I’m nineteen and african american. I have always been slim built 5’6 140lbs. I never really worked out i just thought i was blessed with good genes…i am*was* the slimest person in my family..i come from a family of big hipped women..but anyway i made it through the first 6 months of my pregnancy without stretch mark and i woke up one morning and found one…then two now i have a belly full of them and all i can think is my body will never be the same..i wont be “sexy” anymore goodbye sexy boyshorts..hello granny panties..it haunts me being i am so young. my mother doesnt seem to understand and my fiance i dont think gets it he loves me just the way i am*so he says* but hes military and only sees me every few months when he’s not deployed…i feel like i will be lettin him down and other women who’s bodies arent disgusting like mine is sure to be shortly from now will intrest him more. I try not to think about it much but i am scheduled for an induction sunday [6/14] and though i look forward to the birth of my son..i dread how my body will look after. i know its vain but i cant help it. here are some pics of me ranging in order from six months until now. the last are pics of what i looked like before
It’s hard to accept what we look like after having children, especially in a society where looks are so highly valued. But looks are certainly not a measure of a person’s worth. And they’re not the only aspect of being sexy either. Sexy is a mindset and working what you have. Every line, mark, and crease is a reminder of the time your child spent growing and becoming strong inside you. I don’t see any stretch marks on you anyway : )
you are beautiful and i love these photos !!! and what a perfect round baby belly!!!
If you have a good man, which I’m assuming you do since you plan to marry him, he really does love you just the way you are. The marks will remind him of the wonderful gift you brought into this world for him. My husband loves every mark and curve and yours will too. You look beautiful.
You know what? If you ever truly felt sexy before getting pregnant, you have the mind to feel that way afterwards. I predict in 6 months, you’ll be looking in the mirror wondering what all this worrying was about. Sure you’ll look different, or maybe not, but it’s still you and you’ll still be sexy because that’s how you’ll look, and more importantly, that’s how you’ll feel. You look beautiful at 41 weeks. Congratulations!! How is your baby, and how do you feel??
i was induced on the 14 of june aswell and im also 19.i hope everything went ok for you and your son. as beautiful as my daughter is im devestated at what my body looks like and find im in the same postion as you. my stomach is covered in stretch marks and although i have tin boobs they are sagging but my fiance assures me im beautiful and m daughter is worth a body full of stretch marks. i just wondered how you were coping with your body image now? and how is your son???
You look great, I know it’s hard. We have our ups and our downs. Sometimes I appreciate what I have and other days I’m plotting and anticipating when I can have a breast lift. Lifes funny that way!
When I read the word dispair in the title i HAD to respond to you.
I got stretch marks when I was pregnant the first two times, but not the third. I was 19 when my first daughter was born (she was eight yesterday!) At first the marks were really obvious, but starngley enough, I didn’t mind them.
Anyway, after a while they fade, and bio oil makes them fade loads faster.
I still show my belly off in the summer, and I think that if anyone has a problem with it, it’s their problem, not mine.
I don’t read so called womens magazines full of celebrities, because they just keep telling us that anything other than what they deem to be perfect is not sexy. It’s all bull. Sexy is being comfortable in your own body, and you can be!!!
I’ve suffered with eating disorders, body dysmorphia, self harm and if I can do it, you can!
Good luck!!
Check out my post 12 weeks postpartum, third pregnancy. I have stretch marks on my belly and hips, but they are hardly noticable anymore!
I love the 3rd pic. I love your skin tone and the shape of your body/belly. It’s a beautiful picture. In your pre-preg pics you look like a cute girl. In your pg pics, you look like a beautiful woman. I know it’s scary facing the unknown but rest assured, lots of us have been there and come through the other side still feeling sexy. After two kids and major stretch marks and baggy skin, I do feel sexy. As mothers we make so many sacrifices for our children. The first is allowing our bodies to be a nest for perfect nourishment and security. Our children change us forever- mentally, emotionally, and physically. I think it will get easier once you have your precious baby in your arms. Please update after your delivery! Good luck. Thank you for your bravery in sharing.
The third pic is god damn GORGEOUS! I couldn’t stop staring at it :) Congratulations on being such a stunning Mum-to-be :)
You have my exact story… I too am African American,was 19 yrs old (just turned 20 when you posted this), 36 weeks prego, and just married my soldier and baby’s father 2 mo. ago. I have all your complaints bodywise and fears relationship wise. Just like you, I woke up one morning about 7 mos in and seen the marks begin. I weighed 122 (and never more before) when i first started now.. 146. I was always smaller than everyone in my fam almost too small so I thought pregnancy would be no “biggie”. My husbands deployed, prolly wont be home in time to see his firstborn, and says my marks and lbs gain (which pics i send him cant even begin to justify) are “beautiful”. It’s depressing and very emotional, but you’re def. not alone and I hope our beautiful baby boys;), ultimately, more than make up for all of it.. actually im sure of it:) Keep your head high and love yourself more than anyone else can or will.
omg i luv ur prego belly.. mine looked just like that,, ur so beautiful… how much did ur baby weigh? mine was 10 pds 9 oz
you are so beautiful…you have many reasons to be so proud of you… having a baby it’s a miracle… and the marks our body may have does not change us… we are even greater because we generated life…what’s more beautiful and sexy in a woman than to have given birth? our sons and daughters are the best in our lives… what an empty life would be to not have them…
If you could see you as i see… i usually don’t comment posts… but you are so pretty… so lovely… look at you and see the beautiful woman and mama that you are… some marks does not define who we are… we are a all… and we are unique… be kind to you…
Somehow when a man is in love he really does love his pregnant woman. Mine talks plenty of smack about pregnant women except for me. He’ll even point out others and tell me how nicely shaped I am in comparison. He’s a soldier as well and seems sometimes overly excited that we’re going to be meeting our baby soon! He also tells me how beautiful he believes ill be after and that all the guys will want me.
I know how it is when they’re gone and you rarely see them, I had so many body issues then, but they mean it more than you can imagine.
I want to thank everyone for their wonderful words of encoragement my son is now a month, he weighted 8 lbs 11oz and i am absoultly in love hes beautiful*i will post pics of him and my pp body, i still have some issues about my new “mommi” body but i have my partners support Thanks again