I became a mother at 24 years old, and am now a mother of 2 children at 27. Becoming a mother has sincerely been the most magnificent experience of my life. I was able to conceive immediately and had two wonderful and uncomplicated deliveries that have literally been the “mountaintop” experiences of my life to date. But since having babies I have genuinely struggled to embrace my new post partum figure, until I found this beautiful and encouraging site. My mother and all of the mother’s in my family didn’t get any stretch marks. My mother at 48 is still able to wear a bikini. I meticulously applied expensive cream up to three times a day in the last several months of my pregnancy with my son, and with my daugther, and hoped that I would have a healthy dose of good genetics on my side. However, stretch marks now cover my entire abdomen, and the skin is now loose. My stomach look “OK” when I am standing up, but when I bend over is puckers and wrinkles. The worst part for my was that my belly button got the worse stretch mark, leaving it looked ripped in half. I once had a friend say, “ew . . it looks like an old woman’s face!” Before pregnancy my belly button and abdomen in particular were my favorite features about my body. I was so discouraged that at 24 my bikini wearing days were over! I bounced back to my prepreggers weight after both of my children within four months, and am even thinner now – but what troubles me is “what is under the clothes.” Many people comment that I look fabulous for having two children, but have struggled to accept this. I am genuinely working on enjoying my new body. THis site has been a wonderful source of encouragement for me. However, my greatest movtivator is that I do not want to share by “self image issues” with my beautiful daughter . . .I hope and pray that one day I will feel beautiful again, under the clothes!
WOW I think you look great!!!! You kinda look like me only better cause unlike you I havent been able to lose my “pooch”. I think you would look great in a bikini! Gosh I so wish I had your tummy you wanna trade!? ha ha
I understand how you feel. You want to be able to go to the neighborhood pool and be the hot bikini mom. I totally get it.
The thing is you’re a mom now. You have traded six pack abs for a loving child and a happy husband. He is the only one that is lucky enough to see you naked anyway, and as long as he is happy who cares?
I think you look great and I love the pregnant pick with hubby and his arms around you. It is sweet.
You look SO beautiful. I’m preparing myself for the worst, so all im worried about is being thin again like you. I gave up hoping for great skin because my mom had NO stretch marks even after three kids and two were TWINS!! She doesn’t have a single one but I’ve got them on my butt and thighs. It sucks, but none are on my belly. As long as I can fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes I will be happy. You look FANTASTIC. And you should still wear a bikini!! You’ll look great:)
I really love your belly. The stretch marks are footprints from your children. To me, it’s very beautiful and delicate.
I’m not sure the person who said your belly looks like “an old woman’s face” is that good a friend! And what’s wrong with an old woman’s face anyhow, right? :) You *do* look great for having had two kids in rapid succession, but I know, it’s what’s in your own mind that matters most. I, too, struggle to get my own image issues under control because I don’t want my daughters to have them, or my son, for that matter. I have a ten year old sister who’s been telling me she’s fat lately!
Thanks so much for posting your pics! I feel exactly the same way you do. I am 25 with two wonderful kids and a very wrinkly, stretchmarked tummy. You are not alone. I also feel too self conscious to wear a bikini but have found some very sexy one pieces that I think will still look great on the beach in summer. Just trying to keep my chin up! All the best!
why should we be done wearing bikinis?? i plan on wearing mine and i look nowhere as good as you! ;)
if all mommas wore bikinis, who could stop us? it’s a revolution! who’s in? :)
You are so beautiful!!! Your belly is so flat! You are gorgeous!
I think you look great your lucky your strech marks aren’t deeper or wider. I would much rather have your belly than mine.