I am 21 years old and pregnant with my first (unplanned) baby. A precious little boy, due any day now. I am currently 38 weeks along and still haven’t accepted the pregnant “mommy body” that everyone speaks so fondly of. I have had a healthy pregnancy and surprising still no stretch marks. (Believe me, I am not trying to brag.) I feel like a grease monkey some days at the amount of oils and lotions I apply to prevent them. I am worried that after he is born my body will never look the same again. I plan on breastfeeding, and have heard that can help get rid of baby pounds fast. My prepregnant weight was 130 at 5’7” and I am currently weighing 185. My husband isn’t that much more than me. I used to have such amazingly strong self confidence, and now its hard and sometimes impossible without tears to get undressed in front of my husband. I wonder how he sees my giant body as well, even though he says I am beautiful, it doesn’t seem to sink in. Last week I found myself wearing a pair of his sweatpants so I would be comfy. I cried harder than I ever have knowing how big I have gotten. Where did my self esteem go? How do I ever find that confidence again? Will I ever have an amazing body again? *Pictures are of prepregnant body (swimsuit last summer) and currently at 38 weeks.
you have a beautiful pregnant body…your belly is adorable! and no stretch marks at all! i got so many with my first and i love them now. you can read my story under child loss, it is titled “missing my son and expecting my second”…maybe it will help you put things into perspective more. you look great!
Of course you will be big, you’re growing a baby!!! I think you look cute though. :)
Oh honey….your 38 weeks pregnant, definately no need to get upset by wearing your husbands sweatpants. Shoot, we all do it!!! =) You had an amazing body before pregnancy, and you will have an amazing body after your son is born as well. Maybe not what you had before, but it will all be worth it. Pregnancy gives us some luscious curves!! It will take some time, but you can get your old body back, Promise!! =)
Even in your pregnancy pic’s you look fantastic, you seriously have nothing to worry about!
Hello! Congratulations on your pregnancy, you look beautiful!
The kind of beautiful that you were before you were pregnant is much more different than the beautiful you are now. I am still trying to understand it myself these days but am slowly starting to grasp it :)
You are carrying your husband’s child…you will be a mother, you will feed his child, that is beautiful.
My breasts are definitely not as perky as they were pre pregnancy, its been awhile since I’ve seen my flat tummy, and I’ve got stretch marks and such on my breasts, tummy, and bum. However, I brought a beautiful life into this world and because of that I think my husband finds me more beautiful than before.
If I can give you one piece of advice….don’t hold any expectations. With the labor, the first few weeks of motherhood, how quickly you’ll bounce back, etc. I had very high hopes of breastfeeding and when I didn’t I felt like a failure of a mother.
My daughter is now 19months old and I am 13 weeks pregnant with our second child. I am 10lbs heavier than I was post pregnancy (185lbs) and while I feel gross about myself some days I know that in the end it doesn’t really matter. I try to take care of myself, and more importantly I am raising our daughter :)
I hope somewhere in my rambling you have found some encouragment….would love to chat more! buttercups.nest@gmail.com if you ever need an ear!
You’re absolutely beautiful, then and now. You will recover your confidence, but might find it through other sources (sources other than your physical beauty.) I never had an amazing body before pregnancy by any stretch, but still the post-partum changes are difficult to accept. I’m getting to a place, though, where at moments I feel more beautiful than ever before, and I know that my beauty has nothing to do with what numbers appear on the scale. I topped off my pregnancy at 195, and it was so hard to be nearly my husband’s weight! It’s cliche to say try to enjoy the journey, but babies really are only babies once, and they are so incredible. Good luck with it all.
Chances are you’ll never be exactly the same again, but judging by your figure you’ll wear a bikini again.
For me, I went from 107-193 and suffered a spiderweb effect on my belly. So now I have wrinkles and on my tummy almost 11months later. But I had to quit breastfeeding to lose most of the weight and my new goal is 125. I’m only down to maybe 140 now.
Just don’t rush it. I was so preoccupied with my ugly overweight body that I feel like I missed time with my daughter. Losing the weight slowly seems to give my stretchmarks and cellulite time to work themselves out.
And don’t worry about being near your hubbys weight. I was 20lbs heavier then mine when I finally had a csection. lol. <3 Now he’s the chubby one again.
OMG! You really have nothing to worry about! You will get that body back by eating right and exercising. You are soooooo lucky not to get any stretch marks! It will take at least a year for your body to feel normal again, but trust me it will all go back into place.
I was OBSESSED with my weight after I gave birth to my 2nd baby. I exercised, ate well, did everything I was supposed to do…and the weight just stayed on my body.
Ten months after I had my daughter something clicked and the weight finally started to drop off. I started running and was able to reach my goal weight of 125…and now I am in better shape than I was pre-pregnancy. It doesn’t mean that I look the same way I did before I had kids… I don’t. My skin is loose on my belly (between 2 kids I gave birth to 18 lbs of baby!), I have stretchmarks, my boobs are like bags of pudding, and my belly button has caved in on itself. It’s the sacrifice we make to bring our children into the world.
Try not to judge yourself too harshly. I know how hard it is to feel beautiful when you feel so big and uncomfortable. I’m not going to lie, there are days I look back and feel a twinge of regret for not loving my body for all of the changes it went through…and wish that I wasn’t so hard on myself.
Be proud. Be confident. No regrets.
there is nothing of u except belly, i dont know wat ur worried about hun, u have no stretch marks…ur skin hasnt stretched beyond repair…ur gona be fine im sure :-) u look great! so smile!!!!
HOLY CRAP! YOU LOOK AMAZING PREGNANT AND NOT PREGNANT! i hope i look like you when im that far along, wow, you have greatskin…im totally jealous, you are gorgeous!
You have a beautiful pregnant body!
I know it seems scary at the moment, but by the look of it you shouldnt have any problem getting your body back after you give birth. As someone else said it wont be exactly as it was before – but pretty darn close. We have similar pregnant body types. Pretty much all belly! Since you dont have stretch marks you shouldnt have any problems with lose skin.
As for feeling big around your husband – I was 30 pounds heavier than mine during pregnancy! I know how you feel. I went up three pant sizes and at the end I had to walk around with the button undone all the time.
Drink LOTS of water, eat right and keep using lotion even after giving birth! Your skin still stretches and adjusts to its new shape after you deliver.
Your body reminds me of mine when I was pregnant. I was 130 before and about 185 at 40 weeks pregant and I am 5`8. Your body looks so great! I also didn`t have stretch marks. Consider us lucky girl! It will take a little time but your body will eventually go back. My baby is now 2 and a half months old. My body isn`t feeling exactly the same but I am feeling fantastic. I still have about 15 lbs to go but that won`t take long. Just eat good and exercise when you can. But at the beginning really try to not worry about your figure amd just enjoy your precious little baby. :) One of the best pieces of advice I got was sleep when baby sleeps.
I was 150 before I got pregnant and then at the birth of my child I weighed 230 pounds. I am 7 months PP and am stuck weighing 200. Mu husband is 181, so I can relate to how you feel. I was very depressed the first fews months after my daughter was born becuase I hated my new body. Now, I don’t even think about it. I love my life and my daughter so much, I don’t care what I look like. I just want to be healthy and strong for my baby. I believe you will feel the same once your baby is born. Don’t worry. You have a blessing on the way. Your life is going to change over the next few months and your outlook on life will be so different. Enjoy your pregnancy and what your body is providing for your child.
I am 21 and have two children, I had my daughter when I was 18 and nursed her for 18 months. My son was born just under seven months ago and he is still exclusively breastfed. I was 150 prepregnancy with him and was 197 when I delivered him. Now I am 130lbs.
Breastfeeding is natures way of returning your body to your prepregnancy (or in my case slimmer) weight. Formula is very risky and I encourage you to do more than plan on breastfeeding, make it your only option, for the health of both your son and yourself.
As for body image, you most likely wont be the same as you were before, you will be a new and better you. You will get used to your new body, and as a mother you are now more than the way you look.
I agree–you look beautiful. At the same time, I understand your pain. I, too, feel uncomfortable in my own skin, to the point where having sex with my husband leads me to tears because I feel so big and unsexy. I am your height, weighing in at about 151 pounds prior to getting pregnant, and now weigh 188 pounds. I commented recently to my husband that I’m only a few pounds shy of what he weighs. I’m 33 weeks pregnant with my second child (I had my first child when I was 28).
The other thing is that I’ll be 38 this Saturday, and I’m acutely aware that a lot of sweat and tears need to go into getting the weight off.
I wish you all the very best and I hope that you learn to accept your new body. You’re young and if you work at it, you’ll drop all of the weight! The best part is that you (as will I) have a beautiful child that YOU brought into the world!
You look like I did at that stage in pregnancy, and you also sound like I sounded. Don’t worry, you’ll get your confidence back and breastfeeding is majorly helpful in dropping the weight!
Wow..you have the most perfect baby belly! I was in disbelief when my weight clammered to 187 (I’m 4’11)!!! and I passed my boyfriend’s scrawny ass lol. You don’t understand how hard I worked post partum..and the day I got under his weight I did a little victory dance ;-) You look great!
Now that it has been almost two months after you have had your baby.. how is your body? I am due in 2 weeks and I am wondering exactly the same thing.. My body before and after is a lot like yours…
You have one of the prettiest pregnant bellies I’ve ever seen. I bet by now you look pretty much like you did in your before pic. Congratulations on your baby!
You have a beautiful body x
I know you don’t feel like it, but you look great. Your husband knows that you’re pregnant! I’m guessing he’ll still think you’re beautiful at 400lbs. A real man will always be attracted to you don’t worry. I’m 21 too only 8wks. pregnant, I’m already over weight and I have no idea what I’m gonna look like in a few months. But my husband doesn’t even care, he actually is even more attracted to me.
i just thought id post to let you know that i am 37weeks pregnant and i actually scrolled away from your pictures incase my boyfriend saw them on screen since your body is so sexy – even so late in pregnancy, and frankly, it intimidated me. if i looked half as good as you i would spend my day prancing round naked! you have absolutely nothing to be worried about! you may have put on weight but thats clearly gone to your bump and boobs! i envy you!
Hi It has been a while for you and I know you probably are enjoying your new baby. The issue is or “was” your body though,how did that work out for you??? I’m curious because I’m 22 and 38 weeks pregnant with my first child a daughter and my body was so much to my liking (and everyone elses) thati tried out for a playboy centerfold,I was absolutely gorgeous and now,I cry day and night thinking that will never BE again! I plan on breastfeeding to lose the weight too,did that work for you??? I even heard about brooke burkes belly wraps,I think I want to try that.I am ready and willing to do almost anything to have the body I used to have.so did you lose weight? Did breastfeeding work out well? How is your son? I hate my body now and I hate how I feel,I gained 35lbs and I feel like a whale! I’m trying everything to go into labor just to get my body back…NOTHING! You could respond via email josettarrussell@yahoo.com talk to you soon!
OMG! I’m so jealous of your baby belly! :D Don’t forget that this far along, your hormones are running amok (probably the only time other than your teen years you’ll feel so silly about things). I mean, sheesh, the ther day I watched Spider-Man and cried when Uncle Ben died. I’ve seen that movie, like, a hundred times and never been teary.
I know it’s hard– you see yourself getting fat, but your husband sees you growing life inside you. He can’t do that, and that’s beautiful to him. I know because I feel fat and I’m not even showing; my husband had to reassure me that I’m gonna get larger because I’m pregnant, and that he expects it.
Thank your lucky stars you get a husband who thinks logically. I know lots of women who have been pregnant and their husbands put them down or cheat on them and call them “fat.” It’s those guys who are shallow and cruel. If they were the ones carrying children they mght not feel so cocky.
Your body is perfect! i’m 24 expecting my second , i’m 21 weeks n i have gain little more than expected i always been small n it’s difficult to see my body go through this.But as my mom tells me, not every one is blessed to have children and experience it. And that opens my eyes! And i realize my body can go back it just takes time :) and I am excited that its a boy now, i have a little girl already so i’m complete.
I was looking for this exactly. Thank you so much for posting this. I am planning to get pregnant (23yrs old) and I have a decent body right now… I was worried (like you said) about the ‘mommy body’. Don’t misunderstand, that is not what so worried about the baby will always be first, but I was still curious if i would ever look like my old self again. Thanks alot. and a little late but congrats :)
Wow the similarities of the pictures from before and after are identical to me. I am 37.5 weeks pregnant and went from 120 to 173 this pregnancy. I too feel so unsexy and big to the point that I dont want my fiance even seeing me naked. My breast went up a cup size too, from 36C to a D cup and I cant fit in any of my cute underwear. This is also my second pregnancy though my first one was at 16 (yes very young) & my second at 21 and I was just beginning to love my body again because I got on the nightmare of birth control called the Depo shot after my first pregnancy so losing wait wasnt happening I was gaining it. But also I wasnt able to breast feed with the first one but this time I am determined because the benefits are amazing for the baby and for me. I hope I can go back quick too its stressing me out ridiculously. Everyone tells me I’m all belly but I just carry it well! My face didnt get fatter but my body looks just like your second picture
i’m 33wks&1 day pregnant and i have a small bump my hips are wide my breast have gotten bigger my booty has gotten bigger i have stretch march on my thighs and on my sides what you call my love handles i want so bad too have a bump like yours you are so very lucky to have a bump like that people tell me im not really showing i’m carrying her in my back she moves around great i’m due sep15,2013 this is my first i’m naming her hannah faith