Age: 22
Number of pregnancies and births: 1
The age of your children, or how far postpartum you are: 5 months PP
I discovered this site while I was pregnant. I was desperate, searching for answers of what my body would look like after baby. Now, 5 months after delivering a beautiful baby girl, I can say think my obsession was a little silly.
I, like so many others posts that I have read, was an insecure teenager. I was always chunky, from the time I was 10 to the time I was 18. Then I lost a bunch of weight. I was still self-concious, but deep down I thought I looked great. Well, that level of confidence lasted for 3 years: until I got pregnant at 21 years of age.
I started my pregnancy at 155 pounds (I am 5’9″). The week before I delivered, I think I weighed around 225. I say I think I weighed 225 because I had stopped looking at the scale at the doctor’s office. Being weighed while pregnant was never a fun experience! lol. Now, around 5 months after delivery, I weigh 186 pounds. I’m still working towards my goal of 155 pounds, or to fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes, whichever comes first.
Losing weight has not been easy. Trying to exercise with a newborn in the house? Enough said. But I’ve been doing it. I’ve been watching my calories using an application on my phone and I’ve been working out whenever I have time left over after being a mom, working part-time, and being a full-time college student. I’ve lost 20 pounds since I came home from the hospital and my self-confidence is slowly returning. I feel great! I still do feel insecure at times though since my body is a lot different from most 22 year olds. Whenever that happens I quickly remind myself that I have been fortunate enough to have given life, and that it in itself was no easy task.
The main thing I would like to say to women who have experienced pregnancy is to love your body! And if you find that you just can’t manage to love it, do not settle! Do something about it! Whether it be exercising, or telling yourself every day how beautiful you are, if you are unhappy, then change something.
The following pictures are of me:
Pre-pregnancy
8/9 months pregnant at my baby shower
1 month PP
5 months PP (one front and one side belly. Forgive the broken mirror, I’m a bit clumsy sometimes.. :) )
And finally, my beautiful baby girl
You have a fantastic shape and do not fret at all, by your daughters 1st birthday, much, if not all, of that baby weight will be gone! In both of my pregnancies, I gained 60+ pounds and like you I hated seeing the scale go up. Its been almost a year and a half since my second child, I have lost the weight with her plus the rest from my first pregnancy (about 45-50 pounds), and I still have alot of work. My shape is coming back, but I have so much skin and loss of toned muscles. You will lose the weight and snap back quick, be blessed! We are so consumed by how our bodies look, that we forget what our bodies have done. I am becoming content with the way my body is, because it’s just how it is. I keep active, eat right, and I should be fine, maybe better than before kids and so will you and every other mama out there!
Thank you Autumn! It’s good to hear from another mom who’s gained a good amount of weight from pregnancy. I also have a lot of skin. It’s just part of life though.
Keep up the good work mama!
Thank you! I am trying to get my story up here as well so everyone can read it and all that so I can feel part of the SOAM group :) This site is just so inspiring and like you mentioned it helps some of us that got the stretch marks and extra feel normal because it is common to get the “battle scars” from pregnancy. I love reading all the stories because they are different in their own ways. Anywho, keep doing what you are doing and enjoy your beautiful baby because they grow up fast! My “baby” will be 5 next summer I can’t believe it!
I love this you are so brave and a very mature young women! I think you are amazing!
Thanks a lot MNZ!