first of all I want to say thank you for such a wonderful website its such an inspiring place to visit and has definatly helped me learn to love my post pregnancy body. As a dancer I was obsessed with my body image for most of my adolecent life and suffered from anorexia trying to prefect it. But after years of suffering I managed to beat it and learn to except me for being me. So when I fell pregnant it didnt really occour to me how much my body would change I just assumed it would bounce back to its pre pregnancy shape, boy was I wrong I couldnt look more different, but now I have come to love my body for all that it is, after all it had nurtured and protected my son for 9 months. During my pregnancy I didnt really get stretch marks untill I was about 7 months but I got them BAD. They covered my tummy, thighs, breasts and upper arms I also developed a pregnancy rash all over my tummy which has affected the pigmentation of my tummy leaving dark brown streaks where some of my stretch marks are. Anyway after birthing my son I really was not prepared for how my tummy would look, the day after having him while I took a shower was the first time I really got to look at my tummy it was covered in deep red stretch marks and it hung down it a fold. I burst out in tears as I really did not think it would look so bad. But now 4 months after the birth of my son I can say I accept my body for the wonderful job it did, after alot of hard work I am back down to my pre pregnancy weight and my tummy has toned up alot and the fold of skin is almost gone, and my stretch marks are almost all silver now apart from a small section of the centre of my tummy witch remain brown due to the change in pigmentation. the picture I have included are of me now 4 months post partum. I just wanted to say to all the women who are having difficulty dealing with there post pregnancy body, be proud of what you have achieved and love yourself after all you have come through. you are all beautiful. xxxx
Wow!!! You are such a strong woman! And you really are so wonderful for saying what you have said! It is so true. I don’t know how people can say it enough and yet people still don’t believe it… You of all people can love your post baby body (no matter what you look like) and that means something HUGE because of the stress put on dancers to look good. I, myself, was a dancer. Not professionally by far, but I absolutely know what you mean. And I love my post baby body. Stretch marks and all. It is beautiful. It brought the most important little person into my heart and world and I love it. Thank you so much for sharing your story. You look great! Your belly has flattened down considerably! No fold at all! I can see that you’ve been working really hard! And at only 4 months postpartum–wow! Remember it can take a year or more for your body to repair fully… You look awesome and your mama marks have faded very nicely!!! Thank you once again for sharing! Please update us in the future!
God bless you and your family.
I just had my first baby 5 weeks ago, and my belly looks just like yours. I didn’t get any until the 7th month too, but then it was like they wouldn’t stop… I feel ok about it all, I am still waiting for loose skin to go down- but it’s really encouraging to see other women who look like me! We need to reclaim our image- and this is a small step in showing each other, and the world, that this is normal and beautiful. Congrats on your little boy!
I think you look wonderful and you are so inspiring. You should be so happy with yourself for overcoming the eating disorder and all the issues that come with it. Bodies are ‘perfect’ in any shape or form and with or without stretchmarks. Children are true gifts and having a few stretch marks and a bit of extra skin is a very small price to pay for the enjoyment you get for the rest of your life. I have 4 children and would not change my appearance for anything.
thank you for you lovely comments sarah. I am very proud of what my body has achieved and i hope my story helps other women feel good about there post pregnancy body. I do still want to get my tummy a little bit more toned but im happy with the way I look and I feel that having a baby and experiencing pregnancy just enhanced how I feel about being a strong woman.
Im so gald I have been able to inspire some of you lovely women out there, thanks for taking the time to read my story and again I just wanted to say that this site is so amazing and really helps to bring to light the truth about what a womans body looks like after carrying a child and not everyone just bounces back.
again thanks to everyone for there kind words.
beki
xxx
My husband of 25 years just told his new girlfriend that no one wants to have sex with a woman who has a body of a 70 year old! i am a mother of 5 including a set of twins and i weigh 105 lb 5 ft. yes i have a sagging belly and boobs but how do i go on now that we are getting divorced?
oh lisa, dont let him put you down like that. i believe he is just saying that to make you feel bad and lower your self belief.
my hubby is forever telling me how well i look so remember not all men are shallow, im sure if you start thinking more positivley and believing in your self you will find it easier to move on. be proud of your achievements after all you have grown and nurtured 5 children, i know some days you may feel awful but remember you are beautiful and you will be able to move on. be strong and dont let him put you down.
hi,, its really inspiring to read this. My post pregnancy body did not bother me as much it bothered my husband. he has clearly said he cannot have sex with me till i looose weight. it has been very depressing and i wonder if thats what all men feel or am i married to a looser.
I had my little one 4 months ago, no stretch marks really, just a big tummy and 3 stone heavier still! :( I feel horrible, my husband is great about it and says it’s beautiful, but I can’t stand feeling so big.
Was a size 8 – now size 14!
Thanks for posting your pictures. I’m hoping this site will help me