Age: 25
Pregnancies: 3
Births: 2
Ages: Son = 5 years old, Daughter = 3 months old
Post-Partum: 3 months
I have always struggled with my weight. I’ve been on diets, exercise regimes, and even pills. When I was 17, I was so disgusted with my weight that I turned to anorexia. I refused to eat. By the time I was 18, I lost 100lbs. I felt good, even though I went about losing the weight in a very unhealthy manner. I met my now-husband the end of 2002. We fell in love quickly and for once…my weight didn’t matter. I kept my weight even during that time and then found out I was pregnant with my son January of 2004.
I didn’t realize his pregnancy would change my body image.
I had a relatively easy pregnancy with him. Mild heartburn, some swelling…by the end of the pregnancy….I had gained 100lbs. The weight that I lost, was now back.
I had to have an emergency C-Section with him, which ruined my chances of being able to use my lower abs to their full potential, during weight loss. I had a hard time even ab-curling 10lbs…
The extra weight triggered PCOS, which means Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I have the multiple cysts on my ovaries, the weight gain, the difficulty losing weight, lower progesterone, higher testosterone…
In 2006, I got pregnant for the 2nd time. We were happy. Unfortunately, I miscarried at 12 weeks. The baby died at 8 weeks. After talking with my OB/GYN, the PCOS could have caused the miscarriage.
I didn’t get my PCOS diagnosed officially until April of 2009.
I had to endure 3 years of wanting a baby, trying for a baby, and not being able to get pregnant. I finally went searching and doctor after doctor after doctor told me the same thing: I’m too fat.
They never wanted to see why my body wasn’t wanting to bounce back. They never investigated my lack of period…
I met my new OB and he changed my life. He diagnosed me, he helped me conceive my daughter…
My pregnancy with my daughter was ROUGH, to say the least. I was constantly sick, lost a lot of weight in the beginning.
At the end, I had gained only 13lbs. Two weeks PP, I found out I had lost 26lbs!
I’m 3 months PP, and I love my mommy-body. I have lost almost 40lbs since the week before I gave birth. I would love to get healthier, but this body is something I have to live with forever. It’s not going to magically go away on it’s own and it’s not going to become super-model worthy.
My body is super-mom worthy.
Blue shirt picture (side view) = Me at 18, after losing 100lbs.
Blue nightgown, pregnant belly = Me at 19, a month before giving birth to my son.
Pink pregnant belly = Me at 25, day of C-Section with my 2nd baby.
Last four photos = Me now after losing 40lbs.
Good for you on finally accepting yourself. You look lovely.
Nicole! I feel for you! I have also almost always been overweight! Last year I was 110 lbs overweight. I took an online class called Weigh Down and it has changed my life for the better! It is not hard to do at all. You do not have to eat special food or even excercise if you don’t feel like it at first (I know with my extra 110 lbs, I had developed the beginning stages of plantar fascitis, which I know is nothing compared to PCOS, but I did NOT feel like excersizing, nor was it good for my feet at the time). They have some free classes to try it out! I wish you the best! Hugs!
My sister has PCOS. I pray she has the luck you have had with conception and accepting her body! You are inspiring and beautiful!!! (Cute top!!!)
congrats on conceiving.. but keep in mind that PCOs has a strong hereditary component (you pass your hormone disorder genes onto your children), so it’s very possible your children may will have the same endocrine problems(but hopefully in their generation there will be better medical treatments)!
I was diagnosed with PCOS in the middle of 2008. I went through A LOT and finally conceived the end of September 2009 with the help of an IUI. I am 7 weeks and 4 days PP.
I have not been diagnosed with PCOS but my mother and her sister have it. I have lots of the signs of it, I have facial hair (like on my cheeks, chin, neck) and i’m overweight, I had very irregular periods..so much so that I took birth control for a month and that actually gave me a period…after I quit taking it I didn’t have a period again. So I didn’t have a period from May-now and I am 9 weeks and 6 days pregnant. I had a bella when I got pregnant with my first baby, and it decided to hang around underneath my baby bump..so I was always trying to cover it up with my stretchy pants or shorts. Well I still have that but kinda bigger and a little more stretched out and I am pregnant again. I was trying to lose weight this summer so I could be more in shape for my next pregnancy but I was surprised to find out I was pregnant since I wasn’t even having periods. You are doing well with losing weight and having the confidence you have!!! I believe reading women’s stories on this website might help me a little more.
Hi
I was wondering how your doctor helped you to concieve??
I believe I may have pcos and I want to go to my doctor and have some ideas.
PCOS is highly heritable. The extra weight may not have “triggered” the PCOS so much as the PCOS triggered the extra weight. It’s a bit of a chicken-and-egg question but the PCOS often precedes weight issues.
Treating PCOS doesn’t have to be about weight loss. A Health At Every Size (HAES) approach can also help. In this you emphasize healthy eating and regular exercise but not necessarily weight loss. Research shows that this approach provides longer-lasting health benefits than weight-loss oriented care because people stick with it longer and the body doesn’t work to regain the weight.
However you handle it, though, best wishes to you and your littles, and thank you for sharing your PCOS story.
I have PCOS too, diagnosed 6 months PP with my son, the weight gain has been really hard on me. I’ve gained 90 lbs since i got pregnant 3 years ago..i want another baby but ive got to find a good doctor..your story has given me hope!
Nicole your story is one I am sharing with my daughter who has PCOS and has problems getting prego :) she has a 3yr old son (gigi’s pride and joy:) )and is now trying to conceive again. She had to have emergency c-section when reg.scheduled c-section (due to not dialating) went bad due to water broke and the couldn’t get epidural in place so she has same problem with exercise and doctors have told her she is too fat lose the weight and she will get preggo. I believe that if she reads your story it will inspire her and give her hope to becoming pregnant again. NO ONE ELSE in our family has ever had PCOS, all I had to do was think about getting pregnant and poof I was and I hemorraged during my periods which lead to d&c age 12 and bcp’s but no P.C.O.S your an inspiration to all women whom are going thru this keep smiling you have a beautiful mommie body and beautiful atitude TY for giving new hope to daughters PCOS