Author: Bonnie (SOAM)

I’ve never felt more alive or full of purpose than when I’ve been pregnant. I think that because we waited 5 years after getting married to have kids—and then having a miscarriage first—I really treasured pregnancy and eagerly anticipated each phase of change. I loved the taut, end-of-pregnancy belly when every movement from inside could be seen. I still sometimes feel phantom kicks, and I wonder if that will ever go away. I hope not. I’ve never been svelte or petite, nor have I been obese, but I’ve also never been completely happy with my body. One thing that devastated me after having my first baby was when a friend asked me—2 days after giving birth—-how much weight I’d lost. It felt like I wasn’t even allowed to be soft and smushy and newly un-pregnant with babymoon joy. I had to get right back into the body-loathing state of mind. Being 30 when I had my first, and 35 when my 2nd was born felt like even more pressure. People would often tell me how hard it was to lose the baby weight when you’re “older”. Why do we women do that to each other? I’ve really never gotten back to my pre-preg size. I joke that I’m on the 3 year plan (my daughter just turned 2) I wish I could say that I’m completely ok with it, but I’m not. What I am happy about is how my outlook has changed from wanting to be a certain size/weight to wanting to be as healthy as I can and letting my body determine its ideal size. For me, that will never be a size 2 or 4. The side belly shot was taken about 6 hours before labor started with my daughter 2 years ago. The front shot is a day before having my son 6 years ago. The non-pg belly is me last week.

I posted for the first time 12 weeks postpartum. My son is now 13 months old and I am still settling in with this mama body. I have lost 40 lbs including baby and placenta, and am 20 above my prepreg weight. I still have fluctuating feelings about this body of mine. I hope to become fitter than I have ever been and recently joined a roller derby team. I feel stronger after every practice and it is doing wonders for my state of mind. I have definantly had my bouts with depression and also great joy and discovery. Sometimes I am so mean to myself when my belly pooches over the waistline of my pants. I have heard that called a muffin top. I know it will never be the same but I try to love and respect myself. It helps to hear my friends and the readers here speak their piece, because I am so proud when these women love themselves and so heartbroken when they don’t. I am adding some pics: the first 3 days pp, the next 2 or 3 months pp, and then about a year pp. The stretch marks have faded, the belly is still saggy but smaller. I am fitting in cloths I couldn’t close a year ago, but hope to lose more fat and gain more muscle. I have also definantly gotten stronger since becoming a mother.

I can’t believe that I used to think I was fat. I always thought I could stand to lose weight, and I thought that I was pretty unattractive. Funny how hindsight really is 20/20! Now, 2 years after birthing my son via emergency caesarean, I am about 20lb over my goal weight, and I know that my body will never quite be the same. I have stretchmarks on my boobs, my hips, my stomach, my thighs, my butt, they have faded but they are still there, a gentle reminder every day of the journey my body went through to carry my son to term.

Updated here.

I am a first time mother and I had my son this past October.

The first picture is the most recent before I was pregnant (probaby taken a month before I concieved). The next pictures are of me during my 8th and 9th month of pregnancy (the homestretch!). The last 3 are of me after (obviously, lol). I haven’t yet gotten down to my normal weight yet, as I still have an extra 15lbs to lose but I’m getting there slowly. I miss my baby bump and hope to experience it (pregnancy) again someday.

My name is Helen.
I have a website at: https://everydaystranger.net

In October 2007 I gave birth to 36 week boy/girl twins after 5 rounds of IVF. I’ve struggled for years and years with anorexia and purging disorders, and I knew that being pregnant would be hard for me, mentally, as I’ve always had a negative view of my body.

I was lucky enough to not get any stretch marks while pregnant, and in the end I only gained about 30 pounds despite eating constantly (albeit healthily). Within two weeks of delivery I was out of my maternity clothes and back in my regular clothes. Three months on and I’m two sizes smaller than I was when I got pregnant – I’m not actively dieting, but I am taking care of twin infants, which keeps me moving 16 hours a day.

Now that three months have passed, I have a noticeable C-section scar, a still visible linea negra, and my former navel ring piercing is a large scar. I have that apron of skin hanging down, too, which I’ve been working on but suspect it will never really go away. But I am so, so lucky to have beautiful, wonderful babies after trying for so many years.

I’ve included a shot of me the day I gave birth, as well as one of me today – both are watermarked as I had some photos stolen a little while ago and I’m now a little over-protective.

I posted on here before when I was 10 weeks postpartum. Not much has changed since I last posted, I’m still at the same weight, but my stretch marks have faded so much! In the pictures they still look reddish, but they are actually more silver now. My stomach flattened out some. I still have a ways to go, but I know it will only get better! I’m so thankful for this site! It gives women a real view about how women’s bodies really look! We don’t bounce back in 6 weeks, and that’s okay! My husband actually loves my body now, he says I look womanly. He loves the extra weight, and it makes me feel so great! I would love to be a size 8, but if it never happens, that’s fine.

It’s a boy! 30 weeks pregnant with my second. My first born was delivered by emergency c-section, and I’m hoping not to go down that road again. The stretch marks were barely noticeable and I was 20lbs away from my previous pre-pregnancy weight when I got pregnant this time! The weight was hard to lose, as I gained 60lbs and it took 4 years to lose 40.. So far I am happy with the way I look except for the pregnancy curve that has taken shape on my back. I’ve gained 37lbs so far. Hoping to breastfeed!

I am 8months pregnant and eagerly awaiting my 2nd son.