Forever Hiding Behind My Clothes (Amanda)

Pregnancies:1
Age: 19

Hello my name is Amanda I am ONE WEEK postpartum from having my beautiful daughter. I had a great pregnancy with no complications up untill I was due I went 4 days over my due date and then I had false
labor when I got to the hospital they checked my amniotic fluid levels and it was so low they said I had been leaking for a few days,they decided to induce me and I was in labor for 23 hours total! After all that time I stopped dilating at 4 centimeters and then the baby’s heartbeat kept dropping,so they decided to do an emergency c-section. Thankfully the baby was perfectly healthy and all was well.

At the start of my pregnancy I weighed 110 lbs and at the end I weighed 161 lbs. With the weight gain i got a MASSIVE amount of stretch marks what seems to be every place imaginable my stomach, hips, butt, boobs, thighs, even the back of my knees. They are so big and dark in color they make me so disgusted. I can’t even where shorts or dresses anymore because I am so insecure and embarrassed about the stretch marks… I’m only 19 and I feel like my body is destroyed and i never want my husband to see me naked again. I hope eventually I can come to terms with my body and start to take pride in my stretch marks.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to lighten stretch marks and tighten the loose skin on the stomach please I am willing to try anything.

Thank you all for reading my story.

24 thoughts on “Forever Hiding Behind My Clothes (Amanda)

  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 7:56 am
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    First of all, congratulations on your baby girl! I was also 19 when I got pregnant with my first (20 when I had him). I started at about 110 (5’2″), and ended at about 150-160, so I know where you are coming from! I got stretch marks everywhere as well…my doctor even said to me at one point “you have those road map stretch marks.”. They WILL fade. I don’t remember how long it took (I had more things to worry about. My son was also born emergency cesarean…except everything was not ok. We spent a month in the NICU with him. He actually passed away when he was 19 months and 1 week…it will be 3 years since he passed this Sunday). Anyway, they will fade…I have them on my butt, boobs, legs (bad on my legs!), tummy, and hips! I have 2 kids now…my first was Connor, and now I have a 2 year old named Liam as well. I weigh about 130 right now, so I have more work to do! To tighten the loose skin, do cardio AND weight training. Go on bodybuilding.com, click on “find a plan” at the top of the page, then go to “fat loss”, put in your information, and it will give you GREAT tips! It includes an exercise program to do, as well at nutrition tips. If you can’t go to the gym, no worries! You can do it all at home. Get some 8 lb weights and lift them…and since it is getting warmer you can get your cardio outside. Bring your baby girl for walks, even jogs (not for another couple of months though!). Most importantly, enjoy your baby…it goes by fast. Oh, and I hope you love your body soon…I am still working on it (even though Connor would have been 4.5 and Liam is 2).

  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 8:05 am
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    I’m so sorry you feel the way you do, you are being WAY to hard on yourself. I am not just saying that to make you feel better. Hunny you are only 1 week pp you look great. Your uterus is not even shrunk down to normal size yet so that lil tummy is not all extra weight it is just your uterus protruding. You may also be swollen/bloated a bit since you only delivered a week ago and it was a c-section which may have caused additional abdominal swelling. Give yourself time and enjoy your new little miracle. You are only a first time mom once, don’t miss the pleasure of it all by focusing on the changes of your body. I know it is hard but there is not way you should expect to look like you did pre-pregnancy. Just eat healthy, lots fruits and veggies and lean meat like turkey or chicken. Drink lots of water and watch your salt intake to prevent additional bloating. You will do fine give it AT THE VERY LEAST 6 weeks to see some changes and then a full 9 months before you return to a more familiar body. It took 9 months to grow your little baby so give your body time. As for the strechies, they will fade I promise. It is way too soon to expect them to be faded yet. Lotion lotion lotion and water is the best thing. Water can do wonders, it helps keep you feelings good and looking good. There are a lot of expensive strech mark creams out and I don’t know which ones work and which ones don’t because I do not have a ton of money to spend on the creams. I used Bio Oil wich is more economical only 9.99 per little bottle which should last about a month if you apply it twice a day on the strech marks as directed on the bottle. You do not need a super lot it is an oil so it spreads nicely. It will take a little time but your skin appearance will improve greatly. Give yourself time please just enjoy this once in a lifetime moment. I also used a belly bandit for 6 weeks after the birth of my daughter. It is a belly binder which help shrink my uterus faster and prevent additional strechies from forming from excess skin and it helps the loose skin to go back to normal quicker. Best of luck to you and your little family. Oh and your husband see your body thru different eyes than we see oursleves, he loves you and you gave him a child, just give it time.

  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 8:06 am
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    Oh and your c-section scare looks fabulous for only a week pp! Lucky you!

  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 8:25 am
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    girl your only one week… it takes MONTHS for that pooch to go down, dont worry – it took me 3 years in all and still wish i could improve but im at a brick wall… for my stretch marks ive been using trilastin and it really seems to be working… you can check my posts under blessed and tortured…. i will be posting updated pics after my 2 month supply of trilastin is up (ive been using it for a month) good luck love

  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 8:36 am
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    Only one week??!! It’s too soon to worry girl!!
    Stretch marks will fade eventually, you’ll see.

    COngratulations on your baby!!

  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 8:44 am
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    Honestly the first thing I thought when I saw the picture of your stretchmarks was, “wow, those are so neat!” They really will fade with time….mine used to be bright purple and they’ve started fading to a silvery colour. Hang in there :)

  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 11:21 am
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    WOW were stretch mark twins! (Trying To Accept My Body)(MJ) is my story you can look it up under pregnancy if you like. i too was 19 when i had my DD and i felt just like you when i first had her but chin up the stretch marks will get lighter i use the DERMA ROLLER it works pretty well i have a lot of SM’s so its taken awhile to see the results i want plus im preggo with #3 due any minute now so i cant use it right now but as soon as he is out im gonna start again ill post before and after pics later so you can see!! Congrats on your baby!! just remeber you are a strong beautiful women and just made a new life dont be so hard on your self you will be proud of your body some day i promise!!

  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 11:37 am
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    Only one week out, you look great! My second is just now 8 months and I am still not back to normal! And as for stretch marks, they really do fade. I also used trilastin for 3 months and it did help some, my stretch marks have faded alot. Just enjoy that baby because they grow up sooo fast! And also I know it is hard to be comfortable around our men naked, I have the same issue, but if he loves you, he will love your body for what it gave him. Unfortunetly my boyfriend thinks everyone is supposed to look like a porn star, so I am currently struggling with body issues as well, so I get it. But keep your chin up and enjoy your family! Your body will change sooo much over the next year.

  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 2:41 pm
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    Congrats on your new baby girl! and as for the stretch marks i used palmers tummy butter every morning and the Johnsons baby oil gel with aloe vera & vitamin E in it at night when i was in the shower. by 3 months PP my stretch marks were skin tone color. I hope this helps! Just give your self time and enjoy being a new mommy :)

  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 2:58 pm
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    Your tummy looks great for 1 week pp! My pooch was way bigger at that point. Exfoliation is one way that you can help fade your stretch marks. Keep yourself hydrated and don’t loose weight too fast. You can get more that way. Exercise and a good diet will help them too. They will fade in time. I have some on my hips from before I was pregnant and you can barely see them. It will just take time. Congrats on the baby and good luck!

  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 2:58 pm
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    Congratulations on your baby girl! :)
    Now, you are 1 week postpartum. Your stretch marks have not even had a chance to fade, which they will with time. I was 18 when I had my first child. He was a big baby, 8lbs 14oz. I am 4’11” and at the end og my pregnancy was 197lbs. My story can be found if you search “Bryana”.
    But give yourself time… time is amazing. It makes all the difference, I swear. I had my 2nd child in June of 2009, luckily my stretch marks didn’t get much colour back from then. But now I am 2 months away from being 2 years post partum from her birth and every single stretch mark is silver now.
    Don’t be hard on yourself. Seriously. Love who you are and what your amazing body has done!

  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 3:44 pm
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    I think your stretch marks look kind of cool–like a flame design going up your tummy. Your body made it’s own artwork! Shoot people pay a lot for tattoos that extensive ;) Your scar looks awesome for 1 week post partum.

    My stretch marks weren’t very bad, but I used pure vitamin E oil on my cesarean scar–massaging it in for a few minutes every day. Not only is my scar almost invisible but it prevented the formation of adhesions, which can be painful or uncomfortable. Given the delay in posting you’re probably far enough PP to start this if you’d like. A friend of mine used the same oil on her stretch marks and said it helped a lot, so just a thought. I found it in the supplement section at a drugstore.

    Good luck with feeling better about your body. Remember you’re only one (or probably 3 or 4 at this point) week PP, and your uterus WILL keep shrinking and your stretchmarks WILL fade. Plus your hormones are all over the place and you probably haven’t slept! When life gets a little less hectic and your body recovers a little more I have a feeling you’ll be pleasantly surprised :)

  • Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 3:44 pm
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    The good thing is that you’re just one week postpartum. You’ll be completely flabbergasted to see the change over the next year. Tummy will go down and stretchmarks will fade. Your hubby will find you sexy no matter what – and he ought to because you’re gorgeous! :)

  • Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 1:50 am
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    My first thought on seeing your belly pic is what beautiful stretch marks. I know it’s different when you’re wearing them, but I just want you to know if I saw you on the street I’d recognize you as a beautiful, powerful, unique mama. Kudos to you for posting one week postpartum – you are so brave.

  • Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 6:15 am
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    Oh…I notice a lot of people suggesting stretch mark creams (which is nice since you asked!)…they will fade on their own. Do not waste your money!!!!! Just use the regular lotion that you use after showers, nothing fancy, and they will still fade :)

  • Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 3:00 pm
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    on SHANNONS post — yes they DO fade but to get even better results — i TRIED biooil and got NO results, Trilastin has totally been working :) it even comes with a firming cream.

  • Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 7:42 am
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    First off Congrats on ur baby!!! I to have had a hard time accepting my after baby body.. B4 I was 115 and fit.I was a competative Dancer so when I got pregnant and gained the weight which was about 60lbs I was sooo obssesd with not getting stretch marks,, Well they came anyways..My little boy is now 4 and over the years they have faded alot..I have tried EVERY and cream out there.. some work some dont.. I like Mederma and I just started using Strivectin.. which is fading them .. But u are only a week out… The Csection scar pracrically disappears… I cant even see mine anymore and I was supposed to have a natural birth but bcuae my sons had a big head…lol.. Csection was done… I also have a great support system from friends.. I had a very good looking friend of mine say..”If people wanna judge u bcuase of a nautural beauty then they are not worth ur time and if he really likes u then those wont matter to him”

  • Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 3:50 pm
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    You look just like me after I had my second baby Im 6 months PP,my girls are only ten months apart..I gained alot of weight in my 2nd one,I cant offer any advice really I just want to tell you,the stretch marks will fade it wont happen over night but they will,some days my marks look very light and some have already turned silver,mine were the very same colour as yours.My cousin has recommened almond oil or cream its cheap and works well for the people I know who used it,any health shop will have it,also a tip I got off a poster on this site is while having a bath or shower use a body scrub on your marks to exfoliate the skin,I swear it really worked just pat dry after and and use mositurier or any cream you like..best of luck and have hope please it gets better Im 6 months PP and Im far from happy but Im much improved from what I was!

  • Friday, April 29, 2011 at 1:49 am
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    hello! Congrats on the baby :)
    So I know how you feel stretch marks are hard to look at .. it natural .. But I have a way to make them fade.. i searched everywhere online for ideas.. Intell i said well.. I’m going to try .. Okay first off.. When i awake.. I put the whites of an egg on my belly ( rub upwards ) and i let it dry ( it pulls the skin together ).. I then whipe it off and put the yolk on it .. let it try.. I hop in the shower.. I then use “softsoap” comes in 3 packs from costco.. I wash my body with that and i put baby oil on my tummy too ( or you can bathe in it- be careful its slippery :P ) Then i get out.. I put diaper rash creme and smear it everywhere , I then put on Palmers Butter ( the one in the tin can — more affective for me )…. i wait a couple hours i moisturize my belly ( any lotion ).. and before i go to bed i put the whites of an egg on my belly again to let it soak and pull the skin together.. I now iam 9 months post and i can barley see them. all i have to do is get out and exercise and get a tan :) hope it works for you ladies!!!

  • Monday, May 2, 2011 at 11:09 am
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    Tea tree oil & retin a cream.

  • Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 7:12 pm
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    Vitamin E Oil helps too, and it only costs like $6. For me, Breastfeeding made my tummy go down big time! You’re only a week pp, give your body time and focus on your new Baby. You’ll see changes in your Body very soon… :)

  • Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at 9:56 am
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    HI DRINK LOTS OF GREEN TE EVERY DAY. AND USE CASTOR OIL OVER YOUR BELLY. THAT WILL HELP.

  • Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 9:41 pm
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    hey, I know how you feel and I am sorry for your pain. For me at almost 6 months pp i had to get on medication because i was ready to kill myself. everyday was a struggle not to do it because i had a child. So he saved my life. im now just about 8 months pp and been on ppd meds for 2. I dont cry everyday and i dont try to kill myself and on most days the thought of my body may only come in once, but its always there still. Just im calmer. Anyway I also have them thighs, behind knees,calfs, boobs,hips and the back of my arms? crazy. I wouldnt wear anything showing my arms for the first three months and i sat in the back of the class room so i could raise my hand. I would wear capri’s but i only had one pair that held my stomach in a little. ( I was 23 when i got preggo, had him at 24 and still is 24, i weighed 106, gained lots of weight and 8 months pp with diet and excersize im at 137, and fml.)but I just started wearing shorts the last couple of weeks, it’s hard not to or im just gonna be in sweat pants all summer grrrr. but i dont wear them at like very public where the people that know me are, around strangers im better. Other then that bathing suit pleaseeeee. When i went to get medication i was in tears cuz the doctor wanted to do a check up and it was so hard for me to undress so he could see me and i had my fiance turn around and face the wall, while i cried the entire time. Also when the doctor went to press on my stomach after the baby was out, i cried then to, because i didnt want him touching this disgusting piece of flesh, yes they were my frist thoughts after the baby was out. I couldnt even watch t.v before medication. and i cut off all my girlfriends with baby’s because none of them had anywhere close to my issue. all back down to size in weeks with no stretch marks. And get this 8 months later i get dressed in the bathroom so my fiance cant look at me and sex, lights off shirt on. It’s no way to live and i believe i get better being restored to sanity a little bit eachday or at least i hope but take it from me work as hard as you can as fast as you can to make urself feel better in some way. you dont want to suffer like me with my crazy thoughts,suicidasl thoughts and hate for women who dont have these problems. effing media today. back in the 50 60 maybe even 70’s i probably wouldnt have been half as upset. hang in there i feel ur pain. you are not alone…oh and im still in swetapants. no jeans yet still.

  • Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 12:43 am
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    aw :) congrats on the little baby. I am 7 months postpartum and my belly is horrible. Worse than yours. and yours is getting there :) try bio oil. ive used it and it helped my stretch marks. drink LOTS of water! it helps your skin

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