14 months pp, still struggling with image, but working to make it better! (Anonymous)

I found out I was pregnant when I was 17. I’d say I was fairly nervous, but also very excited. I’ve had lots of support from family and friends which made my pregnancy almost easy. Other than a few minor things, I can honestly say that I absolutely loved it. I’ve always been self-conscious, but despite the weight gain and the stretch marks, I actually felt really good about myself throughout all 9 months. I’m 5’6, and when I’m at my healthiest/fittest, I weigh around 125 lbs. Before I got pregnant, I gained a bit of weight (thanks, junk food!) but because I had pretty bad morning sickness for the first 5 months, I ended up losing 15 lbs in the first 4 months. I’d say I was fairly small up until the last 2 months when I just exploded! I had a few stretch marks on my sides and my back, but I didn’t get any on my stomach until 2 weeks before my daughter was born. 2 weeks! It was the day after Christmas dinner… I woke up and BAM! they were there. I cried. Oh well.
Vivian was born on January 7, 2009 – her due date. I weighed 190 lbs before she was born. Pretty crazy, huh? I hovered at 160 lbs for about 7 months after she was born, and because I was stupid and thought I could lose the weight without putting much work into it,so I didn’t actually do anything about it until 10 months pp. I was around 145-ish then. I have been going to the gym somewhat regularly since then, although I have recently put it on hiatus while stressing about college and how I’m going to afford it. I am really into the idea of sculpting my body once I get a real chance to do so, so I will probably update with pictures of any kind of progress later.
As for right now… I’m 19, and I weigh around 135 lbs. Not too bad, I guess,but I do realize that my stomach will probably never look the same – you know, with the silvery lines crawling up my belly and sides. And Vivian… well, she is the best little munchkin anybody could ever ask for. She’s one year and two months right now. I love her too much. We’re “homies” as I like to tell people. I go everywhere with her (except work, of course!) and I just love spending time with her. She’s a very happy baby made of smiles, giggles, and pure cuteness.

Here are a few pictures I took today of how I look. I did not look like that a year ago! I was much softer, wider, more out of proportion.You can’t see the stretch marks very well, but trust me, they sure as hell are there! There should be 2 mirror pics, one close of of my stomach, and the last two of the little angel I got out of it!