Hi Everyone! I have been visiting this site for the last four months and like to comment but have just now found the time to actually post. I am 31 and had my son about 5 ½ months ago. I love all the posts by the brave and smart women that I have read over the last 4 months.
First I would like to say that I LOVED being pregnant. I felt more beautiful and sensuous than I ever did before. My pregnant body felt so full and ripe! My pregnancy was textbook and easy, no morning sickness, active, and fun. It had its emotional ups and downs, but overall it was a breeze.
I planned a natural delivery and thought it would go as smoothly as my pregnancy. It did not go as planned of course. I had a placental abruption that made an immediate c-section necessary. My son was born very healthy but rather small at 5 lbs 11 oz. Turns out there was an undetected problem with my placenta that caused him to be on the small side. The scary experience and having a surgical birth really affected the first few months with my son.
At 3 months post partum, I realized I was experiencing some pretty major PPD on the anxiety end of the spectrum. I couldn’t sleep, was afraid to look out of my windows, and was even afraid of having knives in my house. With some work on my part and some meds, I have come out the other side with a new perspective and a new attitude. Breastfeeding my son have been a very healing experience for me and has helped me get past his traumatic birth and the PPD.
I have a much greater appreciation for my body and the work it has done for me and my son. My body is strong and has nurtured my son for the last 15 months. My breasts, thighs, butt, and tummy are all a little softer and rounder, but I am so grateful for that softness. I started at 145 pre pregnancy and gained 22 pounds, ending at 167. Now I am at 135 after joining Weight Watchers, breastfeeding, and some mild workouts. I didn’t get any stretch marks with the pregnancy but have plenty on my breasts and hips from when I was an adolescent, plus the CS scar. My body is not perfect (not that it ever was, ha!), but I am more confident than I ever have been before.
The women on here are so beautiful and full of the ripeness that motherhood brings. I hope that we can expand our ideas of what is beautiful and realize that perfection is boring. We need to take care of ourselves and look on our bodies with KINDNESS. Our bodies have done us a huge favor of giving us our children and we need to repay that by forgiving the “flaws.”
I am so looking forward to experiencing bringing my next child into this world. Thank you for reading my post.
Updated here.
March 8th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I just want to be the first to say, you look absolutely amazing and no lie, that is one of the cutest little boys ever!
March 8th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
You have an amazing body and incredible outlook on pregnancy, motherhood, and beauty. You and your son are beautiful. Thank you for sharing your experience and your images. Someday I will share my own. Spread the love!
March 8th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
You look beautiful and from reading your post, I can also tell you’re a beautiful person on the inside. Enjoy that lovely little guy!
March 8th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
one of the things i’ve noticed since i started reading & participating on this blog is that so many of us say “my body’s not perfect” but really, what is perfection? they are functional, have served their purpose, are attractive & wonderfully made by (the creator, our parents, whatever term you like). i know that my body does not measure up to current -and fickle, i might add- societal standards of beauty, but it is perfect. and so is yours. your body made that sweet child & even though there was an unexpected complication that could have happened to anyone & was not through any fault of your own, it really is perfectly made. we must stop believing in “flaws” – there are no flaws! congratulations on your birth & your physical & emotional recovery. you have come so far & i’m so proud of you.
March 9th, 2009 at 12:46 am
WOW you look amazing before and after
March 9th, 2009 at 6:27 am
Imperfect? You look better than most gals that have never had babies!
March 9th, 2009 at 7:07 am
Holy hell! your body is HOT!! Seriously!! Amazing!! Congrats on getting help for your PPD, I too have been there and understand!
March 9th, 2009 at 10:32 am
what an uplifting, beautiful post! you look fabulous and your son is gorgeous!
March 9th, 2009 at 11:51 am
You look absolutely AMAZING! I can only hope to look that good maybe 2 years from now!
P.S.- I LOVE the color of paint in your room!
March 9th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
The not wanting knives in the house could be a little OCD. I have that problem – intrusive thoughts that scare the crap out of you…..the compulsive part is usually something like counting, touching things, or repeating things like prayers.
March 9th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
wow your body is perfect! i am sooo jelouse
March 9th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Wow, you look AMAZING!!! You are far from “imperfect”. I am jealous of your c/s scar, its nice, straight and so flat. Mines is just the opposite…
March 9th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I was so inspired by your story! I’m glad that you found emotional healing after your birth and from your pictures it looks as though your body is healing as well (that’s a fancy way of saying you look completely gorgeous).
March 10th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Wow, what a beautiful body you have! I’m speechless. God bless you and your child.
March 10th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Thank you to everyone for your kind and encouraging words!! I hope you all give yourselves the kindness and encouragement you have shown me. I can’t wait to post next time I am pregnant:) And next time I am going to have a more proactive approach with my PPD.
If anyone wants to email me about PPD, you are welcome to. I am not a professional, but I am more than happy to share more details of my story and offer suggestions. rootcat@yahoo.com
March 10th, 2009 at 10:37 am
Honestly, you have the most amazing body I have ever come across. You have this balance of curves and tone that just makes for a “perfect” body. You’re not so thin it seems unreasonable, but this realistic figure that could seem obtainable to any woman. Congrats on the baby and the strength you have found within yourself.
March 11th, 2009 at 5:57 am
you have a very very very beautiful body! I had an emergency cs also. and i call the scar the line not to cross when im mucking around with my husband!
March 13th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Gosh. You look amazing.
I had placental problems too – glad to hear that your boy is chubby, happy and healthy.
March 18th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
You have an amazing figure. I hope to god I can get myself to look like you do after my son is born in May. I wasnt in particularly good shape when I got pregnant but my skin is very elastic, no stretch marks and nothing sagging yet. You are an inspiration. Much thanks for the post.
March 19th, 2009 at 9:12 am
I loved your post. What inspiring words. I’m 29 and now 6.5 months pregnant with my first and am really doing my best to keep such a positive outlook. It really is a beautiful feeling to be so full of life and movement. It’s amazing how much love I have for the baby inside me, and I haven’t even met her yet!
Your PP body looks like my pre-pregnancy body. I hope I can be as lucky to keep such a shape, but only time will tell, and I will accept what comes…
Just wondering, how tall are you?
March 20th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Angela, I wish I could claim taller, but I am 5’8″. During my pregnancy I ate normally and stayed active. Not really “working out” but things like taking the stairs instead of the elevator and going on walks and a little yoga, that sort of thing. The main thing that I did was eat “normally” and add in a few healthy snacks like yogurt, fruit, granola bars, etc. I never really had cravings for fried, fatty foods and that helped a lot.
Everyone has different experiences when it comes to how their bodies change during pregnancy. I hope you are happy with your outcome! Be sure to enjoy the last few months of your pregnancy, it is the last time your house will be that quiet, ha;) I bet you look and feel gorgeous!!!
March 21st, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Wow! You have a hot figure! And what a beautiful baby!!!
March 26th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Wow you look great lady! Your son is a cutie!
March 30th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I just found this site after watching a UK TV show about women being coerced into losing baby weight by social pressure and celeb culture. Yours was the first photo I came across and I have to say, from one woman to another, you have a beautiful body – both during and after pregnancy! You have a very soft, feminine figure with curves in all the right places!!
Thank you for sharing your photos. I’m just over six months pregnant and watching my petite figure fast disappear. Finding this site has been an absolute inspiration to me. It has given me the confidence and courage to be proud of my changing body and what it’s creating, and the hope that I might just look as good as you afterwards!
April 1st, 2009 at 3:17 pm
You look like a Vargas girl in that second photo. I hope I snap back as well as you after my twins! Thanks for the photos… c-sections scars are really not that bad, are they…
April 14th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
WOW-you are so beautiful! I love that you shared…thanks.
April 14th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
you’re a hot hot momma! Your body is so beautiful!
April 21st, 2009 at 12:28 pm
you look stunnig!! well done
xx
April 25th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
You are SO FRICKIN HOT!!! NOT FAIR!!! LOOK AT YOUR GORGEOUS TINY WAIST!!! YUMMMMMY!! I AM 7 1/2 MONTHS PP AND I LOOK NO WHERE NEAR THE WAY YOU DO, BUT I’VE NEVER HAD A TINY WAIST OR A TRUE, FLAT TUMMY…..
May 5th, 2009 at 5:57 am
wow…how did you get your stomach so flat above your c-section scar? I have the “ledge” if you will which no matter how thin I am, just wont go away!
May 28th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
You look AMAZING!!
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:49 am
Incredible. I’d like to note that my favorite picture (other than of that adorable, beautiful child) is the last one of you. It’s the perfect image of femininity. It’s great lighting and just good photography. You’ve got the typical (not typical as supermodel, airbrushed, but real life, typical) woman hips, the hourglass figure all around and then on top of it all, your c-section scar. It just completes it. You are beautiful and so is your child.
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Your body is nothing less than STUNNING!!!
January 3rd, 2011 at 9:38 pm
You have the BEST body I have seen on this website! I would kill for your hips and bum! You are very lucky.