Author: Bonnie (SOAM)

Beauty is Skin-Deep (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions, Teen Mom 3 Comments

i wanted 2 start off by sayen this website is such an inspiration 2 mothers like me who are having trouble dealing with there body’s. i had my daughter at 17 years old her name is saiyuri and she is my jelly and im da peanut butter. she is gods gift to me. i struggled alot in life and i neva had a reason 2 live or b happy until she came into my life. all these women on this site are beautiful. us women are creaters of life and time.i had so many issues wit bein 17 and having my mommy marks. i was so sad i couldnt believe i wouldnt be able 2 wear a bikini or belly shirts. i was so deppressed i hated myself. i have issues wit my husband looking at me i feel like dying rather then having him stare. he thinks my stretch marks are beautiful and he wouldnt change anything, but i felt different. i have gained a lil weight which i just started a diet. i have always been thin so if i gain 5lbs u can notice it. im starting 2 get over my mommy marks. there is no greater thing than 2 feel life moving inside of u and then having ur child in which u protected and felt grow in ur arms. i realize that u are ur own worst enemy. u must love urself in order 2 love anyone else. i love myself and i love the skin god put me in because i am me unique in every way jus like every mother in the world.



Where is the time machine? (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Hips, Postpartum, Submissions, Update 12 Comments

I’m 26-years-old. My son was born about two weeks before my 25th birthday. My pregnancy was not planned and I spent the entire pregnancy trying to come to grips with being a mother (which I haven’t quite done yet).

My birth was a 43-hour-long, unmedicated journey aided by my mother and husband and a hospital midwife. Afterward I hemorraged and nearly died. From there on, my physical condition was continually miserable for at least three months straight (back went out and I was unable to walk–had to crawl around my house, taking care of my son by myself while my husband was at work at least 12 hours a day–living overseas in a city where I do not speak the local language and have no transportation other than public transport to depend on). I also had horrible post-partum depression. Breastfeeding was miserable and brought pain, itching and infection which no western or holistic treatments seemed to cure (and I tried EVERYTHING!)–I just endured it for five months until my son refused to breastfeed anymore. This is basically the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my experience with pregnancy, childbirth and the aftermath.

So, when I look at the stretch marks on my body and all the extra weight I have tried and tried to lose and seem to be unable to, it isn’t sweet memories I’m thinking of.

Others have told me to just focus on my son and how great everything is to be a mother (which is kind of a fairytale notion too in my opinion–as for me motherhood is hard work, lots of sacrifice and a tiny bit of reward thrown in). They dismiss my sadness and hatred of my body as pure vanity. I disagree. I don’t show in the photo here, but my breasts went from a B cup to a DD and now are a D cup. Some ladies might wish for this–I can’t stand them! I never wanted large breasts. My husband doesn’t even like large breasts–he thinks they are weird and scary. They droop and drag and have just as many stretch marks on them as my belly does–my nipples point south–like the funny cartoon of the old lady who has to lift her skirt to flash you her breasts. I never am without a bra–I now sleep in one and wear one 24-hours/day just because it is uncomfortable to wake up with my boob under my ear or somewhere it wasn’t meant to go.

Anyway, so I wonder where the time machine is that can take me back to pre-baby so I can have a “do over.” If you find it, please notify me immediately.




Updated here.

A Quote from My Dad (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) No Photos (Story Only) 8 Comments

Last night we were contemplating my navel–now an outie! and my dad said the following: Mom’s belly didn’t go back down, it has all these burbley folds and rumples, and her breasts are stretched, too. Every time I look at her, I think–5 babies!! This woman gave me FIVE BABIES! And every time I see her, I am touched and filled with love.

I found that quote so beautiful, how he finds all her baby-ness a source of inspiration and love.

Triplet Mom carries to full term for triplets 36 weeks and get 6″ of muscle separation (Triplet Mom)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Cosmetic and/or Reconstructive Surgery, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions, Triplets 51 Comments

I am a 22 year old mom of triplets (also non-IVF) I had been married only 2 months when we found out we were expecting. After two ultrasounds of one baby–triplets! I carried them to full term for triplets–36 weeks– and gained 80 lbs. I went from a size 6 to 230lbs on delivery day. After 3 months I was back in my size 6 jeans so I think a lot must have been swelling. Healthy babied did come with a heavy price tag on my body. My abdominals split 6″ apart leaving me at dangerous risk of a hernia. I had to have them sewn back together and got 5lbs of skin cut off as well. I hated my saggy skin every day especially being so young so surgery was not only medically the way to go for me but self esteem wise. Here is my pictures of pregnancy, post partum, surgery and post surgery. Enjoy! I’m baring it all for you. Hope this touches someone like all the other posts have touched me.


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Surgery Photos can be seen here and here.

11 Months Postpartum and Very Happy With My Body (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Breastfeeding, Breasts, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions 13 Comments

I had my first baby, a little girl, at 21 years old. I had a really great pregnancy, I gained about 35 pounds and didn’t get any stretch marks on my belly, I have a few now on my boobs, but they are white and don’t bother me very much. I loved being pregnant and I would do it again in a heartbeat if we could afford it. I had a really beautiful and peaceful birth at a birthing center after only 7 hours of labor with the help of my supportive husband. I feel so proud of what my body has done, and so lucky to have given birth naturally to my beautifully baby girl, who I am still breastfeeding and loving every minute of it! I remember taking a bath at home the morning after having my baby and looking down at my body and having this amazing feeling, I felt so beautiful. I have never felt that wonderful about my body. And lets be honest, I had just had a baby so we all know I didn’t look that great. But I felt it, I felt a feeling of self acceptance, that I had never had before. I don’t know if all women go through that after giving birth but it was life changing for me, the times that i have felt the happiest and the best about myself have had nothing to do with my outer layer. Now I love my mom body, I do wish my boobs were a little more perky and didn’t have stretch marks but they been through 11 months of nursing so far so I’d like t think they are holding up just fine. These are pictures of me at 38 weeks pregnant, 40 weeks pregnant, 7 months pp, 7 months pp nursing, and 3 of me at 11 months pp.









10+ Years Later (V)

Bonnie (SOAM) 5+ Years Postpartum, Belly, Breasts, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions, Teen Mom 9 Comments

I am 28 years old, and had my child when I was 17. When I got pregnant I was 5’6″ and 101 lbs. and barely an A cup. I was never happy with my weight and wanted to weigh more, and wished my breasts were bigger.

Well, I got my wish! I had a beautiful baby boy 3 months before my 18th birthday. And at my heaviest pregnant I was 139 lbs. I had stretch marks on my belly, breasts, thighs, upper arms, everywhere it felt like. They were very deep purple. Those have all gone away or turned into silvery lines, as you see in the pictures. I quickly lost weight, and was back down to 115 easily. But I did not want to be that small.

I’m now 135 lbs and I’m very happy with my body except for my saggy breasts. They hurt my shoulders, I can’t fit in anything sexy, I can barely find a functional bra. I really have a love hate relationship with them. My husband loves me how I am. And they fed my son and will feed future children (we’re trying again now to have another baby).

Part of me wants a breast reduction so badly. But I would never ever do that, unless I start to have bad medical problems. I’m just not that concerned about my looks to have a surgery. It’s not worth the risks.

The pictures are of me now at 28 years old. 10 years 7 months post-partum.







2nd Time Around (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Cesarean, Postpartum, Second Pregnancy, Submissions 13 Comments

My story is 2nd c section was a uk size 10 never had to diet or exercise before even after my first son was born. This time coming to terms with my shape is troubling me its not the weight issue its the shape my tummy has become. 15 months i thought my shape would be alot better. Its not although excersise and crunches done on a reg basis still not gettin there. I still look 5 mnths preg. Appreciate some comment here and if i am not the only one out there with such a pushed out abdomen. Thanks





Mother Trying to Learn to Accept Her New Body (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Breasts, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions, Teen Mom 10 Comments

I’m a 19 year old mother to a 5 month old daughter. As a young mum I feel as though I never truely got to enjoy my teenage body. Before I became pregnant I would nit pick at the smallest imperfections of my body and never really appreciated how good it was. 5 months post partum and I am still not used to my ‘new’ body, and don’t know if I ever will be. I stuggle daily with the stretchmarks that seem to be everywhere, the wide hips, the wrinkly belly and the saggy breasts. I’m hoping that posting these pictures will help me to accept my body, as the other courageous mothers who post on this site do. =]