When I came across this site, I couldn’t wait to share some photos of my post-baby-tummy! I ran straight to the bathroom at work and took a couple….the first 2, are what my tummy looks like now….My oldest is 3 1/2, and my youngest baby is 9 months old.
First I want to say thank you to all the women who have posted on this site. It is not easy to take pictures of your body and show others. My body image is something I have struggled with for years. I have two children, 5 and 9 months old. I would like to have one more, but I am scared to see how my body would end up looking. I know compared to other women my body does not seem as bad, but it is something I really struggle with. After seeing this site it makes me feel like I am not alone. Thanks again.
Giving birth was the best thing I’ve ever done. I love being a mom more than anything in the whole wide world. Even enough I can accept the little changes to my body. I’ve always been a curvier girl, but never had stretch marks before I was pregnant. Now I have what I call tiger scratches across my belly. Honestly, they don’t bother me. I was all belly when I got pregnant and I was suprised they weren’t worse. I could try all the lotions and potions out there that promise to get rid of them, but I smile at my little reminder that I once held my sweet baby in there. My breasts are now completely different sizes as well. Before I was pregnant I was a small C cup, perky as can be, and I loved them. At the end of my pregnancy and for the first couple months I was an E cup. My daughter has always preferred my left breast. I’ve tried since the beginning to get her to give the other breast a try, but she will only eat on it for a couple minutes (if she’ll even take it) then scream until I give her the ‘good’ breast back. She’s now a little over a year old and is still breastfeeding and still prefers the one breast over the other. My only hope is having another child and praying they prefer the right breast over the left and even me out :D
Hi everyone, I had posted here before and I just thought I would update. I got a lot of comments on my first post saying to not worry so much about my weight and I definitely took that into consideration. I think stressing about things make them worse often times. I am now two months postpartum and exactly 6 pounds away from my prepregnancy weight. I’m back into my 3’s and 4’s but not my 2’s yet. as you can see I still have a pudge on my stomach but it’s going away slowly. My baby boy is growing SO fast, he’s grown 3 inches taller in just two months! He’s exactly 24 inches tall now and a handful of lovliness :) Thanks to all of you guys for the kind words on my first post, it really did help me with my self image. – May.
After delivering my first son I was so upset by all the stretchmarks. In time they did fade but the indentations remained. With my second pregnancy I carried 3 weeks longer and did get a few new ones but it was far less devistating this time around. I am back to my prepregnant weight and feel pretty good about myself. Sure there is room for improvement but I have nurtured two beautiful children through pregnancy and nursing (2 years with the first and 5 months so far with the second). I delivered the second at home with a midwife and I have done what my body was designed to do. My body may never look like those we see in magazines or like those of women who have never had children, and I am okay with that. I AM A MOTHER and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I had my baby before I could legally drive a car. Now, as a senior in high school, I’m supposed to be worrying about Homecoming and dates, but none of that is even close to as important to me as my daughter is. Before I found this site, the only references to post-baby bodies I could find were “Look at Christina Aguilera’s Svelt After Pregnancy Body” and the like. It is so empowering to see normal women’s beautiful vessels after the birth of their children. Thank you so much.
I met my husband when I was 17yrs and he was 21yrs. This September we have been together 18yrs, and married 12yrs We had our first child when I was 23yrs. We were the only ones in our peer group to have a child that young, even though in reality, it isn’t that young! Our oldest son is now 11.5yrs old. My daughter was born 3yrs later when I was almost 27yrs, she is now 8yrs. We had one of each, and thought we were finished having babies. Then, we accidently got pregnant with our third! He has been the light of our lives, we are so blessed to have him join us. The baby was born at home last August, unexpectedly breech (I have included a photo of him with his feet near his head just after the birth!). My body has evolved over the years and the children. I am 5’2″ and in the last 18yrs, I have fluctuated in weight from 47kg – 67kg. I have breastfed all of my children till they were preschoolers, and have birthed all of my babies vaginally. I got stretchmarks each time, but not too many. Just enough to remind me of the amazing job my body has done in nourishing my family over the years. I am happy with my body. Sure, I would love to lose a few pounds, but if I had to stay how I am now for the rest of my life, that would be fine by me. pix are 25wks pg, 38wks pg, 39wks pg, 15 mins after the baby was born at home, and the last two were taken last month, 9.5mths after the birth.
I am 37 weeks and 3 days pregnant with my fourth child. All of the stretchmarks were from my first pregnancy 13 years prior.
Notice the deep bruising along the bottom of my belly? These bruises (and the red marks) are from the anticoagulant injections I must take while pregnant to prevent blood clots. I’ve always been envious of those who can show their bare belly (even an inch of it) during pregnancy. This was a good, low-bruise day for me… and I was on the “good” medication (Lovenox) instead of the “less good” (heparin — which I take more frequently AND produces worse bruises).
I gained 33 pounds during my pregnancy and have lost almost all of it at 8 weeks post partum. I still have what looks like a 4 or 5 month pregnant belly (and don’t fit into my pre-pregnancy pants), with a dark linea negra and stretch marks around and under my belly button and on my hips… I’m still getting used to my new body and hope that the linea negra fades and that with exercise the belly continues to get smaller. I had a c-section (14 staples) and am pleased with how the incision is healing.
