I gained 65 pounds with my son. It’s not that I was overeating; quite the opposite was true. I started uncontrollably gaining weight (sometimes 7-9 lbs a week) and finally the doctor caught on. I had pre-eclampsia. Needless to say, all that extra water stretch my skin out something bad. On July 12, I gave birth to my son (after a 3 hour labor). Now, 9 days post, I am 31 lbs lighter but still discouraged. I know I should be patient but I am so scared that my husband will leave me soon just because I don’t look right…. Right before I got pregnant, I was desperately trying to lose weight that some meds had made me gain. Now, I don’t know if I’ll accomplish it…I can’t stand to look at myself.
~Age: 25
~Number of pregnancies and births: 1
~The age of your children, or how far postpartum you are: 9 days postpartum
Updated here.
I’m right there with you! I had my second baby on the 17th and had gained 60+ pounds. I still have 30 to go, also. I’ve felt like it’ll take forever, too. I still can’t fit into my pre-preg clothes whereas last time I was back in some of my jeans by 3 weeks. Sigh.
I am sorry you are so down. I know exactly how you feel. You must feel blessed that both you and your baby are ok, pre-eclampsia is serious. Anyway, it will get better! You gave birth 9 days ago…my goodness, your uterus is not even close to it’s normal size! Also, 31 pounds lighter after 9 days…wow! I was only about 10 pounds lighter (and my son was 8 pounds, haha). Look at my last post…it is under child loss, “15 months pp update (Shannon)” I have a picture of me from 6 weeks pp to 15 months pp, and it is a big change! Just take care of you and your baby, your husband will NOT leave you, and if he did, then he is not worth it! You just gave him the best gift ever, he had the easy part in that! We are the ones that have to deal with the pregnancy, gain the weight, and give birth! We also get to feel our babies kick, and experience the miracle that childbirth, and being a mother is! It is sooo worth it :)
Please, please, I can’t stress it enough–give yourself time! Your body has done so much and has a long healing process ahead. Know that you look normal and fine. Try to focus on the miraculous thing your body has done and be gentle with yourself. Don’t even stress about it at all. I am 10 mos pp and my body is still changing–it is a long and ongoing process. You will be amazed at how much your belly goes down over the next year. Like you, I gained 60+ pounds. You can lose the weight (breastfeeding and consistent exercise did it for me!) but right now is not the time to even think about it yet. Take walks with your baby, get good at breastfeeding, and don’t worry about the mirror at all! Drink water and eat well, rest and enjoy these early days that will be gone before you know it. Try to wear something beautiful that will make you feel good. You are a beautiful mother who has just created a child–revel in that triumph and remind yourself often!
If your husband leaves you because of how your body changed bearing *his* child, you are better off without him.
That said, DUDE! It took nine months for your body to change, how could it possibly bounce back in nine days? Give yourself some time. It takes a full four years for your body to completely and totally recover from the ordeal of bearing a child. It’s hard to be patient, but if you exercise and eat healthy food your body will change in ways you like. (Reduced calorie diets are not your friend. They totally screw up your metabolism and make it harder to stay at a stable, healthy weight.)
start working out, if he leaves you because of your looks now, then thank god cause he never was into you in the first place if he leaves you over something like that or for someone thinnner…do it for you.
One poster said it takes 4 years for your body to completely recover but I don’t know about that! I am no doctor though, but if you give yourself a good 18 months than that should be plenty for healing. Right now just focus on eating healthy and taking care of your new little babe. Once you get the okay from your doctor then start working out forsure if you want to lose weight. There are so many really great at home dvds. I also found using a baby carrier or sling and going for long walks was a great workout. Plus you are bonding with your baby! I gained 55 pounds and lost it all within 4 months. This is quite quick though!! I just worked out alot and ate super clean. You will do great being a mom and staying healthy as long as you make it a priority. But for now try to relax and enjoy your little one! Take some naps when you can. Take care! :)
Turn off the bathroom light and don’t look again for a year. Sweetie, your body looks great, but it will look better with time! TRUST ME! It does take time for your uterus to shrink and for postpartum weight to melt off (breastfeeding helps with both of those! ;) ). Take a picture in the same pose ONE YEAR from now. Don’t look at a scale at all. Exercise, eat right, breastfeed, spend time with your baby and then take those pictures and compare. You will see a HUGE difference and hopefully an even bigger difference in your self confidence – hopefully a huge boost! :)
Blessings! :)
If your husband would seriously leave you after you had his child because of the natural process of your body changing…he needs to get help quick. He should love you more than ever right now, and that’s the truth! 9 days post partum, I looked like this too. 9 months post partum,, back in my high school jeans. It just takes time and, yea, self control. Its certainly not easy, but if you’re dedicated its totally possible and you’ll feel great physically and emotionally.
Nine days!! It takes 6 weeks for your uterus to return to it’s former size plus a least a few months (or more) to loose the weight. Please throw away the weigh scale! Instead look at your measurements–measure today and then every 8 weeks. Those numbers are bound to change and pretty quickly too. I figured that there wasn’t much for me to do in the first year but take care of my baby and I’d encourage you to do the same.
You look great! Stop stressing and enjoy your new baby.
(((hugs))) You look wonderful! 9 days PP..wow!!! And congratulations on your new baby. Please don’t get discouraged. I know it’s easier said than done. I’m 31 (29 when I had my now 17 month old) & figured my body may not bounce back the way it might have if I’d had children earlier, but I was still saddened when I saw myself after giving birth. I had an emergency c/s after 22 hours of Pitocin labor & 2 hours of fruitless pushing. On the day I left the hospital, I got a roommate who’d just had her baby that day. I heard the nurse commenting on how flat her stomach already was. She was also 18. When she came to check on me, she gave me almost a look of pity & patted my shoulder saying, “C-section mamas are a little different”. Gee thanks! I lost about 30-35 of the 62lbs I’d gained within the first 6 weeks, but then it took a lot of hard work to lose another 10. I’d always just assumed I’d be able to breast feed & that would help in getting the lbs off, but I wasn’t able to. So for the next 14 months, my body just pretty much stayed the same. My weight didn’t want to budge. Finally at 14 months PP, I started losing weight again. I’ve now lost 17lbs in 3 months & am 3lbs away from my pre preg weight. I thought that would never happen. So try not to be hard on yourself. I still look at myself & think eeesh! But as mothers, our bodies belong to our children & I just thank God that this kinda flumpy, saggy body was able to sustain my daughter & give life to her. Doesn’t get much better than that! :)
You will get there! I had pre-eclampsia too. I gained 53 pounds with my pregnancy and had a csection. Even though my son was 8lbs 12oz, I had only lost 5 pounds within my first week. I was discouraged, like you. I am now 4 1/2 months PP and have lost 61 pounds. You will get there! It is possible. It takes time, but for right now, just enjoy your son. Your son loves you no matter what your body looks like. You look great for 9 days postpartum. 31 pounds is A LOT to lose in just 9 days. You are doing amazing.