All of this is my opinion so dont take my opinion to offense or personally, but I realized how this country America works in their portrayal of women. The images of “false” women we see are not women at all but products of a child hungry (pedophile) industry. The women that media, magazines, models, etc.portray have this childlike quality about them: flawless skin, soft youthfulness, innocence/virginity, flat stomachs and toned thin bodies (minus the huge breasts). All features of children, tho. Think about it. Models are signed on at what ages? 14, 15, 16 years old, children! Why would anyone want to see a 14yr old walking a catwalk in lingerie? What women, except for few, look like this and after kids especially? Our faces develop acne, we get dark eye circles from lack of sleep, skin is often riddled w/ stretchmarks and other marks in places we didnt even kno about and not to forget the stretched out stomach. And us women are made to think that if we dont go back to our youthful 20 year old bodies that we should just disappear. Most of American women don’t even have the means to buy personal trainers, nannies and nutritionists to regulate everything we do so we could get back into shape. If Hollywood moms didnt have the money they had they would look just like the rest of us and posting their body pics as well. And if models didnt have clauses in their contracts that said you must be back in modeling shape in this many days they would look just like us, too. In a nutshell and “my personal opionion”, society EXPECT women to have children, sacrifice for them and be a “good” mother, but if you also don’t meet the criteria of HOTness you should just stay at home out of public view and just be a mom. What kind of logic does any of this make? Little girls grow up into women, right? And Women help make this world and keep it under control. So then why is society so bent on looking/being like little girls?
Author: Bonnie (SOAM)
The Changing Shape of a Mother (Sarah)
These pictures chart some of my journey – the physical side of it at least. I was pregnant at 19 and this first picture is me looking very young! I had hyperemesis through my entire pregnancy and didn’t gain any weight until afterwards, but by that picture (36 weeks) I was only *feeling* sick. The second picture is what my stomach looked like for the next two years, not hugely saggy but very stretch-marked. I had never liked my body really and although I liked how I looked pregnant I was not really happy in myself and felt that I would never be beautiful. In that picture I was 18 weeks pregnant with our second child, concieved after two miscarriages and much hoped-for. This time I relished being pregnant and felt as happy with my body as I ever had. There are two shots of me bellydancing, which I did through my pregnancy. I felt great once my hyperemesis passed at twenty weeks. You can see my gorgeous first daughter dancing with me. The last couple of pictures are me with our second baby. I never felt particularly bad about my breasts, which went from a 32C on my wedding day to a 34DD with my firstborn to a 32GG with this baby! They are stretched and saggy but I don’t care. :) My stretchmarks are less of an issue to me than they were – my best friend calls them Tiger Stripes – and I am feeling happy with my body. I am bigger, curvier, saggier, marked and yet more beautiful than ever.








Updated here.
Having Twins (Anonymous)
My husband and I found out we are having twins and couldn’t be more excited. The days is drawing nearer and my anticipation is eating me up! I have been lucky to have not gotten stretch marks on my belly so far. But My thighs and breasts are seeing a few of them. No matter what my bod looks like, Its ok, my baby girls will be worth every line on my body!







My Little But Significant Stretchmark (Margarita)
i got pregnant when i was 19. I had recently pierced my belly but as soon as i found out i was pregnant i took it off. When i was about 5 months, a redish-purpulish stretch mark started to grow and finally this is the result.And also as you can see my belly buttom popped out and it has never been the same. I regret so much having that stupid piercing done, but i would never regret getting pregnant and having my beautiful baby girl. after looking at this web-site i realized,if this was my price to pay to have my dear daughter i would pay it over and over again. Even though im still struggling with feeling beautifull and sexy again. But now i know, “A mother’s body is Beautifull. Period”


Two little girls and a surrogacy twin pregnancy (Anrea)
I don’t have any pics of my pregnancies with my daughters but these pics are just before I delivered my surrogate twins.
Before and After My Two Boys (Anonymous)
I first found out I was pregnant when I was 16 years old. It was March of 2005. I weighed 125lbs and was very toned. I gained over 60 pounds while pregnant with Aidan, topping out at about 190. I delivered Aidan on November 28th, 2005. After giving birth naturally to Aidan, I wasn’t so concerned with my weight, so I just let the weight gradually melt away. In February of 2007, I found out I was pregnant again. I had just gotten back down to my pre-pregnancy weight. I still had that extra loose skin around the lower belly, but I was back down to the pre-preg. weight. OK, so..I told myself I wouldn’t gain so much weight with my second pregnancy. I lied to myself. I gained just as much and topped out at the same weight. Towards the end of my pregnancy was very difficult for me, my fiance wouldn’t even touch me, he wouldn’t hug me, we weren’t intimate. I was so depressed. I ended up having to have a c-section because my doctor was concerned that my second son, Gabriel would be too big. The c-section went wonderful. Gabriel was born a beautiful 8 pounds 13 ounces. I was so happy to be back alone in my own body, but now…I’m not so happy. The weight melted off in the first few weeks. I actually dropped 6 pounds in two days. Amazing, I know. But now, Gabriel is two months old, and I’m at a stand still. I weigh 150 pounds, and it fluctuates between 150 one day, 147 another day, 149, etc. I look at old pictures if myself and cry. I work out twice a day, every day…and it just discourages me so much because I can’t wait for the results. Everythng takes time, I suppose. My two beautiful boys are definitely worth the trouble it will be to get back my body. And this website really helps me see the beauty in EVERY woman’s body.



Featured Photo – 36wks4d
33 Weeks Pregnant (Anonymous)
I’m 19, and single, everyone said I should have gotten rid of him. But it wasn’t like I had a one night stand, I was in love with my boyfriend and the time, and I still love him to this day for giving me the best gift any one could ever give a person! I’m happier than I have ever been my whole life. Every kick and nudge my son gives makes me smile…
The Shape of This Mother (DarkDaughta)
Denial.
I fool not only others but myself too when I arrange my clothing in the most visually appealing manner possible. I fool not only others but myself when I only look at myself in certain poses, in certain kinds of light designed to offer the fat phobia oppressed one in me enough peace of mind to allow her to leave the house with her head held high.
I explained to my partner, Papi, that where my fat, proportions and dimensions are concerned I’m trying to not be body dysmorphic…
An uphill battle all the way…
Our society is seriously confused about what constitutes the body of a full grown woman. There’s a disconnect between what’s real, acceptable, biologically supportable, beautiful and what’s been forced on us.
This is even more so for wimmin who have been pregnant, who have watched as skin stretched taut over expanding gestating uterus, who have pushed knowing that nothing but a fatty skin sack would remain…for many…for most.
Want to read more? Click here.


Pandy
My breast size has increased dramatically since giving birth to my second child, Scarlett June, in June 2007. I’ve never been ashamed of my breasts, which were DD before my first pregnancy. I’ve always felt great about myself and have never been shy about my body. Looking at these pictures, I can see how much my body has changed…the fleshy hunk of my armpit, the double chin, but most of all, I see my breast has become. Regardless of the fact that I no longer look anything like i did 10 years ago, I’m still proud. I still love every stretch mark and wrinkle of loose skin caused by carrying and nursing two children. The perfect body could never provide the satisfaction that nourishing my children has.


Photography by Michael Adkins

