Age: 26
# of pregnancies: 7 pregnancies, 5 live births.
Kids Ages: 8, 6, 4, 1.5, 4 months
My whole life I have been insecure about my body. I was emotionally abused as a child by one parent and the other parent basically turned the other way and told me to be quiet. This left me feeling unloved for many years. I felt unloved at home, not liked by peers because I had such low self esteem that I was awkward around other people. I wouldn’t look people in the eye, I had no social skills (we lived in the country with no neighbors) so going to school was so awkward and I was super self conscious about my body. I was always a bit chubbier than the rest of my peers, eating became my comfort since I had no one to really talk to and befriend. In high school I went about and thought having sex with a guy would get them to love me WRONG so wrong. I had many sexual encounters and never a serious relationship (partially my fault due to fear of intimacy) I so badly wanted an intimate relationship but wouldn’t open up. At 16 I met my first 5 kids dad. I got pregnant three times at age 17. The first two pregnancies I lost due to miscarriage. The third pregnancy I carried until I delivered my beautiful baby girl. I got pregnant again at 19 had my second daughter and again at 21 and had my first son. Needless to say their father like myself was immature and not ready for a real relationship or kids. He cheated many times, couldn’t hold a job and basically told me how lucky I was that he stuck around cause no one else would want me. He told his friends in front of me that I needed a boob job, tummy tuck, and butt implants many times….I was humiliated like that at least three times that I remember. Eventually I broke it off in 2016 at the age of 24 going on 25. An old high school crush contacted me shortly after and we began speaking.
We began dating in April 2016 and I found out I was pregnant in May. He asked me to marry him and I agreed. Once again I lacked judgement and before I knew it I was in a physically abusive and verbally abusive marriage. I had our son in January 2017. In August 2017 he confessed to cheating on me many times. I was and still am heartbroken. In September I found out I was pregnant yet again. I tried to make things work, talk about why what was lacking what I wasn’t providing but he refused and continued seeing one of his side chicks. I filed for divorce and we got divorced January 2018. I had our second son in May 2018. Although we have remained together on and off until presently. He has shown signs of maturing in some areas and takes anger management while I go to counseling. He promises he will never cheat again but I don’t believe it…just kind of waiting and trying my hardest so if he does again I will be able to walk away with my head held high knowing I tried and gave it my all. Anyways I thought my body was bad back in high school lol nah it’s so different now. I must have horrible genetics because I have stretch marks all over my tummy, my thighs, butt, arms. My tummy also has a horrible flap of fat and loose skin. The other night my ex was going through pictures I had sent him because he asked and stopped one and commented how it was not flattering because of “that”. He couldn’t even say my tummy but I knew what he meant. Anyways he is right it isn’t a pretty sight and I pray that if him and I don’t work someday I may find a man who can get past it. In the mean time I have 19 pounds to drop till I am at my goal weight and will try to bring my body fat percentage down and gain some lean muscle by eating correctly and working out. Wish me luck, I have come to some sort of terms with my body and I love my kids so I would do it all over again. Ps sorry that my photos are nude from the waist down I just used the pics I had sent my ex. I believe I was/am about 4 months postpartum in them. Sorry about the nudity.
I see only a mother who has carried many children. It’s no surprise at all with a small frame like yours to have some excess skin. Your belly was stretched much bigger than it was used to. I see nothing repulsive. I see softness. I see strength and curves and a slim figure despite only having a baby 4 months ago.
The other comment I have refers to your statement that you pray that if you find a new partner that he’ll accept it. Why are you waiting to see if this man, who says hateful and awful things about your body will stay with you. You’re already thinking about the future with a possibly much kinder and accepting person. I think that says a lot. I agree your counselling is brilliant to continue but I would seriously consider why you want to try and force the relationship you have.
Maybe im not the right person to answer.. but nobody else is.. but a tummy like that is not ofputting for most guys.. you cant help it.. you had kids.. there more battle scars.. i wish you all the best..
oh no! oh honey…so much to write here. been through some bad stuff myself. i’m 10 years older than you, so let me pass on what i’ve learned.
1 please go check out chumplady.com she writes about infidelity. there’s so much support on that website. it’s really saved me. one recent quote in particular stood out to me regarding your situation:
Chump Lady’s words of wisdom: “Don’t apologize. You put on weight? You can take it off. Being fatter doesn’t make you unlovable or unworthy of respect. Being fat doesn’t prevent you from helping others, or being a friend, or making a friend.”
it looks like you have loose skin. you’ve had 5 children. that is the equivalent of 5 large watermelons in your body. i’d say you look very normal. and don’t you dare apologize for posting nudes. plenty of women have on this website. that’s the point of it- to show what we look like under layers of clothing post partum. only YOU can decide if you are comfortable with it- and that is YOUR choice.
2 expanding on sex after having a baby, i’ll read what i read elsewhere: every seen a woman with 2 kids? how do you think the second one got here? in other words, a man found a woman attractive enough to have sex with her again after she’s had a baby. those exes are full of crap. if you were so “bad looking” then why were they with you? they are emotionally abusive people who seek to tear you down to make themselves feel better.
3 your boobs look amazing
HUGS i wish you healing in recovering from all this awful stuff.