Ce la Vie (Anonymous)

Age: 23
Number of Births and Pregnancies: 1
Age of Baby and Months Postpartum: 6 months

My story begins in March of 2008 when I had an abdominal myomectomy to remove a 3 1/2 lb fibroid leaving me with an scar that was much larger than a c-section scar. Then six short months later I found myself pregnant, a huge surprise to my boyfriend and I. We had just gotten back together after being apart for 2 months while he went to AA and anger management bc I said no I wouldn’t deal with it anymore.

My pregnancy was not the easiest pregnancy. I immediately started to have cramping which lasted well into my 2nd trimester, during which time the cramps turned into premature contractions, they told me I had not allowed myself to heal enough from the abdominal myomectomy and bc the fibroid was on the broad ligament that supported everything.

I was a workout fanatic before and during my pregnancy up until I was placed on bed rest. Bed rest was the hardest thing I have ever had to go through since I am such an active person. Once I was released I walked and walked and even danced at 39 1/2 weeks to get my baby here on time or early. As it turns out she was born naturally on her due date at a healthy 7 lbs 11oz and 20 inches.

After I had my daughter I was not expecting all the loose and saggy skin. Since I was so toned before pregnancy I hadn’t even considered the possibility that my stomach would never look the same. Having been heavy once before as a teenager and then loosing the weight, my stomach was always my pride bc it was completely flat and toned. I didn’t get stretchmarks until my 8th month I cried for a week. I gained a total of 35 lbs and lost 20 in the first two weeks. Now I just don’t feel that I have a gorgeous body anymore or that I should be in better shape by now. O and by the way my mother had major surgery 2 weeks after I gave birth and would have died had I not been in her hospital room. Because my relationship is on a precarious ledge in my opinion it makes it worse because I dread the thought of maybe having to go out into the cruel world with a scared, deflated stomach. But I have my beautiful daughter who is the sunshine in my life. Your life truly does change when you have a baby in every way, I look at my peers around me and they suddenly seem childish and young. I have my good days and bad with my stomach and body image, but Ce la vie. And what a beautiful life this is.

I just have 2 questions:
1: Will the sagging and creasing get any better with time and proper toning techniques or will it stay this way?
2: Will the dark stretchmarks around my pelvis lighten?

Any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated :) thank you for listening!

My photos:
1: My stomach as it is today
2: Pre-baby
3:My Beautiful Baby Girl
4: A blurry picture of my abdominal myomectomy scar
5: My side profile as of now

5 thoughts on “Ce la Vie (Anonymous)

  • Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 9:28 am
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    Your daughter is so cute! I have to be honest with you…I do not see any sagging! If there is any, then it will go away with time, considering I cannot even see it! Stretch marks fade wonderfully! I know how it is to be young and hate your body. I too am 23…I had a “perfect” body before my kids (I had my first at 20 and second at 23…both cesareans)…you look amazing! You really do. All you can do is eat healthy (lean meats, whole wheat/whole grain pastas, breads…lots of fruits and veggies) and exercise. I think you look amazing as you are right now, and it will only get better with time. You can keep a look out for my post, it will be up soon and it is “6 months pp, update (shannon)”

  • Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 10:52 am
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    I don’t know about the saggy skin (and yours doesn’t look so bad. I think toning your stomach should help with that a lot), but the stretchmarks WILL fade. I have them all over my hips and butt and now when I look in the mirror I really have to look for them (I’m 6 1/2 months post partum). My mother has stretchmarks that I didn’t even know were there until after I started college and she went to a tanning bed, and made a comment about “yup, those stupid stretchmarks are totally still there!”. I had no idea. So yes, they’ll fade–just give it time. And by the way, your daughter is a cutie!

  • Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 12:25 pm
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    I hope you don’t take this the wrong way but I think you have a sexier body post baby!

  • Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 2:00 pm
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    Your daughter is adorable! And your body doesn’t look as bad as you think. I never had sagging,(and it doesn’t look like you do either) but I had a crease where my belly button is, and it is no longer there (10 months pp) So I think your creases will go away too… your body has just gone through sooooo much and needs lots of loving care and a grace period to recover. :)

  • Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 6:27 am
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    not to worry!! my stomach was wayyy worse than yours (in the sagging department)…i am 12 mo. pp and it has improved and tightened sooo much since my c-section…i have been eating healthy, but haven’t really worked out at all…so i’m sure if i actually work out, it would be almost completely back normal…your sagging looks so slight from the pictures, i am sure with some working out and TIME it will be looking great.

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