My body after three babies (Anonymous)

I was never all that proud of my body, I had gained some weight as a teenager and struggled for years to get it off. Finally when I reached a weight I was happy with, I got pregnant with my first child, at only 18 I was newly married. The pregnancy went well, I was proudly showing off my growing bump, I started getting stretch marks at 36 weeks, I was so upset! I struggled with my body after giving birth at 41 weeks, I lost the weight quickly and was back to prepregnancy weight by my postpartum check up. But I was still unhappy with my belly, and new stretch marks across my breasts from going from a B cup to a DD overnight when my milk came in. I ended up pregnant when he was 3 months old, I was shocked and unsure that I was ready, but we were excited none the less. I lost all the weight I gained through most of that pregnancy, only gaining 11 lbs when I delivered at 34 weeks, I was back to my previous weight by the time he came home from the NICU 7 days later. Taking care of two young boys helped get my mind off of my insecurities with my new body, I was able to nurse my new son for 6 months, and was so proud of what my body had accomplished. It was then that I found out I was pregnant, yet again. After the complications of my second pregnancy, I expected the same sort of thing, little did I know I had an easy road up to this point. Complications started at the beginning, at 15 weeks there was a partial placental abruption, I was advised to abort then, but I could not end this life that I had watched grow since 6 weeks. I spent all of my days resting as much as possible, and in and out of the Hospital and doctors office, I ended up giving birth by emergency c-section at 26 weeks. Yet another scar, this one spanned hip to hip, I was very self conscious of this new scar, I lost weight much more slowly, even though the stress of having a Micropreemie kept me from eating and sleeping like I needed. By the time I lost the weight I wanted, it was time for a new surgery, my scar was opened a little and so was my belly button. I ended up leaving my husband when our youngest was 2 years old, he always made negative comments about my body, making it hard for me to accept it. But the new man in my life loves my body, always commenting about how beautiful I am, stretch marks or not. Having his support has helped me start to accept my post baby body, and seeing that I am not the only one has helped me so much!