The birth of my son (first child)is by far the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I love him more that I thought possible to love someone.
However, my postpartum body… Not so much. I was 22 years old when I got pregnant and I gave birth at 23 years old. I gained a total of 56 lbs. while pregnant. I was very active while I was pregnant. I knew my body would be different, but I naively thought it would bounce back quickly because I worked out up until a week and a half before I gave birth. My son is 5 months old now and I am close to my pre- pregnancy weight. I still actively work out. 3 1/2 months postpartum I was 10 lbs shy of my pre pregnancy weight. I was also successful in completing a P.O.W.E.R. Test for a police department in my area. This is the physical agility test all prospective police officers must pass.
I know I should look at that as an accomplishment, but when I look at myself in the mirror, I am disgusted. The stretch marks do not bother me so much, it is more so that I see myself as being fat. I can fit into all my skirts and dresses perfectly due to the higher waist line, but my hips never completely moved back so I will probably never be back in my jeans…has anyone else had this problem???not to mention, the loose skin…
The fact that you successfully completed the P.O.W.E.R. test at 3-5 months post partum is awesome in itself! You are obviously physically fit. I am pre pregnancy weight, and currently working on toning. What I can relate to you on is the loose skin. I have always been an active person, in sports, in good shape. This loose skin is KILLING my self confidence. I am hoping that by toning up, it will decrease a little? But yes, you are not alone. My pre pregnancy jeans fit, but not without a muffin top (which I never had before babies). But guess what? You completed a test some wouldn’t be able to do WITHOUT babies so kudos to you!! Keep up the good work. Plus, only being 5 months PP, you still have time for your body to work out some of the changes pregnancy caused…you will never be the same, but give it another 5-7 months and you should see more improvement and gain more satisfaction with yourself.
When I had my oldest, I had gained 50lbs. I thought my hips would never go back. I didn’t even start working out until he was 6 months old, and it took me a year to lose the last 30lbs (the first 20lbs came off easily in the first few weeks postpartum). When he was 18 months old, I was in a jean size 2 sizes smaller than before I had him. It’s very possible for your hips to go back, but it takes a long time! I’m currently 4 months postpartum from my second, and gained over 60lbs with him, and have to lose 30lbs (again, I easily lost the first 30 in the first few weeks). I HATE that my postpartum jeans barely fit over my thighs….they won’t even go over my butt haha. But I know in probably about a year, if I keep working hard (lost 6lbs so far and I’ve been working at it for almost 3 weeks!), I’ll fit back into those jeans :) Slow progress is best because it means you will keep it off! It took me a year to lose the first 30lbs, but it stayed off until halfway through my second pregnancy :)