Author: Bonnie (SOAM)

Still Trying to Cope with My New Body (Becky)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Piercing, Postpartum, Submissions 29 Comments

I am a 20 year old stay at home mother of a 15 month old, and while my body has gone back to almost the same, it isn’t how it used to be. I get horribly depressed over the fact that my hips are now wider, and that I’m not the old me anymore. All my life growing up I was considered the small one, and everyone in my life really put an emphasis on my weight. When I found out I was pregnant June 07 (I found out late) I was at a weight of 107lbs 5’5. ( I now weigh 114lbs.) By the time I was due, I had gained 20 lbs, and I became even more depressed, but I just kept telling myself it was for the baby. When my son was born Dec 1st 07, I left the hospital wearing the same size jeans as before, but my skin was all flabby. :( Over a year later, its gotten better, but its not as tight as it used to be. I managed to get back into a bikini this past summer, but felt embarrassed and uncomfortable at the same time. My breasts have sagged, and have stretch marks covering them. I constantly wear a push up bra, but they still aren’t as perky as they were before. I cant really complain though, because my son was worth it, and I would gladly go through this all again for him. And even though my boyfriend likes my curves more now, then before, its still hard to look in the mirror and agree. Maybe someday I can be happy with my body again. Also as a prize to me for having my son, I got a navel piercing. I like it, but I think it emphasizes the loose skin I have in the middle of my stomach. :( -Becky





I’ve got “Twin Skin” and I’m Proud of it! (Kasondra)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Postpartum, Pregnant, Second Pregnancy, Submissions, Twins, Update 12 Comments

Previous entry here.

I posted back in July when I was blessed with the exciting news that I would be having twins. I had been bleeding and had to go in for an emergency ultrasound. We found out at that time that we were gonna be in for a wild ride. Surprisingly I only gained 35 pounds during the pregnancy (honestly was still 60 pounds heavier than before my 2 year old)….But my stomach was beyond huge. At 35 weeks pregnant my uterus measured 57 1/2 cm and could no longer hold the pressure of my babies. The twins were 5 weeks early weighing 7 1/4 and 5 1/2 pounds. I am now 5 weeks postpartum…And though I am yet another victim of the “twin skin dilemma”….I am beyond proud of the 3 beautiful children that thsi body has given to me….And I wear my stretchmarks proudly….As should all of you beautiful mommies….. The pictures below are of my belly at 32 weeks pregnant…. The 2 beautiful babies that came from that big o belly…. the proud big brother…. 8 days postpartum and 5 weeks postpartum.



Mom to Twin Boys (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Cesarean, Cesarean Scar and/or Incision, Complications in Pregnancy, First Pregnancy, HELLP Syndrome, Postpartum, PPD - Postpartum Depression, Preemie, Submissions, Twins 12 Comments

I’m so glad to have found this site. I have five month old beautiful twin boys. I had a very hard time with the pregnancy, and developed HELPP syndrome and delivered at 34 weeks, with a weight gain of 85 lbs! After suffering from post partum depression for the first three months, I finally sought the help I needed. I can’t tell you how much my life has changed. I feel under so much pressure from those around me to be back in my pre pregnancy clothes, but I’m still carrying 35 lbs.I am exercising and trying to eat right, which is really a part of who I was before pregnancy. It gives me great inspiration to hear others stories and struggles instead of focusing on the weight and stretch marks ect. Thanks!



7 Months Postpartum (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Before Pregnancy, Belly, Breasts, Butt, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions 6 Comments

I was very unhappy with my body before and rather depressed about it, i never thought i’d look any better and i didn’t like taking showers because i had to see myself naked. Now i am ok with my body i am eating right and working at getting closer to my old body though i know it will never be the same, i gained 44lbs while i was pregnant and have lost 31lbs now at 151lbs, i may never have my flat tummy back but if its stayed the way it is today i wouldn’t have a problem with that my little girl is worth all the mommy marks life could have thrown at me. Pics are pre pregnancy, 5 1/2 weeks PP, and me today.



PPD & Suicide

Bonnie (SOAM) PPD - Postpartum Depression, Suicide or suicidal thoughts 12 Comments

There is a lot of talk here about Postpartum Depression and depression can, in some cases, lead to suicidal thoughts. I want to say here that if you suffer from these thoughts – PLEASE get help now! You are worth it, your child is worth it. Your life CAN be happy again.

Here are some suicide hotlines you can call:
https://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
https://www.suicide.org/suicide-hotlines.html
You can also go straight to your closest ER and they will help you find help.

For more info on PPD, read this.

You are loved and needed.

Would those of you who have suffered, and healed (or are healing) post a message here for anyone in need of support?

21 Years Old, 38 Weeks Pregnant, 1st Baby Boy (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Before Pregnancy, Belly, Breasts, Butt, First Pregnancy, Pregnant, Submissions 28 Comments

I am 21 years old and pregnant with my first (unplanned) baby. A precious little boy, due any day now. I am currently 38 weeks along and still haven’t accepted the pregnant “mommy body” that everyone speaks so fondly of. I have had a healthy pregnancy and surprising still no stretch marks. (Believe me, I am not trying to brag.) I feel like a grease monkey some days at the amount of oils and lotions I apply to prevent them. I am worried that after he is born my body will never look the same again. I plan on breastfeeding, and have heard that can help get rid of baby pounds fast. My prepregnant weight was 130 at 5’7” and I am currently weighing 185. My husband isn’t that much more than me. I used to have such amazingly strong self confidence, and now its hard and sometimes impossible without tears to get undressed in front of my husband. I wonder how he sees my giant body as well, even though he says I am beautiful, it doesn’t seem to sink in. Last week I found myself wearing a pair of his sweatpants so I would be comfy. I cried harder than I ever have knowing how big I have gotten. Where did my self esteem go? How do I ever find that confidence again? Will I ever have an amazing body again? *Pictures are of prepregnant body (swimsuit last summer) and currently at 38 weeks.







32 1/2 Weeks Pregnant with Twins (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Child Loss, Four or More Pregnancies, Pregnant, Submissions, Tattoo, Twins 6 Comments

This is me last week, 32 and a half weeks pregnant with identical boys. This is my 6th pregnancy, we lost our first two, and I’ve carried 3 so far to term. These will be our fourth and fifth children. I’ve not had stretch marks before, and my belly pretty much went back to normal after the first two, and was just a bit less flat after my third. I’m afraid of what I’ll look like after this, but proud of my giant belly so far. I can’t wait to see how big is is in four more weeks, and to meet my boys!




16 Weeks Postpartum… Ugh! (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Breasts, First Pregnancy, Legs, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions, Tattoo 17 Comments

I love this site. Thank you all for your submissions! I come here all the time for encouragement and I thought it was time to submit my own pictures, so here goes nothing… The day I found out I was pregnant I weighed 129 pounds. At my last doctors appt (2 days before I went into labor) I weight in at 197! So I atleast weight 200 when I gave birth. I’m 4’11 so 200 lbs is a lot for any woman, but especially someone my height. I’m covered in stretchmarks from my just above my belly button down to my ankles. It’s disgusting. I had so many fluids pumped into me during labor (IVs and whatnot) that I was so swollen and all the stretchmarks you see on my legs and calves are from that. I didn’t have any there when I got to the hospital! I had stretchmarks before I got pregnant, but they were nothing compared to what I have now. Even my midwife would comment on how horrible they were when I’d go in for my appointments =) I know they will fade, but I’m not sure I will ever have the courage to wear shorts again, let alone a bathing suit! I was down to 170 lbs by 5 days postpartum. Today I weigh 165… I never expected all the weight to just fall off, but I seriously thought I would have lost more than 5 lbs in the last 3 1/2 months. I eat about half the amount of calories that I was eating while I was pregnant, and my weight will not bugde. Its extremely aggravating. And it really depresses me since everyone else I know that’s had babies recently were back to their prepregnacy sizes in a couple of weeks. I can only imagine what they must think of me. I hope that someday I will accept my body again. And I really hope that day comes soon!






4 babies by 22 has taken its toll on my body (Tanya)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Four or More Pregnancies, Postpartum, Submissions, Teen Mom 13 Comments

Hello, my name is Tanya and I am 25 years old.
Just before I turned 16 I got pregnant. I was 110 ponds when I started my pregnancy and was 185 pounds at week 36 when I was induced due to pre-eclampsia. I had been swollen throughout most of my pregnancy but my urine tests showed that I had no protein in my urine and my blood pressure was ok. But at week 36 my blood pressure was 150/100. I was told that the baby needed to come out because if I had a seizure due to the high blood pressure it could harm my baby. My son was born at 6:30pm..and in the middle of the night I had a full blown seizure anyways and woke up in the intensive care unit. Luckily my boyfriend was staying in the room on one of those pull out couches. I was discharged after 7 days. My son weighed 5lbs 13 ounces. and had to be in the incubator and was tube fed due to the fact that he had no sucking reflex and was jaundiced. When I left the hospital I had gone from 185 pounds to 160. I got married to the father of my son 10 months later and we went on to have 3 more children. My first at 16, second at 18, 3rd at 21 and fourth at 22. I now weigh 210 and am overweight as well as have ALOT of loose hanging skin on my stomach and my abdominal muscles are separated…I hope to have this repaired at some point but I think I need to lose some weight on my own first. My skin did not hang like this until I had # 3. I hope that maybe someone else has a stomach that is similar to mine so they don’t feel like they are the only one and so I don’t feel like I am the only one with a stomach like this either. My kids are now almost 9, almost 7, 4.5, and 3.5 years..They are the light of my life and I love motherhood.