I am a 25 year old mother of two. My son is 3 and my daughter is 1. Prior to the birth of my son I weighed 115 pounds. I had it in my head that my belly would grow into a perfect basketball shape and that right after birth my tummy would flatten back out. Haha…I was rudely awakened. My 115 pounds eventually grew into 215 pounds by my 9th month of pregnancy. My body had changed in ways I had never imagined. My face, finger & toes, my back, my breasts…Stretch marks covered my body. Legs, arms, belly… My 9 pound 5 ounce baby boy was born via emergency c-section. I had a very hard time accepting my “new” body. It took me about 2 years after the birth of my son to be able to look at myself naked or to touch my scar. I had only lost about 25 pounds by the time I was pregnant with our daughter. I went into this pregnancy overweight. I had no idea what my body would do this time…Our 9 pound 15 ounce daughter was welcomed into the world via c-section. My body didn’t change too much that time. My breasts now hang even lower, as does my belly. I have now come to accept my loose skin, scars and marks. I would not trade them for anything. For without them, I would not be a mommy to the loves of my life….
-Anonymous
Wow. Zebra Belly–that is a cute name for stretchy marks. I think I may have to take some pics of my war scars from my three children to share. It is so nice to know we women are all the same when it comes to childbirth. It’s hard, but it’s a gift too. I wouldn’t want to be male, and never get to experience it.Maybe God does love women more.
OMG! You posted my picture!
I had to do a double take when I read this entry. This looks very much like my belly. I love this site. :)
Your belly looks JUST like my belly! Like the pp said, I had to do a double take! It is so reassuring to see that I am not the only one with a tummy like this. I do plan to share my belly also, as soon as I can get some pics taken. Thank you so much for sharing your story and pictures. You (and everyone else here) have helped me so much with my self-esteem issues. It’s nice to see ‘real’ bellies for a change!Aprilmom to 4 boys
I also had to do a double take. That is me 100%.
Okay, looks like me, too!I’m glad to have the company… and my 3 boys…
Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your pics. This is exactly what my belly looks like. I really needed to know that I wasn’t alone. THANK YOU.
Wow. I thought I was looking in a mirror. I was looking everywhere for a bellypic simaler to mine, and yours is it.
Like all the others were saying…Your me!Thanks for sharing. I have a love hate witht his body but I’ can’t change it or the fact that I have 2 wonderful kids.Thanks
Thanks for sharing your belly. I was beginning to think I was the only one with a belly like this! Mom to 3 beautiful little girls
Yup..i agree with all the other ladies..that is me. It has been almost 5 years since i have had my son…i am still trying to get used to it..i dont enjoy looking at myself naked..You have brought a bit of hope to me..its nice to know im not the only one out there..wish i would have found this site years ago
After six years since birth, my belly is just like yours. I also dont enjoy looking at myself naked:( I am planning to have a surgery since I believe there is no other way to have a belly not touching on my genital!
I have to agree with the above posts (you’re VERY popular) THAT’s MY BELLY!! Same silvery stripes too :o) Mom of 3 girls (17, 14 & 9)
wow! My belly looks JUST like that!! You truely are beautiful mama… it REALLY helps to say both things. You look like me, and you’re beautiful. :)
I forgot to mention that I am 27, and have 4 children. I by csection ;)
if i didnt know any better i would say those were my pics! i am 25 and have 3 kids and thats exactly what my belly looks like.. i just want to thank you for letting me know that i am am not alone!.. i look at me belly and want to cry at times because i dont know anyone whos belly looks like mine.. but you have shown me that i am not alone.. thank you very much!
I respect and admire your maturity and your appreciation for what is a natural part of life for a woman. It’s too bad so many women find it so difficult to deal with. Society/media sure makes that a monumental task.
Thank you for posting this.