My Changing Body (Heather)

This is my first pregnancy, first child. I am 21 years old.

Before I became pregnant I wasn’t exactly stick thin but I was very comfortable with myself and my body. I weighed 135lbs on a 5′ 5” frame. I didn’t start to show until my fifth month. My then boyfriend and now husband and I were living together when I became pregnant. Our son wasn’t planned but we got married when I was six months pregnant.

For the most part my pregnancy was fairly normal until around 32 weeks when my doctor told me I needed to gain about ten pounds by the end of my pregnancy. I was working and going to school full time and I suppose was too stressed and active to be keeping gaining enough. At 36 weeks my doctor put me on disability and I ended up with total weight gain of 37 pounds

After delivering my son a week early at a healthy 8lbs I started breastfeeding. I lost 30lbs within the first 3 weeks and was excited. Then after two bouts of painful breast infections I choose to give up nursing. Now I have gained 10 pounds back all ready.

I am six weeks postpartum. My breasts are two different sizes and I have deep red stretch marks and a floppy belly. Being a mother is beautiful but I don’t feel comfortable in my own skin for now. I have hope though and maybe I don’t need to have the same body that I did before. These pictures are ranging from 30 weeks to 6 weeks postpartum.

4 thoughts on “My Changing Body (Heather)

  • Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 10:22 am
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    Hey! Congratulations on your journey! Your marriage, your son, so exciting!

    I understand you not feeling comfortable in your own skin. I don’t know many that do at 6 weeks post partum. Give it time, get to know your little guy, and enjoy your husband :)

    Remember that becoming a mom gives you a whole different kind of beauty….its taken me awhile to understand that but after 2 years its starting to make sense :) Mind you I am also pregnant so in another few months I’ll be starting all over again ;)

  • Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 6:26 pm
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    You look great! And not to worry, it does get better. I promise! I am now 7 months post partum and I am really starting to feel like “me” again! Physically being pregnant takes a toll on our bodies, but also mentally and emotionally too. Enjoy your little one and stay healthy. You will be feeling back to normal in no time! :)

  • Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at 7:31 pm
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    Congrats on your little one! Your belly looks amazing! Only 6 weeks PP…you go!

  • Wednesday, July 22, 2009 at 9:59 am
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    At six weeks PP, your insides have JUST healed and are back to ‘normal’. It definately should take longer for the outsides to get back to ‘normal’ too :)
    (And if you want to, you could re-lactate. I know breast infections are painful, but there are ways to prevent it, and deal with them, to keep up the breastfeeding). You look pretty good to me; being healthy is so much more important than a number!

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