My Body After Baby (Tessa)

I became pregnant and the age of 19 years old. Before I was pregnant, I was quite thin. I always had body image insecurities either way. Looking back at those photos, I find myself asking how I could have ever been displeased with my body pre-pregnancy. When I found out I was pregnant, I was 128 lbs. By the day of my induction, I was 198 lbs. Throughout my third trimester of my pregnancy, I often got asked if I was having twins. No, just one baby. One very large baby. My baby was born at 9 lbs 13 oz via cesarean section.

Although I was large, I was told numerous times that because I chose to exclusively breastfeed my child, that the weight would come off faster. Much to my dismay, the opposite was true. I was only able to breastfeed for a few months before my baby boy went on a nursing strike. I then exclusively pumped breastmilk until my baby was 6.5 months old. After I weaned myself from the pump, and thanks to the warmer weather and more walking, I finally started to get comments that I looked thinner. It wasn’t until I quit breastfeeding that I was able to lose weight. Right now I am at 160.5 lbs, 7 months post-partum. I’m running some, doing some ab workouts, but only when I can squeeze it in around taking care of my son.

But still, those comments about me looking thinner are made when my body is hid by clothing. My stretch marks cover my entire stomach, hips, thighs, and calves. My stomach doesn’t pouch out as much, but instead it went south. I have plenty of loose skin. To top it off, I have the c-section overhang.

Getting used to my new body is hard at times. I do truly really struggle sometimes. I don’t love my son any less; he was absolutely worth every stretch mark, every lb, and all the extra loose skin. I was so hopeful that because I was tiny before, that I’d loose the weight quickly. I was so hopeful that breastfeeding would help me lose the weight quickly, as everyone promised. But it didn’t. And although I still plan to exercise and try to be healthy, I know I need to learn to be comfortable with my body, knowing it looks the way it does know because it created my child. I’m not there yet, but I do have some good days. I may not be young and “hot”, but I am beautiful and my body is amazing for the sole reason that it created, housed, and gave birth to life.

I’m attaching an 8 weeks photo, 40 weeks pregnant photo,two 6 weeks post-partum photos(white sports bra), a few 7 months PP photos(pink bra and shorts), and a photo of the wonderful little life that is the reason for these photos

Updated here and here.

8 thoughts on “My Body After Baby (Tessa)

  • Monday, May 3, 2010 at 9:13 am
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    You are gorgeous and your smile with your baby says it all mama! Give yourself time…took me 2 years after each of my kids to get back where I wanted to be. Airplane your baby he will love it and its good for your core. Lay on your back knees up and lay him on your lower legs, wiggle back and forth like an airplane, stretching and lowering your legs holding securely to him at all times of course! It does miracles, my kids are 7 and 4 and still want me to “airplane” them lol!

  • Monday, May 3, 2010 at 8:14 pm
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    Its so great to see pictures like this, because I look the exact same. I had my son in March 2009, and I just had my daughter in April this year, both via c-section and my body looks very similar. I have stretch marks everywhere and I definitely don’t feel a pretty as I use to. Thanks for being brave enough to post pictures!

  • Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 12:24 am
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    You really do look great! And you have probably the world’s most beautiful baby! Look at that grin!!! :D

  • Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 10:16 am
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    What a cute baby! You could try babywearing–it’s great exercise that you can do WHILE taking care of your son, as well as doing anything else that we moms have to do everyday! It really helped me when I didn’t ‘have time’ to ‘formally’ exercise!

  • Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 11:52 am
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    I can relate. I had always eaten huge meals, whatever I had wanted post baby and had such a flat tummy. I breastfed for 32 months and had only gained weight NOT lost. It was only after I had stopped breast feeding that the weight started to melt off. Sacrificing my body to provide for my son was worth it although it was very difficult to continue extended breast feeding. I don’t tell my friends or family about the reason for my weight gain because I was still a great size after birth in fear that they may be discouraged to breast feed their babies when they do have one. It helps a lot to hear your story and that I wasn’t alone thinking all the weight would come off with breast feeding. I do have a big, healthy, and happy son so I regret nothing:) I wish you all the success in ur journey as well! :)

  • Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 2:26 pm
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    Tessa,
    Honey, I’m the same WAY ! My first born Tabby did me in… and I to still to this day struggle from time to time, I try to remind myself some women out there would KILL to have this body because they can’t carry a baby and would love to be able brag that’s why they have these marks…
    Your Beautiful ! Welcome to Motherhood ! The greatest gift God can give you !

  • Monday, May 10, 2010 at 7:38 am
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    Your body is my body! My son was born the end of Oct 09. I too was thin at conception, 110 lbs, but I gained 50 lbs with my pregnancy. I’m also covered in stretchmarks and things just aren’t what they were before! Even with working out with baby at mom and me classes and being mindful with meals, its difficult. I’m down to 140 lbs now, 6 mos in and its tough, but your little guy is soo sweet and its true that we are lucky to have these little ones. Its hard when we think everyones judging us and we are judging other moms too.

  • Monday, May 24, 2010 at 8:30 am
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    Thanks so much for sharing…i was beginning to think that only ppl who gave birth to 4 or more kids looked like me…and I’ve only had my first. My belly looks worse than yours, but at least I know there is someone out there who is going through the same things as me and it’s … well normal? I am working on getting my story up because I think women should know what really happens. I’m 29 and had my first baby who stretched me to 42 inches around the waist, and that was 3 wks before full term! I’ve go to much extra skin tons of stretch marks even though i lost all of the 22kg (48.5lbs) that I put on without even increasing my food intake…thanks so much for sharing.

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