Author: Bonnie (SOAM)

So…. I was a crazy teen, doing the regular crazy teen things- and ended up becoming pregnant at the age of 15. I lost her sometime in the second half of 2005. I am guilt ridden, and am learning how to let go… I lost my first daughter (I say daughter because I knew she was a she- even without a pregnancy test or ultrasound- I am her mother, I know…) because I was an irresponsible, self-loathing teen. I subconciously knew that I was pregnant for about 5 1/2 – 6 months. I didn’t care. I didn’t show. It was unreal to me. I continued to drink and had serious issues with substance abuse- because “it is my life and I am going to live it” – at least that’s what I always said. Technically my daughter would have been considered a stillborn- I do not recall anything about the week I lost her. Not a THING. I continue to pray for her saftey in heaven. God sent me that particular blessing for many a reason. After that horrific experience, I sort of came to. I was addmitted to a rehab facility, attended meatings regulary, started to go back to church, renewed my broken relationships with family and friends… I finally had gotten my crap together. I personally do not think that anyone belived in me, or respected my efforts- They all were just waiting for me to fail. And I did (in their eyes at least). Throughout my crazy years, I wanted a child so badly because I wanted someone to love me. I actually look back and don’t know what I would have done if I had given birth to my first daughter. Things would be very different for sure. Now it’s April of 2007 and I am a proud single mother (18 years old) of my beautiful, healthy, gorgeous daughter Helena Elizabeth. She was born November 24th at 8:44 am; she weighed 7lbs. 1 oz. and was 19 & 1/4 inches long (she was born by c-section, which I was disapointed about because on going 100% natural- but… she was breech). Things were rough in the beginning because everyone was dissapointed in my downfall, and just thought that history would be repeating. My parents thought that it would be best for everyone if I was to move into some type of maternity program as to learn how to take care of myself, and be strong and independent enough to raise my child. Everyone was so set on adoption, but I wasn’t sure… When I found out I was still kind of blinded by all that was changing around me, and was kind of in my own little world for a while. Time went by, and even though my relation ships with my family were EXTREMELY rocky in the beginning, things evened out and they way they should be now. I am so grateful for the love and support they provide me with, I couldn’t do anything without them. I live on my own now, and support my little family as best I can, with the occasional financial help from my parents. I live 3,000 miles away from them and all that I know of this world. I work, go to school and am trying my hardest to be a successful young single mom. Anyway- that’s my story… and I love this site! I am so dissapointed with my post pregnancy body, but I’m learning to love it!!! Oh… and we’ve been breastfeeding since day 1, and still lovin’ it!!! -Mariel&BabyHelena

My journey was a very rough one. I had 3 miscarriages while my friends continued to have babies with no problems. I finally had a viable pregnancy, and I couldnt wait to look pregnant! I even blew out my belly to see what I would look like…LOL. As the months got further I *blossomed* into a beautiful belly…stretch marks and all. I had a rough birth experience as well. I had to be induced due to high blood pressure and then emergency c-section 19 hours later after it spiked to 197/105. Here are some of my Pg photos and my after belly shots as well. I got pg 4 months after my daughter was born so I will have more photos in July and August! The first picture is at 18 weeks, and the second was is 39 weeks 2 days.(the day I got induced.) The next 2 pictures are my after shots…5 days PP. The alst one is my 25 27 week pg belly again with my second.

I am the mother of four children (6, 5, 2, and 5 months), and I am very happy with my body. I used to hate it, as it isn’t (never has been) “perfect”. My husband was instrumental in the change of my negative body image. From our first night together he has made me feel gorgeous every day. I am one lucky girl! I think that without his constant attention/appreciation for my body, I would not have been nearly as happy with my body post-baby as I am. Needless to say, I have the standard stretch marks, sagging skin and breasts. But having created four amazing children with the love of my life, I consider every inch of my ‘imperfections’ something wonderful that I wouldn’t change for anything.

I was a tiny person before i bacame pregnant. never more than 120 lbs. My son was born 2 weeks after my 19th birthday. During my pregnancy i ate healthy. I didn’t limit my diet but i did eat a lot healthier than i usually did. I gianed a total of 23 lbs, less than reccommended. I was still very tiny. People didn’t notice i was pregnant unless i told them up into my 3rd trimester, and even then some people were suprised when they finally noticed my belly. I remember being 8 months pregant, and i looked down at my belly and told my husband in admiration, “this lotion must work, i don’t have a single stretch mark!” He gave me a funny look and said, “what are you talking about? You have tons of them!” He informed me that they were all under my belly. I checked the mirror and sure enough, there were lots and lots of verticle stretch marks under my belly. Over the next month they grew longer and longer until they covered my entire (tiny!) belly. My son was born in November of 2003, and he is now 3 1/2 years old. My stretch marks have faded from crimson to silver but they’re still there. And i still have the “mommy pooch.” Pregnancy and breastfeeding have changed my breasts as well, my son nursed for 2 1/2 years. I went from a small C cup to a large D cup. Pregnancy has changed my body in other ways as well. I became diabetic while pregnant, and while its not as severe now, i am still insulin resistant. because of this i have marks on my body called Acanthosis Nigricans. They mostly affect people who are overweight, and those with darker skin tone to begin with. But i’m one of the lucky ones who did not have those risk facters who got it anyway. Honestly they bother me more than my stretch marks do. I love your website because i can see that my experience is normal. The changes to my body are wonderful things, symbolizing the awesome things that it can do. Things that i hope one day (got willing) my body will be able to do it again.

The pictures say it all! I went on to lose another 10 pounds after the last picture was taken, but then quickly got pregnant again! I’m 5 weeks post partum now and am working on a mommy collage of that pregnancy. I’ll share it in a few weeks! Diet and exercise help, but even training for a marathon didn’t give me the same body I had before having children. But why should I want that body? That body didn’t create the miracle of life, this body did. So if it means that I have to carry a few stretch marks or some “loose” skin, then so be it. I can work hard to lose body fat, but not stretch marks or skin. God made us that way for a purpose. Maybe He’ll explain it to us when we meet Him.

This was the 6th pregnancy that I carried to term. My story is a hard one to tell because after I had two children and one divorce I was not going to have any more children. When I got into another relationship so fast again and found myself unstable and facing the dangers of preeclampsia, severe anemia, and the possiblity of my own death, well…By my own choice when I became pregnant, after being very active in trying to NOT get pregnant, I chose to have an abortion. Very shortly after that I was pregnant and had another abortion. For me, it was the road I traveled and I am glad I did because I lead me on to this path I am on today. I found that I was pregnant again and this time said that even a chance of life was worth it if it meant my own life in exchange. We chose to have one more baby so that number 3 baby never felt left behind when her siblings went with their father. That birth process for the 4th one actually required two units of blood and I almost died moments after her birth while I was trying to nurse her. Not because of hemmoraging, but because my body doesn’t do a good job of maintaining itself. When I went to the doctors to finally get my tubes tied, funny how they are finally willing to do it after 6 pregnancies, I found out that the one time in the 4 months that we had had sex had created a baby. I was 4 weeks along. This is when I let it all go. I resolved that my life had a plan for me. I would listen and follow the road where it took me. I had my next pregnancy soon after the last. That leads me to talking about these pictures. My 6th live birth, 8th pregnancy. My road was not easy by any means but I am thankfull for each step of the way because it has given me such a value of life for what I do possess and hope to add more children in the future if it is in my cards.

I have been pregnant 5 times. I have had one miscarriage, one still birth and i have three beautiful children ages 6, 4, and 2. I am a plus size woman and i don’t like it. I think it’s wonderful that there are so many women on here that are comfortable with their bodies and i wish that was me. I also wish i could have more children but i am scared to. My last preg. was terrible. I had hyperemesis and had a central line inserted to feed me. I really can’t deal with that again. I do so love being a mother and am very blessed to have the sweet spirits that i do. I don’t know how i got so lucky to be trusted with them but i am thankful. By the way, this picture is not a pregnant belly. It is just me.

I have horrible stretch marks, and that “bump” that just WILL NOT GO AWAY!!!!! I struggle with it all the time. I won’t wear a bathing suit, won’t let ANYONE ever see my stomach, and have to have sex with the lights off and one hand on my stomach. It’s crazy, and I hate it!!! I am 6ft tall,140 pounds, I HATE when people tell me (which is often) how skinny I am and “how do you stay so thin?”….or my favorite….”I can’t believe you have three kids!!” It makes me want to cry….they have no idea what is hiding under the cloths! This is a great site and it helps to know I am not alone….kudos to all of you! Have a blessed day! Angella

For the first months postpartum, I developed a low self esteem about the way my body looked. I now had a pouchy tummy and a spare tire around my waste. I felt self consious and embarrased about my post baby body. Although I didn’t get many stretch marks, (well, a few on my thighs…) I gained nearly 70 pounds during pregnancy with the onset of Preeclampsia. After giving birth I lost 45 lbs with in the first 2 weeks. Here I am 9 months postpardum, and 25 lbs heavier than when I started. When I got pregnant I wore a size 6 and now I am a size 10, and I really don’t mind the extra baby weight. I feel like I wear it proudly and have a beautiful son to show for it. I am proud to be a mother and have accepted my body’s new curvier shape. What a wonderful website for sharing the “real” look of motherhood!!!