First of all, I would just like to say that I love this website, and I have visited it nearly everyday since I found it. It is truly amazing the giant gap between the body images we are fed in the media and the REALITY of what healthy women really look like. But of course, being aware of the problem and overcoming the problem are two very different things, and the latter takes an immense amount of work to accomplish. I think I am getting there, but I know I have a long way to go. Some days are better than others. So, here is my story…
I became pregnant with my first child three months shy of my 20th birthday. I was in a horrible relationship, but didn’t realize it yet. My pregnancy was complicated by preeclampsia, due to stress, and depression. The father of the baby, whom I was living with, was (is still) an alcoholic and drug addict. I didn’t know about the drugs then, but I did know that he rarely came home at night. I stayed up worrying many nights. When he did come back, he would often threaten to leave me, occasionally packing all of his stuff in the car. He screamed a lot, and called me names. I was in a constant state of anxiety, and I felt like I was going crazy. He didn’t want to touch me all through the pregnancy. One night, he brought home this girl- a mutual “friend” of ours- and had sex with her in our bed while I was home.
My daughter was born in March. Her father was there, physically, but not mentally or emotionally. I spent the first month after my baby was born with a family member, and then we moved back to where her father was from. The abuse got worse, and turned physical. I honestly can’t remember him holding his daughter at all. Ever. I mean, I’m sure it happened a few times, but for the most part I was a single mom (with financial support). I breastfed my daughter for over a year. After a few months though, she only wanted to nurse on one side. I know it is pretty common for something like that to happen, but in my situation, it was unbearable. I was teased by her father and even his mother for my “lopsidedness”. I won’t drag you all through the next two years, but eventually I got sick of it all and got smart. Just after my daughter’s second birthday, I moved back home, got a job and moved on with my life.
Fast forward four years. I’m happily married and have a son now too. Sometimes I sit back and wonder how I got from 2007 to today. Luck? It seems so very far away, and yet it really wasn’t all that long ago. I still suffer from depression and now I have post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and get panic attacks. I birthed my son at a birth center without any pain medication. He was a robust nine pounds even. I felt fantastic (okay, maybe not fantastic)- but pretty damn good after the delivery. It was so much better than having an epidural, even though my labor was hard. My husband is a freaking angel. He is the most supportive, loving, amazing person I have ever met. He has put up with my “crazies” for the last three years like a champ.
Last year I had a breast augmentation to try to fix my uneven breasts. I am really happy with the result- although I do have days that I wish I could have been happy the way I was. I think my doctor did an amazing job, and I think they look and feel very natural. My husband was perfectly happy with me before, but he was very supportive of my decision too.
I had lost a lot of the weight I gained with my son, but I’ve recently gained some of it back. I’m not sure if it my diet, or the fact that I stopped hormonal birth control. We aren’t trying for another baby, and use condoms, but I just wanted to see what my cycle (and emotional state) would be like off of birth control. I had been on some form or another for almost ten years. I’m really unhappy about my weight right now. I was (a tiny) 120 before my daughter’s birth, gained 65 pounds during that pregnancy, and got down to 130 pounds about two years postpartum. The second time around, I think I gained about 40 pounds, got down to 135 and now I’m about 141 or so. I can’t fit into any of my old pants- even the things I was wearing 1 year postpartum, and it is really frustrating. I’m doing an ab class three times a week, but not much else. My diet is pretty sucky right now too. I am thinking about going vegetarian again- that’s what I did last year to get down to 135. I have an old scar on my belly- it’s not from a cesarean, but very similar to one like that- so I have that kind of skin/fat overhang thing there too, which I hate!
There is a lot more to my story of course… I’m just working on being able to talk about and share it all. Thank you for reading this. If there is one thing I’d wish for, it would be for everyone to be a little bit kinder to themselves and each other. Everyone has a story- some of them are like mine. Some stories are worse, and some are better. But everyone carries something around with them.
The first five photos are of me today, and the last one is when I was about 34 weeks pregnant with #2.
Age: 25
Number of pregnancies and births: 4 pregnancies, 2 births
The age of your children, or how far postpartum you are: 6 & 2, 2 years postpartum
first off, thank God you got out of that relationship and found you wonderful dh im so happy for you! your boobs look awesome would have never known you had surgery on them they look very natural ( i to someday will do the same:) you are very pretty physically and mentally i think your going to do just fine from here on out you sound like you are super happy!! Congrats & GL
I am so sorry for everything you have been through. The most important is that you have now – children and your loving supporting husband. I have postpartum depression too, even my baby is already 7 month old. Regarding your breast – they look just perfect, you right, it looks very very natural, and your body looks good too, dont be too hard on yourself!
Your boobs are perfection!! Just sayin ;) Plus you have a very womanly body. Beautiful!
I am so sorry about your ex! Kudos to you for leaving him. So glad to hear you found a great man! I think you look great you have a nice shape :)
We have very similar stories. Yours is much worse than mine but I certainly relate. I am so happy that you, like me, have ended up with a wonderful and supportive husband after everything you’ve been through!
Also, your body looks wonderful! Your doctor really did do a great job on your breasts. I would have liked to have seen a before picture of them. Your belly looks great too! Don’t be so hard on yourself. Just be healthy and love yourself. You’re beautiful!
i think you look amazing! im glad that you found your way from the negativity and became a stronger person when you left. You are an amazing mom :)
You look incredible! Amazing boobs!
Also thank you for sharing your story. We have very similar stories actually and it’s good to see you have a positive attitude. I am working on mine still
you look great! i strongly believe that breast surgery is a good thing if you do it for yourself. before my pregnancy i was using herbs to help my growth and unevenness, and i believe that had i not done that my symmetry would be so much worse after giving birth. now i have natural and even 32F’s! now i kind of want them to shrink a little so i can find a bra again lol :)
Wow! You have a beautiful and feminine body. You look like one of those Greek statues. I wouldn’t change a thing about you and you don’t need to go on any diets because you look simply perfect. Your breasts look really natural, too. As for your dirt-bag ex, I’m so glad you got out of that relationship and you are happy and with a stand up guy now. Good for you! You go, girl!!! :)
your boobs are AMAZING. so jealous. :)
Hugs to you! I felt so angry when I was reading about your relationship with your first babys’ father, what a complete jerk, so happy you moved on with your life. I think you look fantastic and your boobs look great! And congratulations on your second baby :) Your body looks beautiful, like a real woman, curvey and gorgeous! I know there must be a lot of emotional healing you have to do, but take it one day at a time. You sound like a wonderful mother and smart lady, you are not just “lucky” to be where you are today, you took control of your life and that is something to be very proud of. Im sure your daughter would thank you :)
You are lovely!!
U sound like an amazing person 2 have made it through all that you have! You have a beautiful body and an amzing heart. Good luck with everything :)
You are absolutely beautiful! You have the body of a woman. You go, girl!
You look great! We all have jackass ex-boyfriends.
We don’t all have kids with them but that is why you stayed with him so long. You wanted to try to make it work with your child’s father. I’m happy you found a great guy. I’m older for a new mom being 36. I always had a great figure before. Now my son is 7mths and my body is getting better but…it is not what it used to be at all. Plus, I used to work out and now I just can’t find the time. I’m a little nervous about summer coming up and being in a suit. Yikes!!
I would kill for your breasts!