Hi everyone! :) I found this site at the beginning of my pregnancy and thought that now, just past my daughter’s first birthday, would be a fairly apt moment to reflect on this mental year and nine months and make a post myself. I’m 5ft2 ish and I started my pregnancy at 9st (see before photo!) I put on about a stone in the first month then two more by the end – total weight gain of 3 stone or 52lbs !! I was also polyhydramnios (more amniotic fluid than usual) so I was MASSIVE. I thought I had got away without stretchmarks on my tummy until week 36 when they started creeping up from my knicker line. I also have a belly button piercing and that stretched alot. Also, I developed weird stretchmarks on both inner thighs from baout week 26 which got bigger and bigger until my daughter was born. Couldnt understand whay I got them there! I also have more on my hips and LOADS on my boobs, although these have faded quite a bit. My pregnancy went smoothly other than very low blood pressure which left me feeling faint and breathless most of the time from about week 34. I worked until 6 days before my due date and went into natural labour 6 days past my due date. I was due that morning to have a membrane sweep, which I didnt much fancy, so I was quite pleased with Lily’s timing! My waters broke slowly overnght and I gave birth at 18.50 the following evening, with NO PAIN RELIEF AT ALL to my beautiful 8lb 9oz baby girl Lily. She is the most wonderful little girl in the world and most definitely worth it all. I desperately wanted to breast feed but Lily just didnt take to it. The midwife decided to cup-feed her formula for one feed because they were concerned she was hungry and after that she just wanted really interested in trying to feed from me. I was very upset but managed to express breast milk for her for 8 weeks until my supply dried up. Im pleased that she got my breat milk, even thouh it meant milking myself every 90 minutes and feeling somewhat like a cow for 2 months! ;) My body was ‘better’ before in many ways – my tummy was flat and toned and the skin was tight and my boobs stood up more, but honestly Im happier with my body now than I was before. It is just so incredible what our bodies can do – way more amazing than a flat stomach and toned skin. I celebrate my body so much more now and I feel like a whole woman. I have included a before photo, several through my pregnancy and some after pics. :) :) :)
Before
39 weeks – two weeks before the birth
3 days PP
25 days PP closeup of tummy
20 weeks
3 photos at one year PP
you look great! your story and body are a lot like mine. my belly peircing hole is ripping a lot too. ur marks have faded to almost nothing!
congrats on ur baby girl!
99% of women who have never been pregnant would kill for your tummy – even with those three little stretchmarks!
I think you look terrific, and this from a guy! Women undersale their stretchmarks as being disgusting, when we guys don’t see them as such.
It’s simply the difference in a guy wanting a woman, and not a girl.
I’m sure your daughter is beautiful, and made things totally worth it!
Wow, you are one lucky lady! Congratulations! You look fantastic! Like the gentlemen said before me! A woman!
There are teenagers that would kill for your post baby body! You look Hot!
oh my gosh, your stomach looks amazing!! you’re so lucky!
You look awesome……I have three kids and I had stretch marks on my breast just like yours with my first…they dissappeared after a year(even if they didn’t I would still love my body as I do now)….my husband still thinks im the sexiest thing on earth…..I’m proud of you..you are truly an amazing young woman!!!!