18 Months Postpartum (Anonymous)
Author: Bonnie (SOAM)
Almost There (Mary)
Original entry here.
I am so excited to finally meet my second baby in a few weeks, I just cant stand it! I have my first submission on here and I know its only been a few weeks but I have new pictures! Over the last few months I have been measuring small so my due date has been progressivly moved back and back, but my ultrasound last week confirmed than the baby is measuring normal, in fact if he arrives on his projected due date he will be about 8-9lbs, what a relief! So here is my small belly, with normal baby at 36 weeks!
Updated here.
4.5 Months Postpartum (Anonymous)
I’m trying to give myself permission to enjoy this new time in my life without giving in too much to any self-loathing. I’ve had some problems with my body- image, especially when I was younger and now and then it pops it’s ugly head into my life again. I have a wonderful baby girl, the love of my life she is, and it’s natural that ones body shape changes as my life does. I have a couple of pounds left, and stretchmarks here and there…
2 Weeks Postpartum, Mother at 19 (Anonymous)
I had my first son two weeks ago, a week before my 19th birthday. I was so worried about what my body would be like postpartum because I took quite a bit of pride in my body before the pregnancy. Now I realize that it really doesn’t matter as much now that I’ve had my son, and I’m proud of what my body is capable of and of the beautiful healthy baby boy it created. I do have my moments of insecurity and I feel far less desirable than before, but I’m working on getting back into shape. My fiance assures me that I look great still, but of course I sometimes don’t believe him (I’m such a girl sometimes…) Attached are pictures of me before pregnancy, during, and after, and a couple of my son Raiden of course =)
A Miracle Baby and Learning to Accept My Body (Amber)
My name is Amber and I am 21, almost 22. I had a planned pregnancy after only one month of trying with my ex fiance. I had no idea my body was going to look the way that it does, but after reading the site and lurking, I see that I have a lot to be thankful for. Mothers are beautiful, only us women are capable of giving life and it still to this day amazes me, even after going through the process. Pregnancy was hard, broken rib near the end, no sleep, and little did I know I was really 3 weeks late (totally had the date off) and ended up giving a vaginal birth to a 9.5 pound baby. Had the worst postpartum healing with a 2nd degree tear.
I was only 120-125 pounds and 5’4. I used to think I was fat, and now looking back at my pictures.. I want to SMACK myself! I would give an arm and a leg to look like that again, but alas I don’t have that luxury.
With that said, 3 months breastfeeding and working out has done pretty well for me.
And I can’t complain, the birth was amazing. I was 5cm dilated (yup, first time mom) before I was even induced. In two hours I was 10cm dilated and ready to push :D 45 mins of pushing and Aiden was born at 332 pm on 8-20-08.
3 months later I was back down to 125. Yay! But still people apparently think I weigh more, I guess it’s the hips? And when I’m bloated I look like 16 weeks pregnant. My body and I have a love hate relationship. Right now it’s love, tomorrow most likely hate. My hips just need to return, if they will at all… I notice changes when I check every so often, but they still seem to be quite wide.
In the end, I have the most amazing baby boy I’ve ever seen and I am so in love with being a mommy. Even if there is no daddy.
Pics are as follows: Me pre preg, 3 of me 6 months post partum (as of feb 20th) and 2 of my son at almost 6 months.
Myspace: Myspace.com/ayame
Facebook: ayame87@gmail.com
AiM: x4N71554x
Feel free to contact me if you feel you want to be friends, or talk with another mommy. Or if you want to feel good about yourself etc. :)
8.5 Months into Motherhood (Anonymous)
I found out I was pregnant just days before my 18th birthday. A senior in high school, I was 5’7″, 125 lbs. and comfortable in my body. My now-husband was just starting his first year of college, 5 hours away. Despite his frequent visits, my pregnancy was a long and lonely one. I was able to finish all my credits before I reached my third trimester, but being a pregnant high schooler still wasn’t easy. I sank into a depression and found consolation in various fried and/or sugary foods. I lost count of the pounds gained after 70. My daughter arrived just two weeks before my graduation ceremony and three months later I married my high school sweetheart. I love my husband and I love my daughter. Everyday I thank God just because they’re a part of my life. However, I look at my body and feel almost ashamed. My belly is riddled with lines and wrinkles. My hips are far wider than they were, adding even more emphasis to my flat butt. My husband adamantly insists that I am still beautiful (bless his heart), but I find it hard to see myself in that way. The thought of ever wearing a bikini again slightly horrifies me. I wish I could refer to my scars as “honor badges”, but I look down and all I see is a discolored and creviced belly. I hope to someday come to terms with my new body. I don’t expect to be slinking around in a bikini ever, but I’d like to at least feel beautiful for my husband, because that’s what he deserves. Soooo….I am posting these pictures here so I can hopefully achieve that goal. P.S. I’d like to mention that I am totally in awe of the other women posting on this website. They are my heroes.
10 Weeks Postpartum (Anonymous)
I posted here at 8 weeks postpardum and added post baby pics, but the only pic that was added was my pregnant one.So heres my post baby body after gaining 65 lbs, and losing 20….Still at 195 and now 11 weeks postpardum. My goal is to get down to 150, my pre-pregnancy weight. This new body has been hard for me to except but I Love it for giving me the love of my life, My gorgeous daughter Faith. Thank you ladies for all your beautiful stories and pics, So wonderful to know Im not alone in this new body.
Postpartum Beauty (Anonymous)
From the time I was 13 years old, and experienced my first stretch mark on my suddenly grown breasts, I have been ashamed of my body. I was a chubby teenager who would hide my body under large sweatshirts and jeans even in the dead of summer so that no one could see my rolls and marks. My body was an obsession, I tried everything I could to change it. I was ridiculously insecure and eventually dieted down to a size 6 by my late teens. Needless to say when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter in Sept of 2007 I immediately began to worry how I would change, whether I would ever get my body “back”. My mother has never had a stretch mark in her life, not one during pregnancy and in her mid 50s somehow her breasts were perkier than mine were pre-pregnancy! It added fuel to my fire. All the insecurities of my teen years swelled up just as powerful as ever. I obsessed about the 50 pounds I gained, the stretch marks during the final weeks of pregnancy, my breasts becoming saggy and whether my husband would ever look at me the same way again. When my daughter was born in June of 2008, every pregnancy ache and pain became a distant memory. I realized I would have gained 90 pounds and had stretch marks on every inch of me if I had to in order to bring her into this world. My breasts are less perky, my stomach less tight, I have stretch marks that weren’t there before, and I still have 10 pounds to lose but I feel more beautiful today than before motherhood, happily my husband vehemently agrees. I grew her inside me and continue to nourish her with my body; it’s the greatest honor I have ever known. Well done all you gorgeous Mommys, you are truly incredible women. I am constantly moved by the pictures and submissions by the brave women on this site. Be confident in yourselves, you are more beautiful than you know.
First Baby and an Out of Body Experience (Anonymous)
This is me 5 months after my baby boy was born. I just do not look the same at all . My breast use to be perky and my stomach was less flabby before. Yet, at the end of the day when I look at my body I know its truly a blessing because I wouldn’t trade him for anything. He is so inspiring. Watching him grow every day is amazing. I love this site and how there are many other women out there that have been and are still going through the body changes. The shape of a mother is a beautiful thing and we need to embrace our new selves and no focus on what society tags as beautiful.
Anonymous
5’7″.
Size 3.
125 pounds.
16 years old.
That was then..
Size 11.
145 pounds.
17 years old.
This is now..
My life changed when the pregnancy tests [all 5 of them] came back positive. I was 16 years old, a junior in high school, an athlete. I loved my body.
People said I was too young to be a mother. I was told that I was a slut [even though I had only been with one guy.] I was told that I was just another typical teen mother who would make my mom raise my kid. According to them, I was selfish..
My daughter was born on January 12, 2009. She had to be delivered with forceps. I had an episiotomy, hemorrhaged, and lost so much blood that my doctor ordered one of the nurses to find out my blood type in case I was to need a transfusion. Thankfully, I didn’t.
My breasts, stomach, butt and thighs are no longer what they used to be. I have stretch marks on my breasts, butt, and thighs.
I gained 50 pounds. When I delivered, I weighed 175 pounds.
Breastfeeding has helped me to lose 30 pounds in three weeks. Now, I’m stuck at 145 pounds.
But you know what? Even though my stomach is much looser, my legs are much thicker, my boobs are much bigger, and I have stretch marks, I know I’m beautiful. I’m happy with my body.
My body is beautiful because I’m a mother. No one can take that away. So go ahead, call me fat – I don’t care. I’m happy and I’m beautiful, regardless of what people say….