I’ve been visiting this site on and off over the past year. I happened upon it one day when I was trying to see if there was anyone else out there who was struggling with body changes, due to pregnancy, on the web.
How much more perfect can you get than this site?! This site has really helped me realize that I’m actually quite normal in how my body looks post pregnancy. I have a lot of stretchmarks … that’s the only thing I don’t like about my body. But, over the past year, I’ve gained encouragement by reading other people’s stories … especially those who are proud of their marks. I want to be too. I am striving everyday to get to the point where if someone saw my marks in a derogatory way I’d be able to say … “What about them? … You got a problem … you don’t need to look”! :)
In fact … I often call them “Michaela Marks” because that’s my daughter’s name. She left me cute little marks to remind me of when she was in my tummy. When I’m old, gray, no longer able to have children and vanity is considered for what it is … nothing more than a smokescreen … I’m going to love being able to see these marks on my tummy and hips. They represent love- Michaela is the love of my life.
I posted on here right after my daughter was born, 15 months ago, but wasn’t quite ready to share pictures. However, since I’ve gained so much encouragement by looking at other people’s pictures, I thought it was only fair to share some of my own. Hopefully it will encourage someone else to know that they are normal and not alone in their body changes.
I just stopped breast feeding too … and let me tell you … the boobs aren’t what they used to be! I’m 34 and look like I’m 12 in that department. It’s kind of funny though! That doesn’t bother me too much.
I really hope that this site becomes more and more popular so that people in our society can become more and more realistic, and through that less critical, about post pregnancy bodies. There’s so much going on in this world – why do we waste so much time worrying about our physical appearance anyway? Although I’m guilty of it myself … it’s a very selfish thing to be consumed by don’t you think?
So here’s some snaps of me! The Michaela Marks, depending on the light, are sometimes more prominent than in these shots.
Updated here.
Wow, your tummy looks really great, so flat and tight! Keep your head up and keep your great attitude!
Your tummy is pretty- Michaela did good :) You know, I wore a bikini after I lost my weight (about a year or so PP) my faded stretch marks a-shinin in the sun. I actually loved it. I did have that attitude about it and was ready to spit “What’chu looking at??” at the first person who looked at me wrong. you know what? no one looked at me wrong. Most people just said “cute kid” or something. People are much more cool with our bodies than we are with our own bodies, I think.
Great looking body and hardly any stretch marks!
You look great! My oldest’s name is Michaela too, spelled exactly the same way. Don’t see it spelled like that too often. *thumbs up*
Beautiful stomach…not even a tummy…abs is the word actually!
You have a beautiful tummy with tough muscles beneath. :) :) :) And Michaela is a beautiful name. If I were to use it, I’d spell it this way.
Thanks for all the lovely words of encouragement! it means a lot.