Age: 21
# of pregnancies: 1
Weight pre-pregnancy: 110 lbs.
Weight gained during pregnancy: 50 lbs.
Weight 3 years post partum: don’t know!
I stumbled on this website quite by accident but I am SO glad I did! It is so important for women to see images of REAL bodies, especially mothers.
My relationship with my body has changed dramatically since I first got pregnant at age 18. I’ve struggled with eating disorders off and on since I was 14. When I was pregnant, I ate healthily for once and gained a decent amount of weight. My daughter was a large baby, 9 lbs. 7 oz. My labor and delivery were amazing experiences. I breastfed her for 13 months while going to college, which allowed me to eat healthy and maintain what I deemed an acceptable body.
I relapsed into disordered eating a few times after weaning my daughter. However, I have recently gained an enormous amount of self esteem. I’ve gotten my happiness and confidence back. I eat what makes me happy and I haven’t weighed myself in about 6 months. I’ve also been eating disorder free for over 6 months.
My body is perfect just the way it is. There are stretch marks on my thighs, breasts, hips, butt, and tummy, and I don’t care. The greatest thing another mother ever said to me was, “Honey, the guys I date don’t care about stretch marks,” when I asked her if she was ever afraid to be naked in front of men. Her confidence in herself has remained a model for me as I grow, both physically and spiritually. The good men will see the beauty in ALL of you.
I proudly nourished my daughter with my body. I wear a bikini with confidence. I enjoy uninhibited sex and intimacy. I advocate for women to love and take care of their bodies and I teach my daughter the same. She is young still but she will know that women deserve agency over their own bodies, not society. I teach her by example, showing her that learning, having self confidence, being creative, caring for others, and eating GOOD food is so much more important than constantly worrying about what we look like.
Life is just easier when you love yourself!
You look absolutely FANTASTIC!!! We’re definitely breast twins. I wish we were butt twins, though! Yours is so much cuter than mine! Congratulations on breastfeeding your little one for 13 months while going to school! That’s a fantastic feat! I also nursed my little one while going to uni. Like you, I was always happy with my body, knowing that it was nourishing my little girl. I began to have self esteem issues again after weaning her. Now I’m feeling fine about myself again. I’m pretty sure most people must go through cycles like this.
Anyway, thank you for sharing your story! You’re a beautiful woman and it’s so good to hear your self esteem radiating from the page. Your daughter will see your self-esteem and it will keep her from falling into the pattern of self-hatred and eating disorders. You’ll be a good role model for your daughter! :) Many blessings! Keep up the great work. Self-esteem definitely takes work! (I know.)
awesome you look awesome, my husband walked in when i was reading this and said your boobs look great and your belly is awesome for havign a kid,lol…too funny, i agree with him though, you look AMAZING!!!!! you can so wear a bikin thissummer!!!
You are amazing… I love your attitude and u look great… I posted uunder one year and 60 pounds down and u truely are a great inspiration to me…
You should be confident…you look awesome! You are going to be such a great role model for your daughter…I wish all mommies to girls were like you! Awesome job nursing for so long (I nursed my 2nd for about 21 months!). I hope to be as confident as you and also bear my stretchmarks in a bikini this summer :) Oh, and it is sooo great that you are eating disorder free :)
love your post. makes me love & appreciate my body. thanks for sharing your confidence. You are indeed beautiful!
Love your story. I guess i wasnt instilled with a sense of loving yourself. My mother never wanted men near her, she said why would they want me.
Im the poster for blessed & tortured… I WISH i had your smooth tummy… i love my shape, my size my weight, but i cannot come to terms with the saggy bit of skin above my belly button and the bumpy wrinkles all over :( you inspire me.
you are beautiful i love the attitude..keep it up!!
You look great were boob twins lol..thanks for sharing your inspiring other moms and your daughter..
I would love my body too if i looked like you. congrats! you look great. I cant even stand to have sex with my husband bc im so ugly and embarassed. you are lucky
You look stunning! I wish I had your body. You have an absolutely gorgeous butt!