Author: Bonnie (SOAM)

I was 28 years old when I had my first and only child. I think this site is a great thing, because it is promoting a healthy body image for those of us who have had children! During my pregnancy, I had gestational diabetes, irregular heart rhythm, pre-eclampsia, among other smaller complications. I was on bed rest for four months, and gained a total of 76 pounds, the last 13 pounds of it in fluid! I was swelled from my neck down by the time I had an emergency c-section at 36 weeks. After recovering from c-section, I became very disheartened at my body’s appearance. I have fair skin to begin with, and I had a lot of stretch marks. On top of that, and having the customary pooch, I had a lower than normal c-section cut, which just made the pooch flop right over it.

I’m including pictures of myself at 6 months pregnant, shortly after delivery holding my daughter (you can see how HUGE and swelled I was in this picture!), my body about 3 weeks post-delivery, my body at 5 months post-partum, and my current body at 10 months post-partum. Also, another picture of me and my daughter at about 4 weeks, and a picture of her at Christmas time. The pictures are not of the greatest quality, because most were taken with a phone camera to track my body and its progress. But, I think the important thing with this site is that we can be healthy, in shape, and look great as mothers! I am proud of my body, and even though it will never be the same as it was before pregnancy, I don’t miss the old one. This one gave life, and how amazing is that? It doesn’t get any better.

I’m 23 and I have had 2 kids in 2 years. My breast are the breasts of a 50 year old grandmother with 5 children and my belly looks like the moon. I’m not proud of how my body looks but luckily looks aren’t everything.What a human body goes through during a pregnancy and birth is incredible and every women should be proud that her body is so strong. I want for every women to feel beautiful because all women are!

i was so sad after i had my daughter. i found a pair of pants that i wore before i got pregnant and wanted to cry.. i compared them to the pants now and it was sad.

I am a first time mother at 34. I’ve been looking at the entries on this blog since before I became pregnant. It has definitely helped me get a realistic sense of the changes that occur during and after pregnancy. My biggest surprise was the change in my nipples. Pre-pregnancy I had small, almost flat nipples. I was afraid that I would have trouble breastfeeding. I should not have worried. During pregnancy, not only did my breasts grow about 2 cup sizes, I also grew big “outie” nipples. My son has no trouble latching on. I had a relatively easy pregnancy. I thought that I was going to get through it without stretch marks, but around week 38 they started to show up. I was induced 11 days after my due date when I started leaking amniotic fluid, and gave birth 14 hours later. I gained 30 pounds and immediately lost 23. I’m now 11 weeks post partum, breastfeeding and slowly getting back to my pre-baby weight – if not shape. The pictures are at 6 weeks, 40 weeks, 11 weeks post partum, and my little boy nursing.

I am 18 years old.And 39 weeks pregnant now. Engaged to the most amazing guy i’ve ever known. And we are having a little boy, Dakota. I was 123 lbs and 5’8 b4 i found out i was pregnant. Now at 39 weeks, i am 180 lbs. I have stretch marks on my belly, thighs and butt. I feel so gross. Wondering what my belly will look like after my son is born. What will happen to all that stretched skin…where will it go. Though i do like the big boobs. hehe. And i am truly excited about being a mommy. I know all the sleepless nights and dirty diaper will be totaly worth it. And i know the first time i see my son, it will melt my heart. I am preparing myself for the pospartum body though. I am a very insecure person as it it…now i have fat and flabby belly to worry about. But i guess, like many other others out there. I will learn to love my body again. So wish me luck, he’s due any day now!

This is my first pregnancy; I am 17yrs old. I am only 5’0″ and weighed 118lbs before pregnancy. Now I am 134lbs and 5 months pregnant.

I have two daughters ages 3 and 1 year and I have stretch marks all over my body from them. My first daughter was 8 lbs. 8oz and my second was 9 1/2 lbs. It’s really amazing what my body did and I am proud of every stretch mark. I love my girls and if that is what it took for them to be here then so be it. Thank for for making this website. Now I can see that I am not alone and that we are all beautiful in our own way.

I’ve always been self conscious about my body, even during adolescence and high school when I was in tip-top shape and looked great. With college came weight gain. I’d always had small breasts. A cup/sometimes a small B. I gained 50 pounds during college with lack of exercise and drinking a lot of beer and eating a lot of fast food. I still wasn’t fat, but definitely not comfortable in my body. One nice change were my breasts, which went up to a C cup. Now I am pregnant and 240 pounds, and my breasts are a D cup. They are still perky and nice. If it weren’t for my breasts, I would probably be very very very insecure about my body. Thank GOD I found a man who appreciates the NATURAL female body. Here I sit, 9 months pregnant and covered from boob to knee in stretch marks, and my boyfriend still thinks my body is beautiful. He is what keeps me happy about myself and assures me that my body is hot and sexy, ESPECIALLY with his baby inside of it. I have a few pics to share.