I posted a belly photo of myself in February along with my thoughts and totally forgot to go look at it again until last night.
I want to post another couple of photos now, six months on showing my belly again. What has changed in six months? The most dramatic/helpful change is that I went back to work–which improved my level of sanity and just made me feel better about myself overall. Now, my son gets more quality time with me even if it’s not quantity. Before he was spending so much time with me but neither of us were happy with that. The set-up is much better now.
I’m not really sure how much weight I’ve lost–probably about 15-20 pounds (I’m about 175 pounds now)–haven’t exercised at all–just walk everywhere I go. I still need to lose another 30-40 pounds to be down to a good/pre-pregnancy weight. Even if I don’t lose that amount of weight, I’ve dropped about 4-5 pants sizes so that’s nothing to complain about. My boobs are still saggy but I’ve gone from a D-cup down to a C-ish cup which is nice–maybe someday I’ll see a B cup again but by then my boobs will be even more raisin-like probably. My belly is still stretched out beyond compare (nothing to do with fat–just the lose skin that’s hangin’ around there).
Um…I’m sorta neutral right now on the body-image thing. I probably still feel pretty sad and hurt over the whole thing but I try not to think about it because it just makes me feel like shit, honestly. Have decided that I’m not having any more children and have made peace with that as well in the past six months. I’m going to just keep doing a damn good job raising one and it’s gonna be awesome (probably). Thanks for all who commented before and for this encouraging site!
~Your Age: 26
~Number of pregnancies and births: 1 pregnancy, 1 birth (more than enough!)
~The age of your children, or how far postpartum you are: 1 son, age almost 20 months, 20 months post-partum
Updated here.
Thank you for your story. I’m encouraged that you are feeling better about yourself after returning to work … but I’m sure that your little one doesn’t get unhappy with having you around too much. You can never have too much time together and nothing and no one can replace your touch, smell, and arms in your babies heart. All the best for the future and you look great!
Wow! Nice job on the weight loss! You are a huge encouragement to other women! I think you look amazing! A huge difference and you look gorgeous!!! :D
I know just what you mean about going back to work, my son prefers his fun momma who works over his sad momma who sat around the house all day. He goes to daycare and plays with other babies and then when I come to pick him up at the end of the day he’s happy to see me (he’s also happy when he gets dropped off in the morning, he loves his daycare). I love being able to go to work and talk to grown ups. I do sometimes envy the women who are able to be SAHMs but it just didn’t work for me and my son.
You look great, do what ever what makes you feel good as your kid needs a happy mum.
You sound so much happier and you look awesome (I like that shirt…) It’s great to hear that you are finding your own way toward some kind of zen. It seems to me that your body is getting back to normal from the inside out. It’s true. Our kids need to see us happy, healthy, in control, and yes- intellectually stimulated! I went back to work too, and then back to school when my boy was 5. He sat in many of the classes with me playing with his legos :)