Growing up, I was always the skinny girl. As a teenager, I was 5’7″ and weighed 114 lbs. I never worked for it, I was just always skinny. I was a late bloomer so when I finally got curves and boobs, I loved wearing tight clothes and nothing made me happier than being able to wear a bikini. I got married to my high school boyfriend when I was 18 and when I was 21, we welcomed our first son. It was a fairly typical pregnancy and I didn’t get any stretch marks—until my ninth month. I was disappointed about that but after he was born, I slimmed down quickly and ended up being a size six, where as before I was a size four. Although I didn’t like the excess skin on my stomach or my slightly saggier boobs, I was thrilled with my new look. I finally looked like a woman; I had filled out a little bit and looked healthier. Then two years later, I had our second son. This pregnancy was a lot like my first, although my stomach got huge and I got even more stretch marks on there. After my second son was born, I assumed that I would slim down quickly like I did with my first pregnancy but no such luck. When I was still wearing maternity pants a month later, I went jeans shopping and was shocked when I fit into a size twelve. I cried and refused to buy any. But a month or so later, I couldn’t justify wearing maternity pants anymore and finally bought some in a size ten. It took over a year for me to get down to 134 lbs and a size eight, which is my current weight and size. For my height, that’s actually pretty healthy but I still hated my body. The sagging boobs bothered me but nothing bothered me more than my stomach. It was flabby, covered in stretch marks and I hated the way it stuck out when I sat down. It took my husband deploying and us having Skype “dates” for me to finally realize that my body isn’t horrible looking; it’s actually quite nice looking and I appreciate that it’s what brought my children into this world. I’ve begun to embrace my new shape and curves, stretch marks and all and although I have plans to improve it after I’m done having children, I no longer yearn for my pre-baby days and I can look at before pics of myself without feeling bad about how I look now. I still have bad days but they’re becoming less frequent. My husband is my biggest post baby fan; he loves my body and is forever telling me how sexy I look and for the first time since having my second son, I’m starting to see it too.
Age: 26
Number of Pregnancies and Births: 2
Age of My Children: 5 and 3, 3 years postpartum
TMB
I am glad to hear that skype dating with your husband while he is deployed helped your see your beauty that your husband sees. (And I can guarantee misses VERY MUCH!!) Please share with your sons, as they grow, that most of the women in print are not necessarily “real” and that beautiful women come in ALL sizes, shapes, and colors. Do not forget that you are a beautiful woman both inside and out!!
I hope for the safe return of your husband so that a great family can be together again.
Best Wishes!!
I think you look amazing, and I am glad you see it!
Reading your story, it sounds just like mine! (Except my husband hates my body). The toughest part for me was that no amount of working out could get me back to my pre-baby size, and I was just getting too thin by dieting. I read somewhere that your hip bones can widen after babies, and there’s no moving the bones back of course!
Thank you for sharing this. I needed to read it.
My stomach looks the exact same way. I though am still trying to come to term with my body. I miss the way it looked before I had my 2nd daughter 2 1/2 years ago. My hubby still loves my body though. Thank so much you for sharing!! Anonymous mom I am sorry to hear you hubby doesn’t love your body. Look at what you produced from it!!
I was so happy to read your story. Mine is almost identical to yours except this happened with my first pregnancy. Skinny my whole life without trying, then couldn’t get out of maternity clothes. Refused to buy a huge size. Cried in dressing room. I finally broke down and bought a size 10 about 4 months post baby. I was a size 4 before pregnancy. My son is almost 10 months old now and I’m still in the 10 and I’m starting to really be ok with it! And I feel more womanly! I’m 26 too.
I needed this like you wouldn’t believe. I do need to lose weight, but sometimes I get so depressed because I know that no amount of weight loss will cure the stretch marks on my stomach that run from my breasts to my pelvic bones. I’m not even sure that surgery could cover it. Also, I have stretch marks on the insides of my thighs that are a good 2 1/2″ wide. What can be done? Nothing. I read this and realized that I am not alone. I need to embrace myself. My story is almost identical to this author’s. I’m glad she shared.
Our bodies look exactly the same! I still need to lose a little weight but i am finally happy with my body. My husband loves my curves!
You look great, I don’t see what’s wrong with your body! At least your boobs look like boobs, mine look like pointy horns and one is at least a cup size larger than the other
I have had two as well and had my husband deploy while pregnant for our second. Your body looks about the same as mine, and I too, have been finally realizing my body is beautiful, I love how much my husband accepts and adores it. Good for you!