20 yrs old
1 pregnancy/birth
7 months post-partum
I started my pregnancy at 160lbs. im 5’8″ so it was an average size, i wore a size 9. i didn’t gain any weight until i was 20 weeks pregnant. then i ballooned up to 215 when i gave birth. i gave birth at 35 weeks because my fluid was low but i ended up having an 8lbs 11oz 20.5 inch baby boy. i got cursed with all these stretchmarks all over my body, my stomach and boobs which are normal spots but i got them behind my knees under my armpits just the most random places. my boobs took a huge hit, i went from a 34B to a 42DD when i was nursing, now they are ok just a lil bit saggy but im at a 38C. my weight still hovers around 190 and i’m a size 12-14 i haven’t exercised at all because i guess i just think whats the use when im not going to be able to show off my body ever again, its really discouraging. my hubs loves my body and tells me i’m beautiful. i’m hoping i get the courage to just accept my body for the way it is and i know i got a huge blessing with my son, hes the light in my life and i love him so much.
Oh hun i know how it is! True the stretchmarks will never fully go away but they do start to fade. And exercising will make you feel better. I have seen more then one woman with an stretchmarks in a bikini! Even if its a Tankini or a one piece. You can still show off your body. I am getting there and hoping by summer I will be able to wear at least a swinsuit and feel confident. You are only 7 months into it.
Start by just walking everyday and then move up. As you see a change in how your body is you will feel more confident.
Also vitamin E oil does help the stretch marks some (nothing will ever completely take them away but this DOES help) I have stretchmarks from my ribs down, on my arms and arm pits and down my legs. But they ARE fading (I am 20 months PP)
You can do it and honey YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!
I think you look beautiful. I have pictures from 6 months postpartum and 1 year postpartum and the difference is night and day for the visibility of my stretchmarks. I can still see them of course but the appearance has lessened dramatically. I am presently almost 4 years postpartum and there are only two or three small spaces where my stretchmarks are very noticeable.
Your hubby thinks you’re beautiful, sometimes it takes awhile for you to feel the same. Keep in mind that sometimes half the battle is pretending at first until you can believe it as well.
Best wishes!
Ok let me tell you something. I have stretchmarks everywhere you have em and thensome. If you feel youre overweight, work out and the skin will shrink to fit your new body and the stretchmarks will shrink and fade. Dont wait too long or the stretchmarks will heal to the size of your body now. Also, use a cream called “striae” that works for stretchmarks that already exist. People can barely see mine and I even get compliments in bikinis. If you are fit and confident, nobody will notice. Also, self tanners help to disguise any stubborn ones. I hope this helps motivate you to love your body and get fit and healthy for you and your baby. Best of luck! PS: you dont look like the weight you say you are, you look awesome and your stomach is super flat!
You really look fantastic. I think you have a beautiful shape and you have such a flat belly. I think women can be much harder on themselves and their bodies than men are on us. Congrats on the new baby!!! 7 months postpartum is nothing. Your body is still healing and look how far you have already come!
I started my first pregnancy at the same weight and height..and ended it at about 215 also. I remember feeling like I would never lose the weight because I was very busy, breastfeeding and didn’t have time to exercise. But by about 9 months PP I lost all the weight just from being busy, continuing to breastfeed and trying to watch what I ate a bit. It will come off and you will be amazed after a year or two how much your body recovers. I had a bikini on at 2.5 PP. Now I am 31 weeks pregnant with my second child and gaining about the same amount of weight. So I expect it will take another 6-9 months to lose this weight–but the wonderful children are worth it!
you have beautiful hips!!! if you lose weight too quickly, you will end up with a flabby “pooch” belly. this is what happened to me. i’m 5’9″ 145 lbs. now and a size 7-8. but at the delivery of my third child, i was 250 lbs!!! i felt sexiest when i was a size 10. i’m considering gaining that weight back b/c the stretch marks weren’t that noticeable then and my husband loved my curves. believe what your husband tells you- seriously!! men love how babies make women’s bodies change. they love the wider hips!!! and it’s true- you do have a flat stomach!!
I feel you’re pain. I am also 5’8 and 160 (22 months pp; 2 kids). I’m 24. I gained 42 lbs with my first and got lots of stretchmarks- all the same places as you. It was really hard to accept but I’ve never liked to show off my legs and I don’t feel comfortable showing my belly anymore now that I’m a mom so that’s not an issue either. There’s really no secret to feeling better about our stretch marks. It just takes time and a little love and compassion toward the body that brought you your child. Just like us, our bodies are not perfect.
You can gain some control by changing the things that are change-able (like weight or acne or hair, etc). This way you won’t feel like you have no control or that you can’t improve things about the way that you look at all. As a mom who got SO many stretch marks everywhere (more than you, btw), I can tell you that they do fade. I hated mine but now they’re just another part of me.
I hope you start hearing your husband when he tells you that you’re beautiful. Believe him.
I think you look great.
Hey twin!
I’m on the exact page as you!
Except you are WAY better off than I am!
I weighed 155 before I got pregnant, size 7/9
&&after, I am now 186, &&a stupid size 15
(5′ 8″ as well)
I HAVE dieted, AND exercised, and my weight just isn’t budging, ( i went from 196 to 186)
The other posters are 100 percent correct, you don’t look like you weigh that much at ALL, you have a beautiful body, &&your stretch marks are hardly noticeable.
Have a little faith in time, your husband, and most of all, yourself!
You look normal to me :) I got stretch marks behind the knees during puberty!! You look nicely porportioned.
But goolly, if you went to term, you would have had an 11pound baby!
If you don’t feel like exercising, just wear your baby on your back in a mei tai or wrap (or on your front too, if he’s smaller than 22lbs) and get living life. Wear him for 30-60 minutes a day, go up and down the stairs a few times, do some squats, etc and you’ll be surprised at what a workout you can get while not exercising! Just maintain good posture with abs tucked in. I miss it soo much (you can do this up to about 35-40lbs!).
Hi there! We have very similar stories you and I, and similar strechmarks although I think I have a few more than you do. I have long battled with accepting and loving myself because of my strechies…But have found that excersice and dieting do help tremendously (with self-esteem more than anything)I figure if my body is gonna be plagued with stretchmarks-something I have no control of anyhow, I’m gonna give my best effort to do what I can to feel and look my best when I can. Even if I never have the courage to wear shorts or a bathing suit I can still be healthy.
By the way I think you look beautiful and your belly is nice and flat and the stretchmarks do fade a bit over time. Plus you have the love of your hubby and son and in the end that’s all that really counts!
You should check out my post titled:
Destination: Self Acceptance
i have been waiting for you for ages on here, you are my body double,(except my belly is abit more deflated) I am the same height and weigh the same!!!! you look great, and just exercise for you, you will feel great and more confident….thank you sooooooo much for posting this
I understand the way you feel, but I wanted to let you know the first thing I noticed was your FLAT tummy! Stretchies fade before you know it. 7months PP is really no time at all in the scheme of things. I found the solarium faded mine coincidentally. All the best with your journey and congrats on your son :)