I am 22 and a first time mother to an 8 month old. I came across this site and couldn’t believe there were such strong and proud people out there dealing with the body issues that occur. Everyone I know who has had children have gone right back to normal, no stretch marks or signs that a human being had come out of them. I thought it was just me until I found this site and now I am glad to share my story. I never thought I would have kids, truth be told I never wanted to. I became pregnant unexpectedly 2 months before my 21st birthday. I came to terms with the fact that I was going to be a mother after I was about 3 months along, and yeah I got excited about it. I weighed in at 135 when I became pregnant and thought I would go right back to that weight after I had my child. The reason to that being because my mother did as well as my older sister. I thought it was “good genes”. I got pretty big pretty quick and had no stretch marks of any kind. I was lucky! Around my 8th month of pregnancy I started to notice a few stretch marks around my belly button, but decided that was it and they would go away after I gave birth. By my due date I had stretch marks, deep and red, all over my stomach. I was upset but still tried to maintain my “good” outlook. I weighed in at exactly 200 pounds when I had my son. After my son was born I was devestaed to find out that the strechmarks were still there, along with some excess skin, and lots of extra weight. I had to have surgery 6 weeks after the birth of my son to repair a hernia. They went through my belly button so I wouldn’t have a scar. I told myself and my husband I was going to work out to fix the body my son had left me with. I have been working on my body for the past 6 months and I have lost alot of weight but the stretch marks and excess skin haunt me till this day. My husband tells me he loves the way I look and there’s nothing wrong with me. Everyone else says the same thing, “You lost weight! Be grateful for that!” “You’re crazy, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I won’t wear anything that is even the slightest bit tight around my stomach, or could possibley get raised up enough for someone to see. I’m hoping I can become more accepting of my body, but it’s hard! I’ve read a few stories on this page that have touched me and gave me the courage to write this and post pictures. For that I thank you. I wish I would have found this site before I gave birth so maybe I would have had more realistic ideas of what could happen to my body. I love my son and wouldn’t trade him for the world, I’m just not so grateful of the body he left me with. I have included shots of myself at 3, 6, & 8 months pregant, and one on my due date. I have also found enough courage somewhere inside of me to include a recent picture of my stomach. Hopefully it will get better.
You look beautiful! Our babies change us so much, on the outside and the inside, and it can be extra hard if we’ve never before seen what those affects really look like. You little one is lucky to have such a strong mama!
Oh you looked so cute pregnant! I miss being pregnant!
You look beautiful! From your description I expected something bad! You look fantastic! You are only 8 months postpartum! It takes, by some experts estimation, a year to three years for your body to fully heal from childbirth. I have taken photos of my body at 6 months pp, 12 months pp, and 18 months pp and I’ve noticed a HUGE difference with every photo! You should do the same. I’m sure you will be really surprised!!!
In my experience, my stomach did look pretty much exactly like yours, and then the marks got much lighter and less noticeable, and my skin tightened up a good deal. Give it some more time- I know it can be shocking. You’re lovely, and you look adorable in those stripey underwear!! :)