~Age: 29
~Number of pregnancies and births: 1 preganancy – 1 birth
~The age of your children, or how far postpartum you are: my son is 1 year and 4 month old today
My name is Rada, I am from Moldova and I am 29 years old. My baby boy – Karim – is 1year and 4 months old today. I got on your site accidentally, but I did not leave it until I read more than half of the stories of mom’s. Reading the messages I experienced different feelings, like sharing happiness of the women being mothers, compassion about them being worried and disappointed by their bodies. And I compared the situation with that of fighting a disease champagne – why to spend a lot of money and effort on treatment and not on preventing it.
I planned my pregnancy, I tried to do it in the best way I could – and I think I succeeded. I had a magnificent pregnancy, enjoyed every single day of it, I delivered my angel boy in my home in water, and I got my body almost as it was before I got pregnant. And I don’t think there is something magical in my body, I am convinced that this is due to hard work during the pregnancy. By hard work I mean – correct alimentation (which is completely different from what doctors advice us), a lot of physical activity – my day to day work plus special exercises for pregnant women, (regarding the physical activity unfortunately the doctors are misguiding pregnant women), and of course special exercises after the delivery. Of course, a sharp eye can see the changes in my body, I am still breastfeeding, so my breast will be a little bit different from how they were before. But I DON’T really care. Breastfeeding is the best thing I experienced, after the delivery. Breastfeeding brings me the most expensive and dear moments spent with my son. When I breastfeed the time stops, there is just me and my baby in the whole Universe – this is what I call happiness.
Like we see, the doctors play a great role in the disappointment that a woman faces after having the baby.
Here are coming with their offers the cosmetic companies – but the truth is that their remedies are TOTALLY useless. If there is an effect it is illusionary, for a short period. So, women better use natural remedies.
But, in the end I would like to say that a woman makes a great think by delivering a baby. And without a wise body this would not be possible. So I think that we must cherish our bodies, however they look like. Not the body attracts men in a woman’s life, it is her soul that shines from her yeas. It is her smile that captures the moment. A man that found his woman, the ONE, will thank God for every stretch on her body, for this means that his woman is a true woman, a one that brought him a baby. This is blessing.
ALL MOTHERS ARE WOMEN FIRST OF ALL. GREAT WOMEN.
I love the breast feeding pic it’s beautiful ( I’m currently nursing #3 who’s 11 months old)! You look amazing! Glad your pregnancy was wonderful in that you enjoyed it so much! I too LOve being preggo but my joints are bad and my back is fused so I’m in a lot of pain during my pregnancies but can’t wait to do it again!!
You have a beautiful body, and a beautiful son. Not all women are destined to get stretch marks during pregnancy, it is largely genetic and has to do with the elasticity of your skin. Some women try everything to avoid stretch marks, including exercising throughout pregnany.Other women end up having c-sections, leaving a scar they dislike. Still others suffer from separated abdominal muscles. My mother had three children. The most she gained during pregnancy was 12 pounds, She is petite, giving birth every time below 115 pounds and standing only 5’1″. Her stomach is riddled with stretch marks as is mine,her abdominal muscles to this day are separated, leaving her with a hernia. I don’t think this is what you meant to say in your post, but it almost makes it sound as if you are blaming women for their post baby body issues. You were very “fortunate” to get back to your pre-baby body shape. For some of us that will never happen (without medical intervention). I personally am not bothered by my body imperfections enough to have surgery or to try the new “miracle” cures for stretch marks/cellulite/…, but other mothers are, and they shouldn’t be made to feel foolish because of their decisions. Like I said I don’t believe this is what you meant to say, but you have to read your post from these other points of view. I hope you don’t but you may get some aggressive replies. Again, congratulations on your little man, he is adorable!
Come on girl, you’re lucky but you’re making me feel bad! I did everything I could to prevent weight gain and stretchmarks, ate well, spent hundreds on the best lotions and ointments, ran until 5 months and went to pregnancy workouts three times a week… Ended up gaining 50 lbs with my first and 35 lbs with my second, separated abdominal muscles, strechmarks all over my belly and umbilical hernia. I had a tummy tuck procedure 2 months ago because no matter how hard I tried to get used to my new motherly shape, I just couldn’t.
So it’s not just that you need to take care of yourself, you need to have good genes, too.
BTW, my mother gained just 12 pounds with both pregnancies and has a lot of stretchmarks, too.
Anyway, you look just perfect! I am happy for you!
I find your post offensive. I was 24 when i gave birth so i was much younger than you. I had a very heathy pregnancy, i am only a petite woman and my husband is over 6 ft tall. I put on 2 stone during my pregnancy and the last month i got tons of stretch marks around my stomach. My body couldnt cope with a 8 lb baby, my bump suddenlt grew and my body wasnt prepare.
My mother in the other hand is petite and so is my father. She had 4 children and had no stretch marks or over hanging skin. That is just how she is.
Im not gonna sit here reading someone telling me that it was “my fault” what my body looks like now. I do hope if you have a scond child, your body goes back to the way it was, because if it is does not, you will feel and understand how many of us do.
The picture with your son upside down is amazing – one of the best I have seen! So adorable and happy and playful. It makes me so sad when mothers can’t really be in the moment with their babies for whatever reasons. I also agree that self-discipline can greatly influence your body. I appreciate that for some, the cost is higher than for others. And for some, it just isn’t worth it. I know that my best body comes from careful eating and exercise. Most of the time I do it, but other times I eat Ritz crackers and guacamole and only do some walking for exercise. I think that culture plays a big role in how people deal with their bodies and health. In America, we have given over a great deal of our understanding to medical docs. But they are really trained for disease – not health maintenance or improvement. My brother is a family practice doc and he wants to open a personal training studio because he feels like he just keeps people from being really sick – not preventing disease or improving health.
I hope other readers of this understand I do not mean stretch marks – those really are pretty much out of our hands – but other aspects like muscle strength, alignment, posture, nutrition are all ours to maintain. Everyone has a peak condition and can strive for that – even in small ways. It’s a good thing to love and cherish your body by taking care of it.
i’m very jealous of your body….very… you look great. congrats on a beautiful baby ^_^
I try to always find a positive in everybody…but I stopped reading at the first few paragraphs…once somebody starts saying that they did all the “right” stuff to look good while pregnant they are telling ME I did the wrong stuff so that is why I got strecht marks. I’m getting tired of these kind of posts. I come here to support and be supported not for others to tell me what they did was better than what I did or what I ate was better than what I ate. This is not a personal attack by all means. Good for you for looking good…but above all for feeling good about your body strecht marks or not that’s what counts at the end…loving your body and its story.
You are indeed lucky to have such a beautiful body! I love your nursing picture. Breastfeeding has been wonderful in my life as well.
Ok why do the women who are proud of their post baby bodies not get the love on this site that the ones who hate their bodies do? Is this REALLY a site for celebrating ALL shapes and stories? Just because this woman feels she did some things “right” during her pregnancy does not mean she is accusing YOU of doing it WRONG. Why take things so personally? She says right there in the first paragraph how she was inspired by your stories, etc. Why can’t you all be happy for this person? How sad for you to go through life thinking everything is an affront to YOU. Why not talk about how wonderful it is that she did her best to care for her body? It has no implications for you. Let’s be happy for one another instead of taking offense to something that isn’t even about you.
You look beautiful! You baby boy is absolutely adorable. It is funny that because you are still nursing, people think you are nursing you son in one of your pictures (he is just cuddling with you!)…funny that our minds can play tricks on us like that :)
I got pregnant with my first son when I was 19, and I got tons of stretch marks (as did my mother). I have very fair skin and I am only 5’2″ (it may also have to do with the fact that I was so itchy from stretching, o I itched my belly like crazy!). Either way, I am now 25, have had another child as well, and my stretch marks do not bother me. No matter what happens in life (for example, my 1st son passed away when he was 19 months old), I will always have these special marks that he left for me :) I do not think that staying healthy during pregnancy will prevent stretch marks, but I do know that will prevent extra unwanted weight gain. I want one more child, but I want to wait until I am in the best shape of my life to get pregnant!
As I read your post, I almost felt bad…I didn’t exercise in both my pregnancies and in the second, which was somewhat unexpected, I ate what I felt like and drank a lot of sodas. I’m back to my Pre-pregnancy weight (thanks to good genes), but I’ve got a pouch that won’t go away. That’s what led me to this site. I feel very bad about it. I know I should exercise, but with a full time job, a long commute to work and two small babies (23 months and 7 months), that extra 15 mins of sleep is soooo precious! I hide my pouch behind an uncomfortable corset but I’m ashamed of it…
Its nice to see some pics of women who went through preganacy and still retained their figure after. I looked at this website early in my pregnancy and became terrified at what might be. I subsequently worked really hard to exercise and eat well during my pregnancy and I believe this is why I have managed to also get back into shape. Yes my body has chnaged a bit – my breasts are no longer as firm, my stomach is softer than what it was – but not major changes, and I had no stretch marks until the week after my daughters due date and even these have faded. It is nice to see that a combination of hard work (and yes some genetics too) can help avoid excessive stretching and major changes to the body.
You are quite lucky to have such a strong, healthy, and conventionally beautiful body after birthing your son, because, let’s face it, even though you did everything “right”, there is still a huge luck component to it. While I agree that there are things we can do to minimize the visible effects of childbirth on our bodies, some things are just completely out of our control. I think it’s important for all of us to realize when we are lucky or blessed or whatever you want to call it. Otherwise, we risk shaming others who are not as generously endowed. I don’t think you meant to shame anyone, but I’m afraid your words have had that unintended consequence. I do, however, appreciate your willingness to share your tips on how you got your figure right back. I hope that those tips can work for others as well! And I can’t fail to mention that your boy is so beautiful and you have such a radiant presence in your pictures. Stay strong and positive and thank you for sharing.
Hey, one person feeling they did the “right thing” is not one person saying anyone with stretch marks did the “wrong” thing. Lets not take it all so personally. Really we all end up at the same place, it might not be pregnancy one, it not be pregnancy, I hve a friend who has never had a baby and still had stretch marks and saggy boobs, I think for her it’s called age.
I think it’s sad that we can’t enjoy that someone feels sucessful because we are too full of ego and jelousy to celebrate with them.
I love this site and reading the journeys that peoples bodies have taken. I have had three children and I am into my 5th decade, my body has many stories to tell and I thank it for carrying me this far into my life.
Peace
Those who are offended by this post are silly. Just because she has ended her pregnancy with a beautiful body, which she believes is because of her behavior during pregnancy, doesn’t mean she is talking down to anybody else or saying that anybody else behaved incorrectly. She is sharing HER story, not discriminating against yours. Is this site only meant for women struggling with their figures? Or is it a source available for all women to share their experience with other mothers?
Great pictures, not familiar with the area where you live but it looks incredibly beautiful and relaxing! You have a lovely body and a sweet child, go mama :)
You look amazing!! Your pics are beautiful.
Just as the OP has the right to tell her story, I have the right to respond. I never attacked her personally and actually congratulated her for looking good and feeling good about herself. However, I AM offended by people coming here and telling me that I am silly for responding a certain way. I am not mad for somebody not having strecht marks, however, when they come and say that they did the “right stuff” of course they are implying that there is a wrong way…and if you got strecht marks and extre skin you must have done it wrong…it’s called reading between lines. Maybe she didnt intended that way, but that is the way it comes across. Once again, I never called names, so I expect the same respect back. You know what is sad? That the right things are those who keep us healthy NOT looking good. For those who could not excersise cause were in bed rest…they did what what’s best for them and their child. It’s about our health…not how we look. We need to stop this superiority feeling that you are better somewhat cause you look like you did pre pregnacy. There’s no better or worse…it just is.
I came to this site to avoid self-righteous people who think they have the panacea for stretch marks and other issues with pregnancy. I was clearly very wrong, and am unlikely to visit this site again.
I am beyond tired with this unscientific nonsense about stretch marks. Getting them is largely genetic. Stretch marks are a result of the rupture of the dermis, where the fibroblasts in the skin don’t make enough collagen and elastin to counter the lack of support underneath. Lotion will help prevent your skin from feeling itchy, but it won’t prevent stretch marks, because lotion doesn’t penetrate into the dermis. There are NO conclusive studies whatsoever that show that a particular diet regimen or lotion component prevents stretch marks. There is also no evidence that exercise prevent them either. You can reduce the chance of them occurring by controlling weight gain, but it doesn’t guarantee that you won’t.
The skin is very vulnerable to stretch marks during pregnancy and adolescence because of the hormone flux, especially steroids, so it’s largely beyond your control.
Just hope that you have the right genetics, don’t bother with expensive lotions, and try to maintain a sensible weight for YOU.
For the lucky people who didn’t get stretch marks or sags– be grateful, and celebrate your body, but don’t gloat or spout crap about how you did it right and everyone else did it wrong.
Actually, there IS something magical in your body called GENETICS. It has nothing to do with hard work. People get stretch marks, not because they’re lazy, as you are clearly implying, but because it runs in their blood.
you’re gorgeous and your son is so beautiful! congrats on keeping fit during pregnancy and while caring for a newborn, those can both be tricky times for fitting in exercise :) i’m a little taken aback by some of your wording but i’m guessing you only meant positive things? either way, enjoy that little one!
seriously? this is silly- I used to enjoy this site but comments like the one from “karla” ruin it. You have lost a longtime reader. Jealousy and misplaced anger are never “the right thing”
@Karla: I so totally agree with you. It’s all about reading between the lines. If Rada says she managed to keep her beautiful body because of what she did, I understand she believes those whose bodies failed them post-pregnancy had done something wrong! But still Rada, you rock. I Wish I looked like that w/o my tummy tuck.
I am closing comments now.
Comments re-opened per Rada’s request.
Thank you, Bonnie, for reopening the comments.
I did not expect that my post will generate that much controversity. And I am very sad that several of you felt offended by it in any way.
My dear friends, dear mothers, please forgive me, if I made you feel bad or guilty, this was NEVER my intention.
I know that streched are kind of things that stay forever, so when writing this post, I maybe hoped that some expecting women, like Kadie, would read it, and have the chance to escape from having stretches.
Still, I would like to respond on some issues, that several of you mentioned…
1. Me Being Lucky and good Genes for not having stretches. Please dont get angry – but there is nothig about luck and nothing to do with genetics.
ELLA said that she had stretches, while her mother (petite) didn’t. If it was about genetics- ELLA wouldnt be just like her mom.
I have been a vegetarian, for more that 8 years. (not eating only meat), pregnancy period wasnt exception. It is known that vegs. have a drier skin, so logically I was a great candidate for stretches, but it didnt happen. Shannon, my belly also was itching, while baby was growing, I suppose this is natural.
Food is essencial during pregnancy. Usually we can hear a pregnant woman saying “I ate well” – i suppose that means – eating for two, wating lots of proteins, milk, cheese, etc. – all these lead to a large baby, to stretches, and dissapointment. During pregnancy, I excluded from my alimentation – bread, sweets, milk, cheeses. (never been a consumer of sodas, chips, fast food etc).
Katie, why did you stop running after 5 months? running is great for you and baby, I wish you had went on:) but I guess your doctor adviced you not to…:( and like you said – unfortunatelly the lotions and all things like these dont; help, so dont waist your money on them.
I could gladly share my methods of keeping the body in good shape during and after pregnancy – for those mothers who are just at the beginning of their 9 month – odyssei. If I didnt meet poeple, read a lot of books before getting pregnant – maybe now my body would look differently. So, I will b glad if someone will need my experience.
Alexis, I practiced with my son dynamic gymnastic from the first day of his life. It is quite a scarry show if someone sees it for the first time, but it makes miracles with babies. And I wits GOOD Luck to your brother in being a different kind of doctor. We need this kind of doctors, or no doctors at all.
How many of you had a dark line in the middle of your bellies during the pregnancy?
Mary V, the pictures are taken in ukraine, peninsula of Crimea- paradise on earth. we ar spending there our Summers. Strongly recommend it!
Shannon, you are a strong woman, hope you will get pregnant soon! God be with you!
Thank you all for nice words you said. and I am sorry if I offended some of you – did not mean too.
It pains me that women are being hated on for recovering well following the birth of their baby. I literally have not been to this site in almost 3 years following MY pregnancy/recovery story that received the same responses. It’s almost discrimination. What, just because someone escaped stretch marks or doesn’t have excessively saggy skin, they aren’t allowed to be proud and share their story? This is exactly why i stopped coming here… I felt “guilty” for having taken care of myself and looking like my old self postpartum. I”m 3 weeks postpartum after having my second child… and I know I can’t share how happy I am with how I look because of comments like this. How unfair, ladies.
I believe Rada’s intentions in her original post were positive. Her regimen (diet and exercise) may have worked well for her, and she’s just trying to share the information. I do, however, want to correct her assumption that stretch marks are not genetic. They are very much genetic. My mother had very few stretch marks throughout her two pregnancies, but both my sister and I get stretch marks extremely easily. I got them during an adolescent growth spurt, and then they popped up everywhere on my abdomen during pregnancy. The reason for this is that my sister and I take after our dad, not our mom. Our dad also gets stretch marks easily. We in fact have inherited a genetic disorder (from our dad) that affects our fibrillin gene which would make it impossible for us to NOT get stretch marks during pregnancy. So, while you may avoid some stretch marks by keeping close tabs on your weight during pregnancy, there are also elements that are beyond our control. If your mother didn’t get stretch marks during pregnancy, doesn’t guarantee that you won’t even if you exercise and eat properly–because you might just take after your dad. Everyone’s bodies are different, and if you are lucky and manage to go through pregnancy stretch mark-free, that is awesome, and I would be very happy for you. I have plenty of friends who look the same (sometimes even better) after pregnancy. Am I jealous? Sure! Do I feel offended by their bodies? Of course not…I am totally happy for them. I am just one of those people who will get pregnancy stretch marks no matter what. I was also a stick skinny little 13-year-old with stretch marks, so go figure. I have a faulty fibrillin gene and no amount of caution or healthy activities will help me dodge the dreaded stretch marks…and I’ve accepted that. Fortunately, stretch marks are only cosmetic–I have more deadly things to worry about with my inherited disorder!
Thanks, Rada for your comments.
I for one have not had any children yet and would love to hear more details about what you did to stay in shape. and what is dynamic gymnastics?
Rada,
I would love to hear more about your experience. Will you tell me more details about what worked for you? I am also a vegetarian for about 7 years…
If only we COULD prevent certain things. I too am a vegetarian and have been for the past 15 years. I am also an avid running completing multiple marathons and half-marathons. I avoid fast food, have never had soda and do not indulge in sweets. I ran 5-6 days a week, up to 40 miles a week, and exercised regularly throughout my entire pregnancy. I gained 18 pounds total and delivered at 128 pounds. After I delivered, I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight in about 2 weeks. Sorry, I’m getting to my point. According to my lifestyle, I did all the “right” things AND I got still got stretch marks, very bad. They cover my stomach, nearly up to my ribs, and around my breasts. It is completely inaccurate to say that genetics don’t play a role in the reason you did not get stretch marks. My mother and father both have them, so I knew I was destined to have them. And I do. I agree with you that we should live a healthy lifestyle especially while we are pregnant, but there is no diet, so special trick or method that keeps a mother destined to have stretch marks free of them. If this was true, then I would be stretch mark free.
Strethmarks are not a sign of being unhealthy. They happen or they don’t. I have millions! Half my friends have them, half don’t. Doesn’t make anyone wrong or right. And half my friends wear bikinis and half wear tankinis. Too bad we can’t all just think they are healthy and all wear bikinis. It’s just crazy for us to feel bad or wrong if we have them.
Rada, I am aware that my comment comes a little late but I am an open-minded person and I would be very happy if you shared a little more details about your exercise and nutrition! Maybe it won’t work for me but I am not afraid of exploring different paths! May I ask how much weight you gained and how you lost your extra weight (if you had some left to lose?). You are an inspiration just as all the other mothers here who work hard to give their best each day of their lives! Lots of love!
P. S. How tall are you?