Motherhood has drastically changed me in every conceivable way. I think, sleep, eat and shower differently, and I also have a body that is incomparable to the one I used to inhabit. My baby was born two weeks later than expected, and, during that time, my skin developed deep stretch marks. I will always vividly remember taking a hand mirror to view the underside of my belly and bursting into tears.
I have always been a fitness enthusiast with a tight midsection, so it was a bit of a challenge for me to accept my “new” post-baby body.After carrying around a 9.2 lb. baby for 42 weeks, my appearance has been drastically altered. My belly button is even different! (it used to be vertical and very deep, now its shallow and quite horizontal. )
However, any mother will tell you that the stellar joy a baby brings is well worth and “boo-boos” incurred along the way. At times, it’s hard for me to see the beauty in a body that appears to have aged significantly in a few short months .But, I am learning to appreciate the amazing and sacred thing that motherhood has allowed my body to do and become. I am proud of myself for attempting to stay in shape after having a baby. I am okay with the fact that my mid-section and hips are permanently widened. But my horizontal belly button and stretch marks probably won’t be seeing daylight in a bikini anytime soon!
~AC
–>The pictures below are of my belly at 40 weeks pregnant, and 4 months Post-Partum. My iphone provided a more flattering torso shot, while my camera gave a true, honest view of my stretch marks! :)
22 years old, 1 child, 4 months pp
Are you kidding?? You look AMAZING!!! Oh, and I am in love with your pregnancy picture, the hair, the babies breath, perfect!
You are beautiful, and I would wear a bikini if I had your body – there’s nothing there that needs to be hidden.
many women would kill to look like you! trust me, you look amazing…not just saying that to make you feel better, LOTS of women would love to look like you, enjoy it!
personally i think you look wonderful! your skin looks really tight and your stretchies arent that bad. did you use any creams while you were pregnant or are you using any now? :)
you should be very proud of how you look!!!!
You are only 4 months out!!! You have a lovely figure right now, but it will continue to change too. The stretch marks will not go away, but they fade A LOT. My horizontal belly button went away just a few short months before I got pregnant again:)
wow!!! SO many women would kill to have that body!!
I have a similar belly button, which I had prepregnancy as well and was afraid I’d lose from pregnancy, but I’m glad it’s back. It’s so hard to type with a three year old climbing on you! You really look amazing! Could we trade for a day? I want your abs!!! :D
Wow, any tips on have a toned tummy (4 months out)??? You look amazing! Love your pictures, I would love for my tummy to look like yours one day :)
Thank You all for Your kind words..I’m continually “making friends” with my “new” body :)
-yes, i did use all kinds of creams and oils during pregnancy, and I still do. I’ve found that if stretch marks want to come, they will…no matter what!
Does anyone else still have a dark line on their middle ?(I think its called linea nigra)? Mine is still faintly their…
Honey I still had the dark line when my little boy was almost a year old. It will go away…just give it some time. I know the stretch marks are hard to get used to. I used all kinds of creams and lotions and still managed to get them. They do lighten though. Mine went from dark purple to kind of a pink color. I can still see them, but not as bad. You have a wonderful body. It helps that you have always been into fitness. You will never look the same as you did before, and it’s kinda hard to get used to that. My son is almost 4 and I still have those days when I can’t look in the mirror. I think you are a very beautiful woman.
Dannnng!!! I would KILL for your body!! Youre soo toned and tight!! I have stretchmarks AND loose skin!! You look AMAZING!!!!!
Are we looking at the same picture?? Your belly hardly even looks like it once held a 9 pound baby! As for the linea negra, it’s due to hormones, not just pregnancy- I have one and I’ve never been pregnant! (Though I noticed it after I started on hormonal birth control pills)
Does someone not know what “horizontal” means? ;P Your belly button is a perfect circle.