Age: 22
Number of Pregnancies/ Births: 1
Previous post here.
This is my second post to this website. I am now 13 Months PP. I hate to admit it but I am feeling worse than ever!!! I am up and down as far as staying optimistic about my body, I will go two maybe three weeks at a time thinking my stomach will start tightening up / looking better then I completely break down feeling like the ugliest person in the world. My husband booked us a trip to Hawaii in 4 weeks; and I am terrified that I am going to ruin the trip with my mood. After all it is a place where bikinis are kind of a must! I figured by now that my stomach would look good enough to wear a bikini. I am only 22! I shouldn’t feel like I am used up and old. I think at this point any improvements I see in my stomach, are only me getting used to my stomach rather than it actually looking better. I just need to know what my stomach looks like from another person’s perspective, I would feel horrible if I went out in a bikini and appauled people with my stomach. My husband gets upset when I cry or complain about my apperance and says that with time I will look better. I guess all I really want him to say is that I am beautiful and that it is all in my head. I asked him whether or not he thinks it would be acceptable for me to wear a two piece bathing suit and he kind of avoids the question. I just need some closure from someone else. So please someone honestly tell me their opinion.
That point aside, my husband and I are trying for another baby (so excited!!) I went to the OBGYN this month to figure out why it took so long last time to conceive; she diagnosed me with PCOS. I was told that it was as if my body has the throttle pushed and the brakes pushed at the same time so my body doesn’t really get anywhere when trying to drop an egg. Does anyone else have this? (I heard it is the most common cause for infertility) Any suggestions?
The picture where you can see the shirt is 8 months pp and the one where you cannot see my shirt is now at 13 months pp.
Thank you all for your support, It is so nice to have someone who has gone through the same things to talk to.
Well, you are certainlly improving! The 13 month PP picture def looks tighter! Good job! Unfortunately it takes time, eating right and exercise. I think you can totally wear a bikini! Nobody is perfect, baby or no baby. You expect more from yourself than what other people (who don’t even know you) do! If you think you are going to be worried about your stomach though, why not wear a tankini? Or a retro one piece? Those are in style right now!
I understand about the stomach frustrations. I’m 24 yrs old and 17 months pp. My stomach looks so flat and even toned when I’m standing. It looks like I have o stretch marks. But if I bend over, my stomach looks so squishy and soft and with stretch marks. I too have debate on whether to wear a bikini…
I think you could more than pull off a bikini! My tummy is similar (I’m also at 13 months!) and I plan to wear one this summer as well. The thing I would suggest is to maybe bring a cover up or more modest suit just in case. At the end of the day it’s really not about what we think you’ll look like in your bikini, it’s about how you feel in it. And if you don’t think you can go to the beach without constantly worrying about if someone is looking at your stomach/what your husband is thinking/etc then you probably won’t have a good time with your family. So if you rock the bikini (which I personally think you should!) then totally commit to it and know you look great, mama! Have an awesome vacation!
At 13 months PP as well, my tummy looks similar, though not as flat (it’s an ongoing process!). We have a beach vacation in September, so I find myself wondering about a bikini as well. I’m undecided. I think what is more important is finding a bathing suit that I love, and that I love to wear! Unless you go to a “bikini only” beach, don’t get hung up on that one style! There are so many types that might make you feel sexier than a bikini I hope you have an amazing time in Hawaii! And good luck with baby #2!
Just wear a bikini if you want to! We went to Oahu when my second child turned 3, and I thought I would be a sexy mama by then. Well, I didn’t look like I did at 17, but I didn’t really care either. I had a lot of fun snorkeling and paddle boarding with my family and hanging out at the beach. I actually wore a rash guard a lot of the time to keep from burning in the sun. And if I took a picture in my bikini I made a sexy pose :). Standing up or lying down or something. It’s FINE. I look a lot like you, and my Oahu pics came out great. I also went for a short 1 mile run and did sit ups every day for a few weeks before i left. I didnt make a difference really visually, but it boosted my confidence and made me physically ready for all the fun we would be having. By the way, my sister in law wore a 2-piece that covered her stomach because that was what she was comfortable and confident in. Just get something you feel great in.
I have two kids 6 and 3. I got huge with my first baby, and got tonz of stretch marks. The ones are my belly were really deep and wide. I wouldnt go to the beach the first year i had him, as i was still over weight, and my marks were really red. Well, after a year I said screw it. I lost the weight, and avoided gaining much with my second child. My stomach is super scarred and wrinkles a bit when i sit down etc. But I say screw the others!! I proudly rock my bikini every summer, and personally feel like i look better in a two piece as opposed to a one piece. You look fantastic, and if I were you I wouldnt hesitate to rock a bikini at all!!!
I Think… it doesn’t really matter what I think!
Will YOU feel comfortable in a bikini? Will you feel like all eyes are on you (which they won’t be really, I promise!)?
Will it stop you from chasing your kids through the surf or getting up a high dive or lying at a crowded poolside?
If so, just get a really cute full bathing suit! If you think you can put all that to the back of your mind… Get a nice bikini and rock it!
Huzzah!! Lookit you mama :) I say it’s a go for a bikini!! If you’re worried about the stretch marks…I found that the gradual self-tanner lotions hid them quite nicely :) I tried out Avon’s…and Nivea’s/Jergens…and found that they all worked about the same…BUT you wont see the results until about the 3rd/4th day…so you have to keep up with it daily…
I am sure that if you choose to rock a bikini…you will get lots of compliments…for 1)How amazing you look for having had a baby…and 2)The hard work you’ve put in to toning yourself <3 :)
So all in all…have a wonderful time in Hawaii :)
~Pomaika`i <3
If you really arent comfortable in a bikini and it stresses you out to think of wearing one, dont wear one! There are some really nice one pieces, or even a mono-kini that provide some coverage but can still be just as sexy. Just saying, if you arent comfortable and your fearful of ruining the trip, then its not worth it. VS has some sexy one pieces btw. Enjoy your trip, enjoy your body, enjoy your babies :)
Girl rock that bikini! I’m also 22 years old, 10 months PP, my tummy is a little tighter than yours and I am definitely wearing a bikini this summer! You know why? Because I’m young and I might look worse after baby #2 and #3 and #4. So I don’t want to look back with regrets saying how I wished I wore a bikini when I had the opportunity. You have a beautiful defined waist, so what if your belly is covered in stretchmarks? Live life today and forget what strangers will think about your belly. And if you’re completely uncomfortable in a bikini there are lots of sexy one piece suits online. Have a magnificent time in Hawaii, don’t let some stretchmarks ruin your vacation. Your husband will appreciate it too.
OMG!! Rock that bikini! You got nothing to be ashamed of! I have diastasis recti and have been struggling with getting my 5 month pregnant looking belly down to looking somewhat normal and i am 22 months pp. I still decided i was gonna wear a bikini anyways. More women should embrace their bodies after childbirth so that everyone can have a better perspective of what is actually normal. You are so beautful and i am sure your husband thinks so too!
Jamie, you look great! You also look like you’ve had a baby, which is not the same as being “used up and old”. But, if you’re going to be uncomfortable find a cute one piece or tankini. You can take the bikini along and wear it if you feel like it.
As for the PCOS – I’d advise you to see a Reproductive Endocrinologist. I don’t have PCOS, but I’ve been in several infertility support groups and I’ve never heard of anyone being diagnosed with PCOS in a single office visit. It’s usually a result of many tests that eliminate other possible causes for the infertility. Additionally, PCOS is usually accompanied by other symptoms.
You can pull it off :) Easy, I reackon a slightly higher waisted bikini might make you feel more confidant. Not that I think it it nessercairy :)
Girl, you look beautiful! i would totally wear a bikini if i looked like you. wear one, and be proud :) your tummy is flat, and you have no extra skin!
I would absolutely wear a bikini! Wear it with pride too because you look damn good! I am 26 and pregnant with my 3rd…I hope to look like that again someday! Wear that bikini :) Oh, and enjoy Hawaii!!!!
I think your body is something you need to accept. I have been tryin to lose the baby weight but I have accepted that it will never be the same, and that’s fine. You need to love the way you are and so does your hubby. Good luck on trying for the second!
Thank you soooo much ladies for your support I am feeling better. I am going to try to go tanning to see if my stretch marks will become less noticeable. And continue to do situps every night to try to tighten the wrinkles up more… maybe a monokini oe cover up for going out around people and a bikini for laying out. :)
If you do not feel comfortable in a bikini around others DO NOT WEAR ONE. I do not mean this in a mean way, because personally I think you look fabulous. However, what others see is not the same as what YOU see about yourself. The only reason I say this is because if all you can do is stress about how you look, if others are noticing your flaws, if you sit a certain way will it look bad, etc. you won’t be enjoying your time. And chances are, if you’re wearing a swimsuit, you should be trying to have fun. You will not have fun if you’re constantly worrying about how you look, or if you’re good enough. I also have stretch marks and have for ten years. However, we are very fortunate to live in a time when bikinis aren’t the only attractive option. I went with a pinup style swimsuit. Look up Modcloth swimsuits. They’re VERY attractive and are more pinup/retro so they are very sexy and don’t look like they did in the 90s. Victoria’s Secret also has a line of monokinis that are very cool, at least to give you some ideas. You look great, make a decision that YOU are comfortable with. Everyone here thinks you look great, sure. But how do YOU feel about YOURSELF? Pick something that makes you feel confident and sexy and doesn’t make you worry about how you look.
Girl – you are rocking and that belly looks great. I would go for the bikini if I were you. But the previous ones are right – if you’re not confident, you’ll be uncomfortable. But you have every right to be confident!!!
You look great and if you want to feel even better get a good spray tan. :) They rock and cover so much. Even girls that don’t have any marks use them to bring out positively glowing skin. :) :) You are going to have a blast!
So, I was looking for something to slip into after I have my second in a few weeks. Some of these are super cute/sexy and ohhh sooo flattering. :) https://www.albionfit.com/swims/striped-sashed-suit-black-and-white
Your belly looks amazing! Most of us didn’t look that good pre-baby lol. Love it & rock it!!!
You look awesome!! Like some others have said, you have to feel confident but I think you look amazing. I’m 9 months PP and seeing this picture gives me a lot of encouragement of what I can look like if I give myself more time. Rock a swimsuit!
You look great in my opinion, you could always try palmers cocoa butter. I’m surprised it’s not mentioned on here more honestly. It’s great stuff. Your suppose to use it 3 times a day but I use it once a day and haven’t gotten a single stretch mark and I plan on using it afterwards religiously as well. A friend suggested it to me because she used it when she got her breast implants removed and says it works miracles.
But really you look fantastic either way, but for me it’s nice to feel like I’m doing something proactive rather than just waiting to see what happens, gives a bit me more confidence.
For one you have a beautiful shape! I am envious of that waist. For two, why are you trying for another baby if you’re so unhappy and preoccupied with your appearance as it is right now? Is that going to make for a healthy pregnancy, marriage or state of mind for yourself? You should probably wait and rebalance yourself emotionally. For three, as everyone says, there are many styles of bathing suit. Try a monokini !