Age: 23
Number of Pregnancies: 1 Births 1
PP: 6 months
So I stumbled across this website by chance looking up different support groups for weight loss and cesarean sections. I have been reading the stories and have found them so compelling and inspiring that I thought I might share mine. I did not really realize how blessed I am to have my boyfriend (though we are living separately right now) in my life and completely supportive.
I was an average 22 year old when I found out I was pregnant. I was 5’6 about 175, not fantastic but not super overweight either. t. I lost my job late December, and was struggling to find another one. When I found out I was pregnant, and thought that I should inform my possible employers of such when they asked certain questions like “is there anything that will impede you coming to work for over a year” I let them know. Needless to say I was unemployed for the majority of the year. Now everything went along swimmingly during my pregnancy. I did not really gain much weight in the beginning, I was a bit moody here and there but it was fine. After about 5-6 months pregnant I found out I was having a little girl, and we were more than thrilled.
At 36 weeks Scarlett had gained over a 1lb and a primary C was scheduled. At 39 weeks I gave birth to a very healthy 10lb 6 oz girl 21 3/4 inches long on October 14 2010. This was when things started going down hill. I had a hard recovery from the C, and I had a lot of extra weight on me. I started off at 175 I walked in to the hospital at 230, Scarlett had stretched me to the gills. Which is fairly evident in the pictures I have below.
I lost 30 lbs fairly quickly and have been sitting at an even 200-205 for the last three months. I have alot of issues with the way my body looks, and it has gone to the point where it had taken a toll on my relationship. Between me being unhappy with my looks, an infant, my 4 year old step son, part time work and a full load at school, and my boyfriend returning to work full time, I stressed myself out to the point where he moved out, not because of him, but because of me.
I am almost 6 months postpartum, and school has finally calmed down enough to where I have decided to begin working out more vigorously. I have come to terms that I will never have the figure I had prior to pregnancy, never have a nice tone tummy (I’ve always had extra skin and been squishy. Now I’m like uber squishy lol :) ), but I have come to realize that I need to be happy with myself in the short term, or atleast okay, in order to be strong for my daughter, and myself.
I am amazed at how strong and loving my boyfriend is, he tells me I’m beautiful and that he loves me everyday, even though he knew the body prior to pregnancy.
I am proud to say I may have a saggy tummy, even tiger striped and ugly, but I have a gorgeous 6 month old, and a loving family.
1st picture: 6 months pregnant
2nd Picture: Side view of pouchy-ness
3rd Picture: Attempt at picture of C- scar
4th Picture: Frontal view of pouchy-ness
Updated here.
Congrats on your lil Angel!! im currently 40 weeks preggo with #3 and have SM’s ever where but they have faded so much they looked like yours after my first and now they are almost white!! keep ur head up they will fade almost to the point that you wont even be able to see them!!
They will fade! Trust me, they will. :) Everything will be fine. :)
My tummy and stretch marks looked just liked yours after I had my first son 12 years ago. I shared my pregnancy photos on here a couple of months ago and you can see the colour has faded completely. Don’t take as long as I did to accept your body, life is too short and you deserve to be happy with your partner and yourself x
Thanks guys! I plan on it. My little one and I are taking daily walks starting soon, and yoga 1 a day. I am a lot better off since I first posted this. When I first saw all those red lines I was like “wow!” they are starting to turn brown, so yay! Anyway I love this site! It has definitely helped me work through my body issues.
Melissa – your belly reminds me of mine – have just started using a product called ‘Bio oil’ (I am Australian so not sure if you have it where you are) and have found it to plump up the skin and fades stretchies to a pale purply silver colour. I am doing legups and situps each day and begin to see some results – I am not much of an exercise person – so I do several sets of 30 sit ups and 30 leg ups a day to stretch it out :)
When I was pregnant I put on 26 kg and had a 9.8 pound baby – I was in sooooo much discomfort in the later stages of my pregnancy and was going mental – to keep sane I illustrated a self-help calendar called ‘Up the Duff Creek without a Paddle – Calendar Musings for Bewildered Mums to Be’ sharing my thoughts and journey.
I must admit I struggle sometimes with the loss of me time. Your pics have made me feel not alone. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for the comments guys! :) Well it’s almost been 4 months since I’ve posted. There I was about 215-220. I’m down to 198, I have met a fabulous man, and we could not be happier. We will be celebrating my daughters first year of life in a month and a half, and I have come to accept my body as a work in progress. I wish I had more time, but eh. I need to finish school. :
my son is 11 now, and I had the same stretch marks turned up over night around six months bright red coverd my tummy. and I hated them!!
Thought it was just me, id never seen them like this until looking at this site, and I just want to say thanks for posting your pics.
and yes 11 years on there faded to silver ( was not 11 years to do this btw lol)and my tummy flattened off at exactly a year after both my pregnancy’s. xx