This is a beautiful site, and I am so glad to have found it. I have been wrestling lately with the state of my body, but until I read some of these posts, I didn’t realize how much…
I seem only to know people who came through pregnancy with no stretch marks, no funky tissue-paper skin, and no extra weight.
I had a dreamy, picture-perfect pregnancy. I worked up until the week before our twins were born (by c-section after 24 hours of labour) in April of 2004. I gained exactly 50 lbs during pregnancy, and lost 60 when they were born.
After our babes were born, I noticed that the muscles in my stomach had separated down the middle, so I had a 2″ gap (that the extra skin would sag into when I lay down– wish I had a picture of that!!!) to go with the big pouch of skin that sill held the shape of two babies.
Since then, I have gained 25 lbs, mostly due to the amount of time I spend playing on the floor and reading book after book after book…or the fact that I generally forget to eat until 8 pm, when the kids go to sleep.
At any rate, these added roles of flesh are just not comfortable. While I don’t really notice the saggy belly, and the “mommy-body” doesn’t even register when I am home with my kids (except when my son sinks his chubby fingers into my bellyskin and giggles), I am not comfortable wearing anything other than stretchpants and loose shirts. I don’t recognize this body in work clothes or dress clothes, or in any capacity when I catch sight of myself in a store window or mirror. And there are moments when just that sight of myself makes me sad and uncomfortable, or feel that somehow I am less worthy of love than my skinny-mother-counterparts. And then there are those moments after when I kick myself, and thank the powers that be for the blessing that is my life.
This is just one more part of the journey– I want to enjoy it!
You look beautiful to me and attractive!Thank you for sharing!
Isn’t it amazing that the woman’s body can stretch and adapt to hold two precious new beings? Congrats and you look fabulous!
Thank you for the wonderfull pictures and story. I too had b/b twins 9 month ago and my story is almost the same as yours. I gained around 35 lbs and lost the weight soon after due to nursing. Here it is 9 months later and my tummy looks exactly like yours! I could have swore my tummy was more flat after right after I had the babies and now its more saggy and seems to have more flab. I weigh about the same as before the pregnancy but I think the flab has shifted to other parts of my body. My breasts are definetly less than what they used to be. My arms more flabby. But I am so greatfull for my babies and still can not believe they were both inside me. I am only 5’4, and carried them to 39 1/2 weeks. They weighed 7 11lbs and 6 12lbs.
My story is similar too! Its really amazing at the time watching your belly stretch, and when you don’t think it can stretch anymore it does! After though… well saggy, stretchhmarks and c section scars arn’t that great to look at. I also gained 50 pounds during my twin pregnancy, and lost it all right away as well. Its very nice to hear of other people who didn’t just “bounce back”
As a fellow mom to twins I have to say our bellies are remarkably alike :) I too lost a lot of the weight directly after but now, some 8 years later notice the creeping fat creeps to upper parts of my belly that used to be slim. Not fair stretched skin has a memory! My 3 kids are fantastic. Would not trade anything to have them all here healthy and safe. My belly did good :)
My tummy looks so like yours! After one baby I had thought that was the worst over then went on to have twins. I have been getting a bit sad about its state, 12 years after having twins and having put on weight as I have got older. I can still see where each twin was lying which is quite nice in a way.However, have taken up ballet and yoga and tummy looks great in one piece swim suit. Have come to the conclusion that good core stability and posture are the answer.I remember Christmas with the in-laws with a very overweight granny who had one child, one who had four, a very thin great aunt who had none and another rounder one with no children. They were all much the same shape but different sizes.
I think you look fantastic. It makes me sad to hear that you don’t feel comfortable in anything but baggy clothing. I think that you would look great in just about anything! I am working on feeling more comfortable in my new ‘mommy skin’. It’s coming. Slowly.
My pictures are up here too (purpleheather79)and look remarkably similar to yours! My twins definitely changed my body more than my singletons ever did. Well worth it though! I think you look great!
I think you look great, and I can’t believe you only put on 50lbs with twins. I went from 118lbs at 5’6 to 190lbs and I had a singleton! I would definately recomend not wearing the baggy clothes, I did that because I felt embaressed about my body too, but if anything the baggy clothes actually make us look bigger. I definately recomend well fitted clothes. I don’t wear tight, but fitted and I actually feel better in them then the baggies. And I agree with the others you would look great in anything.
Looks alot like my twin-skin….therefor, I say you look great. ^_^