Author: Bonnie (SOAM)

7 Days pp after 1lb 13 oz micro preemie @ 26 5/7 weeks (Ashley)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Child Loss, First Pregnancy, NICU, Piercing, Postpartum, Preemie, Submissions, Tattoo 14 Comments

These are the pictures taken tonight, exactly one week after the birth of my first, Gunner Isaiah @ 26 weeks and 5 days. He was a micro-preemie and weighed 1 lb 13 oz and was 13.25 in. long. I had a normal pregnancy right up until I went into labor. I was thick before pregnancy and gained 10 lbs total. You can see in the pics that my navel piercing scar stretched a great deal. My unfinished tattoo on my ribs was not affected at all. Pumping so that I can eventually breastfeed has started to cause stretchmarks on my breasts, but other than that they look AMAZING! I am loving how big they are right now. :) The old stretchmarks I had on my hips and thighs had just started to extend, but it’s barely noticeable in the pictures. In a lot of ways I envy the moms who have stretchmarks to show. Since my son is in the NICU, the only physical indications that I even HAVE a baby are the hospital bracelets I refuse to take off. I would have rather had my whole lower body covered in stretch marks than have my son so early.





TV Documentary! (Do you live in San Diego?)

Bonnie (SOAM) Activism, In the Media, Old News 3 Comments

I have spoken on the phone and in e-mail with two women, including Alex, the director, about this project. Here is a message Alex has written that she would like me to share with you:

Hi there,

I’m writing from a TV production company in the UK regarding a documentary we’re making about pregnancy and body image for ITV1 (one of the leading networks here). The program will be looking at the pressure on women today to stay slim both during and after pregnancy.

We’ve been really inspired by the positive message The Shape of a Mother is sending out. It’s so refreshing to find a website where women can share their stories, support each other and realize that they can still love their bodies despite the changes they have been through.

In our documentary we’re keen to represent a wide-range of women – from those who have overcome their insecurities to those who are still struggling with them. The SOAM creator, Bonnie, has kindly agreed to take part in our program and now we are hoping to find more women from this website who would potentially be interested in doing some filming with us. Ideally, we’d like to film a group of women from SOAM having an informal group chat about the website and how they feel about their bodies.

The filming will be taking place in San Diego in January, so if you’re local to the area we would love to hear from you. What have you gained from SOAM? Have you learned to love your stretch marks or are you still on a journey to accept your body?

Please only get in touch if you live in (or can travel to) San Diego for the filming. Unfortunately we cannot cover travel expenses.

You can reach me at alex.berk@rdftelevision.com or on 011 44 207 013 4282

Kind regards,

Alex

21 Years Old and Almost 11 Months Postpartum (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions 8 Comments

Me & my husband decided to try for our 1st baby in January of 2007. 3 months later, I was pregnant. Although we were young, we both wanted to start a family soon after were married. Our son was born on December 6, 2007. I loved every minute of the pregnancy. After he was born, I realized how different my body looked than pre pregnancy. I had strech marks everywhere & my once tight tummy was saggy & ugly. I guess thats expected after gaining 62lbs in only 9 months. Ive been dieting & exercising daily. My son is almost 11 months old & im finally ok with my body. Ive finally come to accept it, strech marks & all. Im still working at it, but it will come with time. Ive read the stories on here & thought…Ill never be brave enough or confident enough to post my pictures, but guess what, i am! Here’s some pregnancy pics at 37 weeks, My PP pics & a pic of my beautiful baby boy.








First time mother to a beautiful blessing (Anonymous)

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

Hi Everyone! First of all I would like to say this website is sucha beautiful and motivational site. Its wonderful to know I am not the only one who hates their body after pregnancy.

I am a 23 year old mother to a healthy 7 month old baby boy. Before I gotten pregnant i dieted and exercise everyday which lead me to lose 37 pounds. 155-160 pounds was my weight before i gotten pregnant..5 months later and 188 pounds I found out I was pregnant. Throughout my pregnancy I gained alot of weight by the time I was ready to be induced I weigh 247. During that time I could care less if I gained a pound or 5 pounds I was too buzy making sure my baby will be healthy. Sure enough he weigh 7 pounds 4 oz..and 23 inches long. 17 hours of labor but it was worth all the pain and hardship.

I breastfed my son til he was 6 months old.. I was hoping breastfeeding will lose all the weight i gained but the last 22 pounds needed extra help.It is now 7 months and I weigh 205. ABout two weeks ago I started working out 5 days a week 30-1 hr and a half and watch what i ate in moderation. I was able to finally lose the 6 pounds I was hoping to melt while breastfeeding. Im starting to feel great again becAUSe im working out and because my hubby started to notice my weight loss. I know i have a long way to go but with hard work I can do it. I am 17 pounds away to my prepregnancy weight.

I now have stretch marks everywhere..my boobs,,my stomach my lower back. I feel embarassed but reading this site made me feel better because Im not the only one who has it. =)

I wish everyone the best of luck.




Hurray! (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions 11 Comments

Hurray for Stretchmarks!

I’ve always loved stretch marks on other people, they are so silvery and intricate and pretty. And I didn’t have any myself. But then I had a beautiful baby girl, six months ago, and now I have them all over my lower belly, and I love them. And I love the new texture my belly has, it’s so very soft and delicate-feeling.

Thank you, everyone, for your amazing pictures.




It’s nice to not be ashamed of my body (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions, Third Pregnancy 5 Comments

I have had three children, and each time, my body has changed. Most of my stretch marks came with my first and as I had my other two children, I noticed my belly getting saggier and resembling something like a bowlful of jelly. My breasts have gone from DD to F and back again three times, and definitely show the wear and tear of breastfeeding three children.

I am now a single mother, and have found myself wondering who in their right mind would find me attractive? I have gained much weight and my belly sags so much that it overlays the top of my pubic hair. I suppose I have to hope that someone will see me the way other mothers view the female form. I am not the most stunning person in the room, but my body has served its intended purpose. I have nourished, grown, and borne three healthy, amazing children and maybe some day a man will see my body for the life it has given and not for the flaws it has- and even perhaps, he will love me in spite or because of it.

I think your site is amazing and I wish that everyone would see that my scars, stretchmarks, and saggy skin are simply products of the long journey my body has endured.




Twins – The Aftermath – Update (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Breasts, Submissions, Twins, Update 13 Comments

Original entry here.

Hi, I wrote my thoughts and feeling back in May 2008 in my original posting “Twins- The Aftermath”. Almost 6 months later, I have tried to loose weight. I Finally compared the pictures and I can see a difference in which makes me PROUD! i have never been proud of my weightloss. THANK you for all you wonderful thoughts and comments. I have grown to ACCEPT my body. My goal is is to save enough money to get a tummy tuck once i have my last child ( i am planning to have one more, but not so sure). I have notice the weight loss but my skin is really sagging,and very flappy. Thank you for the support!



Mum to 3 boys and a girl on the way (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Breasts, Four or More Pregnancies, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions, Teen Mom, Update 8 Comments

I’ve been a mum since I was 19. I’m only 5’4″ and I’ve never been thin, always struggled with my weight and body image. With my 1st pregnancy I gained over 45lbs. 19 months later I had my 2nd son at home after gaining over 55lbs. I went from a size 10 before babies to a size 16 after two. It took a divorce and 3 years to lose 55lbs and I was back into a size 10. Six years after my 2nd I had my 3rd son. I only gained around 35lbs that time, and after he was born I lost all the baby weight and more after about a year, getting down to a size 6 or 130lbs. Here I am now pregnant with my 1st girl! I’m only 30 weeks and already gained 30lbs. Dr. said I’m on track to gain around 40lbs but he’s not worried about it so I’m trying not to worry. All my stretch marks came from my 1st two pregnancies. You can see they have darkened up during this pregnancy but I’m sure they’ll fade again. I’m not worried about losing weight again, I’ll be breastfeeding and with good diet and exercise I know the weight will go. I do hate to think about the sagging I’ll get. After 3 my belly was just a saggy jelly roll so after 4 who knows what will happen. I am so blessed to have had 3 healthy boys and a healthy pregnancy this 4th time, I’ll happily take the saggy stretch marked belly in return! Thank you for putting this site together, after reading the posts and seeing the pictures here I feel happier than ever to have this body!










Updated here.

Young Mom! (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Breasts, First Pregnancy, Hips, Legs, Postpartum, Submissions, Teen Mom 9 Comments

Hi! This is my story: I got pregnant when I was 17 and 99 pounds, 5 days before having the baby I was 132 pounds and I was only 38 weeks, imagine at week 40!! My son is 2 years and 8 months old. Now my weight is about 103 pounds. I hate my stretch marks! I don’t like wearing a bikini. I have them on my breasts and my butt. I have saggy breasts and belly. I’m only 20! Sometimes I feel sad about it… My hubby doesn’t care! He thinks I’m beautiful, he loves my body… Good for him! I wish I had more confidence to show my body… I don’t like it. It’s so nice to see that I’m not alone! A lot of women are going through this!