The Shape of a Mother

I’ve just celebrated my very first Mother’s Day. Before this day I thought I knew what it was to be a mother. All of a sudden I felt connected, connected to all other Mothers, all other Children, and the Earth. I am a Creator of Life. This body has been used and abused and neglected but has done a noble thing. It grew a child. This imperfect body, grew a perfect life. It took all its goodness and passed it on to my son, my beautiful baby boy, who brings joy to my world every day. There is no question my body is different than it was before I was pregnant. Like aging, we wear our life experience outwardly as well as inwardly. We grow laugh lines, grey hair and age spots. These are signs of the life we have experienced. My body has stretch marks, extra skin, bigger but less firm breasts, all of these are signs of the life it grew inside it. Like a rite of passage, I will wear these signs with courage and pride. Thank you to all the brave and noble women who have posted on this site. Thank you for helping me to feel good about myself. My photos are 39 weeks pregnant and 7 months post partum. I gained only 17 lbs during my pregnancy and lost all but a couple of pounds within a few weeks. I’ve gained back about 10 pounds and don’t want to worry too much about it until after I’ve finished breastfeeding – which by the way, I love so much I can’t imagine not doing it anymore!

Thank god for your website! I live in a european country that almost condones [condemns?] big women after having babies, simply by the advertising and the way in which the locals here are built. I’m not from here and find it hard to adjust physically. I’ve had two kids only 18mths apart and am yet to recover physically! Am currently 4mths post-partum. Still breastfeeding and craving dark chocolate madly! try to exercise when I can (when being the operative word as I have very little time for myself!) and eat as healthy as I can. But…. still bigger than I ever use to be, hubby not so celebratory of my body. Doesnt really say much and when I cover myself up and apologise (cause my tummy sticks out or whatever) he just says “its ok”….?! hes a local so use to slim women! so sad. desperate and alone.

Updated here.

Well I had my first child when I was 18.. and before that had done some modelling.. its wasnt anything much but I did it mainly to feel better about my body I had been called “wide Load” by my Dad and my brother ever since I hit puberty so when I went for an interview and got accepted to model I was over the moon!… so now after 5 children I am almost pretty happy with my body I still have weight to loose from my last pregnancy he is now 3 months old but other than that I am happy of my “mother scars” it tells me that I have done something worth while and if it means never wearing a bikini again Im good with that too! One day in the future maybe I will get a tummy tuck but until that this is how I look!! and I love it! Partlysbabe

I gave birth at 17 and this is my belly 3 years later.

Dear Readers,
I’ve been reading this blog for quite a while. I even put link on my private blog to invite everybody I know here. Now I decided to write my own story here. I am 31 now. Till i get married I always thought of myself as an ugly and fat person (in my “best” years I even had 180lb – I am onl 168 cm tall). Then I started my way to getting fitter and ended with weight of 138lb. Until i got pregnant and my body was in total shock. I managed to climb to 180lb again which was a disaster for me. I had a very lively and lovely boy Mateusz. Due to breastfeeding and keeping away from calories I managed to come back to my before pregnancy weight. I was able to wear size 10 again. But we started talking about another kid and i was so scared to gain weight. Fortunately due to “accident” i was pregnant again. It was a hard time for me because just a few months ago I started my new job. Being a pregnant woman with one kid and 40h job is a hard task but I managed to work till the end of 6th month. My weight reached up to monstrous 196lb and i was totally down when thinking about my body. Now after almost 8 months and as a monther of a boy and a girl I can say I am in my size again. My weight is on 140 again and I do not have to keep 3 sizes in my wardrobe anymore. I had a huge belly and now skin does not look very nice but i hope to work on that in future. Maybe when I stop breastfeeding again? I feel stronger when i see other women sharing their stories. It is so stressing to see all models and actress skinny all the time. I wish we were shown their real photos and not photoshop work because for us being pregnant mean losing our curves, our body of a normal woman. I want to love myself but it is difficult when i hear everywhere I am a little too big, i have to lose a little, i should stop eating any sweets, i should i should… I should just love myself and my kids and being a good mom and a woman for my husband – THAT IS ALL I SHOULD DO. Remember that our scars on belly mean we had the most precious thing under our heart and no man will have it, no man will understand our sacrifation – NO MAN!

I had my two boys 6 months ago!!!

I have posted my story in here once before, but I wanted to share these pictures with my fellow mothers. My little baby boy took his first 4 steps today at 14 months. I found myself elated and a little more than sad all at the same time. I remember reading an article in Mothering magazine about a mother climbing a tree with her adult son and telling the readers about the way he smelled-of sweat. The smell of a teenager. I think of that every time my beautiful daughter has her wonderful almost 3 year old conversations with me and today when my son walked into my arms. Everyone tells you to treasure these moments, but to experience it all yourself seems to make those words of advice so much more beautiful and important. So, here I am treasuring some of the moments. We’re still nursing strong and there is no plan to stop any time soon. The entire shoot was spent with me holding the camera out in front of me and trying to keep him from bending over and latching on just long enough for me to get some shots. Thank you, ladies, for all your stories. I’ve spent so much time reading them all and looking at all your beautiful pictures and feeling so greatful to be a woman.

I got loads more stretchmarks this time round but I don’t mind them. I am amazed how fast my stomach is getting flatter, I think breastfeeding is helping but it is very flabby and there is no muscle tone whatsoever, also when I bend forward it is very wrinkly. I really love this site it helps me to remember that I am normal!!!

Updated here.

I got pregnant with my first baby when I was 16. I was 5’4″ and 125lbs. With that pregnancy I gained nearly 60lbs. and had the stretch marks to prove it. My entire belly was covered as well as my hips, breasts, thighs, and even the inside of my arms. After I gave birth to him, my stomach looked like a deflated balloon and I was depressed because I had gained so much weight. I got pregnant with my second about three years later, which sadly ended in a miscarriage. My third pregnancy was conceived just a few weeks after the miscarriage and I had not lost any weight since having my first. With that pregnancy I added another 30lbs. onto my already overweight frame. Plus, with that pregnancy, she stretched out my belly so much that after I had her I was left with an “apron” of skin hanging on my abdomen. My fourth pregnancy was a rough one, complete with bleeding in the first trimester and preterm contractions and severe anxiety in the last trimester. Luckily with that pregnancy I only gained 14lbs., so after I gave birth, I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight. We knew this was our last baby so now I’m left to deal with the aftermath. At first I was very embarrassed at my new figure, I was mortified at my hanging skin and stretch marks. I couldn’t stand to look at myself in the mirror or let my husband see me naked. I still fight the low self esteem, but this website has opened my eyes. I realize the life I have brought into this world and I look at my kids and realize that it was all worth it. The first picture is me at 38 weeks pregnant with my third baby (fourth pregnancy). The other two are me at nearly 2 years postpartum. I’ve also included my breasts in the pictures. Before I had kids I was small at 34A. During my first pregnancy I quickly grew to a 38D which left many stretchmarks and saggy boobs. I’m still currently breastfeeding and my breasts are at about a 36-38C.