age: 22
2 pregnancies/2births
23 months and 4 weeks
Hi. My name is Ashley and I’m 22 with 2 beautiful girls. Before I got pregnant with my first daughter I was working out regularly and at my heaviest (in my life) had weighed 145 at 5’5. I was closer to 140 when I got pregnant and only gained 28lbs. My weight gain wasn’t really by my choice. I was very sick in the beginning and ended up losing 10lbs first. I bounced back fairly quickly (weight wise) but knew my body would never be the same. I had some stretch marks but nothing crazy. It only took me a couple months to get back to my weight of 140 but I looked bigger thanks to skin. Shortly after my first daughters 1st birthday I had to have my appendix removed and was shocked when I was told I was back at 160! I vowed then and there to lose the weight and NEVER be that heavy again if I wasn’t pregnant. A month and a half later I was still 160 and found out I was pregnant with my second. I dreaded how big I’d get. I was terrified of being bigger than I was with my first (168). By 20 weeks, I had lost so much weight from being extremely sick (throwing up about 3 times a day, every day) that I was only 145lbs. I didn’t want to eat after how sick I’d been. I was forcing myself to eat half a meal and then feeling sick. People kept telling me how great I looked and how small I was and all I wanted to do was say “yeh but at what cost?” The day before my daughter was born I weighed 166, putting me at a 6lb weight gain. She weighed 9lbs 4ozs. I came home just over 150. Now at 4 weeks pp, I am 145. People keep telling me how great I’ve done with the weight loss and commenting on how fast I bounced back. Everytime they say anything I want to say “Yeh, but I couldn’t eat without getting sick for 12 weeks. I’d rather be bigger.” It’s not luck that I’m thin I’m not thrilled with how I look but I’m not ashamed. I love my girls and my body is a testiment to what I’d do for them. Everytime I look down and see my stretchmarks, I smile, because it reminds me of when my girls that I love so much.
Pics- 40weeks pregnant, 2days pp, and 4weeks pp
Wow I cant believe you have a 9 lb baby in you at the 40 wk photo! You look great and I’m sorry you were sick during your pregnancy. I had a friend who was sick during all 3 of her pregnancies, had gestational diabetes, was put on bed rest, and ended up LOSING 20-30 lbs by the end of each pregnancy! I saw first hand how miserable she was so I can totally empathize with you. I would say though that you’re lucky you have healthy full term babies. (My friend delivered prematurely with hers) Congrats and btw I love your willow tree figurine in your picture… I collect them too! :)
My older sister has hyperemeis gravidarum and during her second pregnancy she had it really bad. Lost almost 20 lbs in the first 20 weeks, had to be put on the same anti-nausea meds cancer patients take, and had premature rupture of membranes at 32 weeks. They managed to safetly keep her from going into labor until 35 weeks, and by then, she was one pound LESS than her pre-pregnancy weight.
I’m someone who dreaded gaining weight while pregnant, but I’ve had a few episodes of late-pregnancy nausea and I gotta say: not worth it. I’d rather worry needlessly about my weight gain than be sick 24/7. It’s enough to be cranky for not being able to see your feet, or roll over in bed without being miserable with nausea all the damn time :(
I was on anti-nausea meds from 7 weeks until the end of my pregnancy because I had severe, 24/7 nausea. Through supreme force of will I never actually threw up but I felt pretty damn miserable for the first few months. It kind of makes you want to smack those women who never have a moment of nausea, doesn’t it?
Your pregnancy belly looked a lot like mine did…small. Lol. But I had a tiny little baby (6 lbs 5 ounces), I can’t believe you fit a 9 pounder in there!
Colleen:
I have not had nausea with any of my three pregnancies – but suffered other pregnancy/birth complications – I do hope you would not want to ‘smack’ me for not feeling as sick as you? We are all different.
You do look great sorry you were so sick! Congrats on your baby!!