Age: 34
1 pregnancy, 2 children
I have recently discovered this website and am so glad I did as the stories have inspired me and helped me accept my post pregnancy body. I generally keep my thoughts on my body to myself as I don’t like drawing attention to it and I never imagined I would want to post my story, but here it is.
I had twin boys in March 08, born at 38weeks via cesarean. Both boys were very healthy and weighed 5lbs 10oz and 5lbs 8oz. I was shocked to discover I was having twins at a 12week scan and it did take some time to get my head around the idea that I would have 2 babies rather than 1! Medically speaking my pregnancy was healthy and uneventful. I am a healthy weight, and while I did gain around 45lbs during pregnancy, it was all in my belly. I breastfed my boys exclusively for 6mths and was very fortunate that I lost all my pregnancy weight within a few months.
However, I have been left with lose skin, stretch marks and separated stomach muscles. I knew it was inevitable that I would get stretch marks, however I still kept hoping I wouldn’t and applied cream on my belly every day I was pregnant. My stretch marks started at 34weeks and just kept getting worse. As horrible as this sounds, part of me wanted my twins to be born a bit early just so I wouldn’t have as many stretch marks. This is not a thought I have shared with anyone as I feel awful that I felt that way. What I really struggle with accepting is the appearance of my separated muscles. I have been doing Pilates for over a year which has helped repair the muscle, but not the skin, so the appearance will never go away without surgery.
I am truly blessed to have such healthy beautiful little boys and they bring so much joy to my life. I think my body is amazing for carrying twins to full term and exclusively breastfeeding them for 6mths (especially as I have small breasts and prior to breastfeeding, always felt inadequate about them). Whenever I feel down about my body, I remind myself of this fact. For the most part, I try and ignore my belly as I get depressed every time I look at it. I know my body could have been damaged worse and considering I have had twins, I think it has recovered ok. However, I just can’t seem to get past the fact my old belly has gone forever and this is the new me! My husband is very positive and reassuring over my body, I wish I could share his views! People tell me I look great considering I have had twins, and I generally just smile and quickly change the topic. I want to say to them “you haven’t seen me naked” or “why is there a caveat on looking great? Why can’t I just look great for being me?”
I am slightly apprehensive sharing these naked belly photos as I keep it hidden from everyone. I hope I won’t always feel this way and I will one day learn to accept my new body.
As a mother of 3 and a half year old twins (carried to 35.5 weeks) I look at your pictures and the first thing I think is “What the heck is she talking about?” Honestly, you look awesome! I wish my belly looked like that! I am down to my pre-pregnancy weight (140), however, my belly still hangs down over my underwear line due to the loose skin and the leftover layer of belly fat that I gained during the pregnancy. Be proud of yourself! You really do look great!
I don’t think you look great for having had twins. I think you look great. Period. The fact that you’ve had twins makes it even more impressive. But even if you looked like this without ever being pregnant, you look fantastic.
you look amazing for having twins! my belly has just as many stretch marks and i only had 1 baby! :)
I’m 37.5 weeks pregnant with twins and as awful as it sounds, I too secretly wished my babies would make an earlier appearance so I could save my body a few extra stretch marks. You are not alone on that–its not something I am proud of but watching my belly change has been difficult. I’m glad they are going to be healthy don’t get me wrong, they are my number 1 priority. I honesly hope my stomach looks as good as yours when I finally deliver, but I think my stretch marks are worse. You look amazing and I’m already jealous.
your belly is perfect. i’m not kidding. i had one kid, one 8 pound kid and my skin literally hangs off my body. you look ah-mazing!
i’m a twin mom, too. you look terrific!
You look amazing!!!! Girl you look way better than I do and I only had one! I would NEVER thought you had twins!
you look so great you should really be proud of yourself your body went thru more than us moms that had one baby, you should feel good about that and look at you there are people who would kill for a tummy like htat that didnt even have a baby! be proud!
Weird! I had twin boys in March 2008. Mine were 32 weeks but weighed in at 5.2 and 4.9. My stretch marks started two weeks before the emergency c-section. Your skin looks so smooth and flawless! I know we are always harder on ourselves but really, put on a bikini!
I hate to say it but geez, if you think that you look bad, you would think I was disgusting. Did you even get any stretch marks? So your belly is a little bigger than before, big deal! I hope I’m not making you feel bad, but girl you don’t really have much to complain about.
I had twins they were 6 pounds a piece full term and I wish i had your body. I ended up with loose skin and seperated muscles and there is nothing i can do about it.So you look great and im sure there alot of us who wish they had your body.
I am a twin mom with separated stomach muscles, I can’t seem to lose the 22lb’s I gained during this pregnancy, I didn’t get stretch marks with my singleton or twin pregnancy which was great, but I only got to 34 weeks and my babies were in special care for 15 days :( they are strong now and 7 months old. You have an amazing body and I honestly feel you are being really hard on yourself, you have done amazingly to carry full term and breast feed as you have, well done you! Be proud of your fab body x
you should be happy hunnie!! you look amazing!! i had my boy girl twins 3 months ago and i still weigh 180…i went up to 205 and i was 120 b4 pregnancy and was in good shape…if you seen my stomach you would run the other way ..id kill for your tummy!
I agree with everyone’s comments! Wow… A year after having my twins.. my stomach (to me) is disgusting!! You have hope.. I believe yours will go back to normal..it just may take a few years. Mine? HA.. I will definitely need surgery to fix this mess. -Too bad I can’t afford it! :( Ya know, insurance should pay for that kind of surgery for us mom’s of multiples who stretched their stomachs beyond natural repair! Don’t ya’ll think?
We should petition! Lol
Thanks for sharing. I have 4 yr old twins and am still waiting for my stomach to return to what I thought was normal. I look at my friends who have had preamie twins and have also wished I hadn’t carried 40 inches of baby at a total of 15 lbs. Especially when our kids are all equally healthy now, but I got the ugly body. It’s normal. But it’s also hard aging.
Hi, I have a 4 1/2 year old and 2 year old twin, all girls, and I think you look amazing plus very brave to show urself, somedays I wish I can do something about my tummy specially on times when someone asks me if I;’m pregnant again!
thats embarrissing rite? but hey I had twins!
the stretch marks on my tummy and the loose fat around the tummy are my mommy awards, gave away part of my prettiness to my pretty pretty girls :)
I’m jelous! I had my son at 18 and only put on 6kg by 42 weeks and my stomach is wrinkly, saggy, loose skin and stretch marks. I would do anything to have your tummy!