planned on.
* I’d remember to slather on the anti-stretch mark cream more often. I know I’m genetically more inclined to get them (my mom did) but at least I’d feel better about having put up a good fight against them!
* I’d try to keep the weight gain to under 50 pounds. Maybe then I wouldn’t have so many stretch marks in the first place. I mean, I knew I’d probably get them on my boobs and tummy (which I did) but seriously, ALL down my legs? and my hips? and my butt? AND coming out of my hoo-ha?! Sooo embarrassing.
* I’d buy cuter maternity clothes so that in all my preggo pics I wouldn’t be wearing ratty b-ball shorts and my hubbies t-s. For reals, by week 41 that’s all I could squeeze into.
* I’d buy a belly bandit and wrap up my tummy right after the baby came out. Then maybe it wouldn’t have taken 13 months just to end up looking like I do now.

I hope my next pregnancy goes much differently than my first but with the same result: an amazing little one! I know the physical stuff doesn’t really matter in the end, but it’s so hard to stop blaming myself for my somewhat ruined body. I feel like I’d be pretty much fine with my body now (Super droop boobs included. After 12 months of hardcore nursing, I expected it.) if only I had no stretch marks. Extra skin/fat I can deal with and work hard to correct, but no matter how many squats I do, these marks will never leave my thighs. People always say, “Don’t worry they fade sooo much!” Yeah but seriously, my skin is no longer the texture of a human. Plus, it’s been A YEAR! When are they gonna fade off my legs?! Jeez. I’m finally glad I need to wear contacts because without them in, I look pretty good! Thanks for letting me vent. Keep going mama’s, we’re all doing the most important job in the world and that’s what I keep trying to focus on ….

Pics: all 13 months pp. Stretch marks on hips, legs, and stomach. Sucking in the tummy. Pulling up my extra skin and then letting it all hang out!

Updated here.

17 thoughts on “Can I Get a Do-Over? (Megan)

  • Monday, September 13, 2010 at 7:41 am
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    lol I soooo understand this. Reading your story was like re-living mine. I completely understand! You look great by the way. I guess the only thing I’ve figured out about my body in my 8 weeks PP, is that I’m not meant to look the same as before. I’m supposed to look different, because I am different, I’m a mom. It sounds like you’ve got your focus on the right thing–raising a healthy, happy lil one.

  • Monday, September 13, 2010 at 10:01 am
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    I got stretch marks from armpit to below the knee, so I know how you feel :( my little one is 17 months and lots of them have faded but the wrinkly wavy texture is still there, it sucks but its nice to know I’m not alone:)

  • Monday, September 13, 2010 at 11:11 am
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    I used to think the same things as you, about how I wish I had done it differently. Then you know what I realized? I was so busy being miserable about my body throughout my whole pregnancy I forgot to enjoy it! Do you know what I would do if I got a do-over? I’d love every second of it! You look great and I hope next time you have get pregnant you are able to enjoy it. There’s no use looking like a model if it consumes your life and you don’t have time to appreciate the wonders life bring. I work in a nursing home and everyone there has wrinkles and saggy skin. Women who had 6 children and those who never had any. In the end we will all look like that. I sincerely hope you are able to discover how to truly embrace your unique-to-you attributes. :)

  • Monday, September 13, 2010 at 11:32 am
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    That was good! Definitely wish I would have followed a few of those myself.

  • Monday, September 13, 2010 at 12:35 pm
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    I love this post,you have a great honest attitude and it made me think about my pregnancy and if I would’ve done anything different. Your body looks a lot like mine :) I didn’t get a single stretch mark on my belly, maybe because I religiously put belly butter on it,I don’t know, but i did get them on my butt and inner thighs. They really do fade, it’s 2yrs pp for me and I’m not afraid to wear a bathing suit. you can only see mine if you’re staring at them from 6 inches away and who’s gonna do that?

  • Monday, September 13, 2010 at 2:43 pm
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    You’re too hard on yourself. You look fabulous. For real.

  • Monday, September 13, 2010 at 5:05 pm
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    You look great, you really do. I’m 10 months postpartum and I know how it feels to have come that far and still not have anywhere near the body we had before. I don’t have stretch marks so I can’t tell you if they’ll fade…But I do have a lot more (and I mean a lot more) extra skin than you, apron and all…So rest assure that you look really good for having a little one.

  • Monday, September 13, 2010 at 9:51 pm
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    You look great for 13 months pp. I think I have all the same “regrets”, a do over would be GREAT!!!

  • Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 2:20 am
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    I’m right there with you, do-over pleease! You look awesome!! I had a similair experience with my first, gained a tonne of weight!!!! and have stretch marks in all the places you do. I lost most of the weight before my second (22 months between them) and only got a few extra stretch marks on my lower stomach from him and he was 3 days over due and 10 pounds!!! That was with watching what I ate and working out, learning my lessons from the first time. The little ones are definitely worth the trouble! Just so you know, the second birth is sooooo much easier. I had to be induced the 1st time due to blood pressure and had only gas for pain relief. The second I had a completely natural birth no drugs at all not even an IV incase there was no time. I got to the hospital and had him 19 minutes later! So I’m sure you will have a much better experience with the next one :)

  • Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 3:09 am
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    DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP…..You could have done all those things…exercise, eat right etc 100% of the time and still get stretch marks everywhere anyway (I know because I did!!) xxx

  • Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 6:14 am
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    You look great! I don’t see any extra skin.
    But otherwise i know exactly how you feel! Now 5 years after having my first daughter the marks have finally faded to’acceptable. I had my second daughter 16 months ago. And i had a totally different pregnancy! I gained ‘only’ 15 kilo’s (sorry i’m from holland we messure in kilo’s) with my eldest i gained almost 30 kilo’s. You learn believe me!! I didn’t get anymore marks besides the ones i already had. There is hope!!

  • Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 9:23 pm
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    you look like my body twin! you look great, don’t worry the marks will fade. i got ’em in the same areas too. :)

  • Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 2:43 am
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    I just love this post and have been thinking about it for a couple of days- i have thought the same thing so many times about a do-over!!! you look great and i am very similar with the extra skin thing- i am two years pp and i found dramatic improvement in the second year, i know you will too.

  • Saturday, September 18, 2010 at 1:39 pm
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    Oh my gosh, I think you look great! Obviously your body is going to look different after carrying a baby around in your belly for 9 months. You are still so tiny and cute! HOT mama!!! ;)

  • Saturday, September 18, 2010 at 9:01 pm
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    Yeah, I told myself the same thing. It doesn’t work the second time around either. But what does it matter; I’d still be working on my body either way.

  • Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 3:30 pm
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    I am 31 weeks pregnant right now, and if my purple ugly stretch marks that are all in the same places you have them look like yours after my baby is born I will be happy! you look amazing, and you are soo skinny I would be happy if I bounce back like you =)

  • Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 10:31 pm
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    HAHA I LOVE IT!!! I agree if I knew now what I dident back then..I blame myself also for letting myself get the way i am…BUT I have to tellu I think ur body looks great!and from the pics ur marks dont look bad…u look very good!

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