The Journey of My Belly Into Motherhood (Anonymous)

I always thought of myself as a woman who was comfortable in her own skin. I knew that pregnancy would change my body and during pregnancy I welcomed these changes. The first photo is my belly pre-pregnancy. I waited impatiently to “look pregnant” and I couldn’t wait to wear maternity clothes. I looked in awe at my expanding belly and felt beautiful. I gained 63 pounds during pregnancy. Every week I took several belly photos to document the growth. I looked forward to these weekly pictures and compared them with the earlier ones endlessly. The 2nd photo is my belly just 12 hours before my labor started, on my due date. When my son was born (via c-section due to the impatience of the medical hospital) the belly photos stopped and he was the center of attention. A week later I missed the weekly photo that had become a ritual with my husband and I so I had him snap the 1 week post-partum photo, which is the 3rd photo. I had a PUPPP rash on my belly and I was amazed at how pregnant I looked still. I was horrified by it but snapped the photo because I thought it would somehow help me in the healing process of accepting my new body. The next photo was taken at 3 months post-partum and the last 3 photos are at 6 months post-partum with a close-up of my c-section scar. While I will never have my flat pre-pregnancy belly again I actually look at my c-section scar fondly. Sure, I had a horrific birth experience that ended with a c-section but my son came out of that scar. I see the scar now and I see him. I still like to think that I’m a woman who is comfortable in her own skin, even though that skin is scarred, loose and stretched out a bit. One thing that helps me is that I remember going to the beach with my mother as a little girl and I thought she was the most beautiful creature in the whole world…her stretch marks and all. She still is the most beautiful creature in the whole world–that creature is a mother. Now I’ve joined her as a mother and I’m learning to see the beauty in myself.









12 thoughts on “The Journey of My Belly Into Motherhood (Anonymous)

  • Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 9:39 am
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    That is a great pregnancy belly!!! Isn’t it amazing what our bodies can do?!

  • Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 11:05 am
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    You know, your stomach was great before pregnancy. I actually think, though, that you look sexier and more womanly in your after photos!

  • Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 3:48 pm
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    amazing!!

  • Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 7:35 pm
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    damn i love your stomach! it was so big! how much did the baby weigh? big bellies are so awesome and you fucking GREAT for having that huge of a belly. that is a real compliment, i promise.

  • Friday, April 13, 2007 at 12:27 pm
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    I had my son 4 weeks ago by c-section and at first I was amazed at how pregnant I still looked. I am still getting used to my scar and accepting that I my body will never be the same.
    You look great.
    Thanks for your post – It was very inspiring.

  • Saturday, April 14, 2007 at 6:03 pm
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    You looked amazing before, during and after!! I love your scar! I love mine as well!

  • Sunday, April 15, 2007 at 7:08 pm
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    how did you lose the baby weight and the stretch marks?!!!

  • Friday, October 26, 2007 at 2:56 pm
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    i’m where you’re at in the last picture – funny it takes 9 months to get there; i’m so impatient that i’m still looking dismayfully at the skin on my tummy at 6months. that’s how i found this blog. funny thing is my muscles are in better shape now from pilates. i never did ab work before

    you look amazing at 6months and especially if you see the miraculous size from just before birth.

  • Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at 5:53 am
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    You know you look amazing after the birth of your child, infact i was scared as its more than 9 weeks i have delivered the baby and my stomach still looks awful with scar marks..u are an inpiration as now i am determined …I ‘LL LOOSE weight and will have a sexy stomach like before ….

  • Wednesday, December 26, 2007 at 12:23 am
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    Seriously, thank you for posting this. I am 6 days pp- had an emerg c section and am having a hard time with how I’m looking now. You’ve given me some hope :]…thanks, I mean it.

  • Friday, May 30, 2008 at 4:50 pm
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    Hi
    i am really depress becoz of my belly after c section.
    i had c section 3 years ago. i still have that big bumpy belly.
    u look so good after c section. i wish i could have this kind of belly.
    please help me how to get rid of bumpy belly.as u did .
    hope u will reply
    thanks a lot

  • Friday, June 20, 2008 at 7:36 pm
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    Thank you for this post!

    I was having a hard time accepting my body after c-sect delivery of my twins. It was depressing when ppl thought I was still pregnant.

    I’m now into my 2nd month post partum. After reading your blog, I’m feeling more hopeful that my belly CAN get back into shape.

    Your belly looks great!

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