First Pregnancy

27 yo, 3 Months PP (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Before Pregnancy, Belly, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions 32 Comments

I’m excited to finally share my story after reading this website for a couple years. I’m 27 years old and this is my first baby. My pre-pregnancy weight was 125 lbs. I gained 35 lbs with pregnancy. Now 12 weeks pp, I’m down to 130 lbs. I didn’t get any stretch marks. Honestly, I ate pretty crappy throughout my pregnancy. As for exercise, I did yoga a few times a week prior to being pregnant, but quit exercising once I got pregnant. However, with my job I was walking and on my feet a lot. I’m also breastfeeding exclusively. I attribute it all to genetics (thanks mom!), considering I haven’t put forth any effort to lose the weight. I delivered a beautiful, healthy 7 lb 10 oz baby girl after 18 hours of labor. Sadly, I’ve always had a poor body image. I was very nervous about what pregnancy would do to me physically, especially after seeing some of the pictures on this site. Overall though, I’m proud of my body and what it’s done for me. Here are the pics. My body looks crooked because I’ve got mild scoliosis, and my right boob is bigger than the left.

Blue undies: 6 weeks pregnant
Pink undies: 40 weeks pregnant
Green undies: 12 weeks postpartum









Unexpected C-Section (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Breasts, Cesarean, Cesarean Scar and/or Incision, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions 11 Comments

I am 34 yrs old, my son, my first and only and here are some pics of mine 40 weeks pregnant and 8 days post partum…. This was my first pregnancy. I was planning for a vaginal birth from the beginning but by week 40 the doc realized that it wont be possible due to cord problems so there i was planning a csection for the following day. i was really scared of the operation and worried about my shape after the op. well, after i got to hold my son it all seemed meaningless. i was happy relaxed and laid back. i spent only one day in bed, which i believe helped the healing of my c-scar. and pregnancy was kind to me. no strech marks (almond oil) and my belly is getting smaller every day… i think that is thanks to breastfeeding… i have a few stretch marks on my breasts but i feel like my son is worth it all. he is so lovable and cute :)








I may not be beautiful anymore, but my son is (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Before Pregnancy, Belly, Breasts, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions 28 Comments

I’ll admit, it’s hard to look in the mirror these days. I use to be beautiful. I was vain too… I liked the way people treated me because of it. These days, I feel frumpy. I feel like an alien in my own body. Sex with my husband is not what it use to be. It’s hard to be sexy when you don’t feel like you are! I’m embarrassed for him to see me naked. I think that god took away my beauty to give it to my son. He’s perfect. He’s healthy, strong, and absolutely amazing. I think I am a selfish mom because I wish I still felt that way about myself :( shouldn’t a perfect baby feel worth it? I wish it felt worth it like everyone says. But it doesn’t :(





Update 14 Months PP (Tamara)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions, Tattoo, Update 16 Comments

Ok, so i am posted on here way back in august i believe under 19 and insecure (tamara) anyhow..after the new year i finally said my resolution would be to get on a healthy diet and fitness program…my problem was mainly a lot of loose skin on my tummy….as for stretch marks well they cover everything except my face and feet pretty much so iv just learned to accept them…they fade more and more as time goes on…Anyhow i started doing pilates 5x a week, 40 minute sessions and i have to say after only 3 weeks i see a difference!! and i know after i start running ill see even more of a difference! so loose skin is “fixable” without all the surgery involved u just have to work at it….also want to say i admire every single woman on here…i check this site everyday cz i know theres more and more women than i think that also come out of pregnancy with battle scars and its ok…its all apart of being a mommy!!! you all are such an inspiration!! the first pic is of me now..the second is my son…and the last two are my stomach now….






Updated here.

Happy With My Body (Autumn)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Butt, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions, Update 20 Comments

I’ve posted here twice before, first post is here. It’s been 3 years and some months since I had my son, I’m below my pre-pregnancy weight. I’m somewhere between 155-160 lbs, I ended my pregnancy at 241 lbs. After he was born, I definitely had issues with my body, that over the years have diminished greatly. I still have self-conscious moments, but for the most part, I’m happy with my body. These pictures were taken today.






Updated here and here.

Beauty is Skin-Deep (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions, Teen Mom 3 Comments

i wanted 2 start off by sayen this website is such an inspiration 2 mothers like me who are having trouble dealing with there body’s. i had my daughter at 17 years old her name is saiyuri and she is my jelly and im da peanut butter. she is gods gift to me. i struggled alot in life and i neva had a reason 2 live or b happy until she came into my life. all these women on this site are beautiful. us women are creaters of life and time.i had so many issues wit bein 17 and having my mommy marks. i was so sad i couldnt believe i wouldnt be able 2 wear a bikini or belly shirts. i was so deppressed i hated myself. i have issues wit my husband looking at me i feel like dying rather then having him stare. he thinks my stretch marks are beautiful and he wouldnt change anything, but i felt different. i have gained a lil weight which i just started a diet. i have always been thin so if i gain 5lbs u can notice it. im starting 2 get over my mommy marks. there is no greater thing than 2 feel life moving inside of u and then having ur child in which u protected and felt grow in ur arms. i realize that u are ur own worst enemy. u must love urself in order 2 love anyone else. i love myself and i love the skin god put me in because i am me unique in every way jus like every mother in the world.



Where is the time machine? (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Hips, Postpartum, Submissions, Update 12 Comments

I’m 26-years-old. My son was born about two weeks before my 25th birthday. My pregnancy was not planned and I spent the entire pregnancy trying to come to grips with being a mother (which I haven’t quite done yet).

My birth was a 43-hour-long, unmedicated journey aided by my mother and husband and a hospital midwife. Afterward I hemorraged and nearly died. From there on, my physical condition was continually miserable for at least three months straight (back went out and I was unable to walk–had to crawl around my house, taking care of my son by myself while my husband was at work at least 12 hours a day–living overseas in a city where I do not speak the local language and have no transportation other than public transport to depend on). I also had horrible post-partum depression. Breastfeeding was miserable and brought pain, itching and infection which no western or holistic treatments seemed to cure (and I tried EVERYTHING!)–I just endured it for five months until my son refused to breastfeed anymore. This is basically the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my experience with pregnancy, childbirth and the aftermath.

So, when I look at the stretch marks on my body and all the extra weight I have tried and tried to lose and seem to be unable to, it isn’t sweet memories I’m thinking of.

Others have told me to just focus on my son and how great everything is to be a mother (which is kind of a fairytale notion too in my opinion–as for me motherhood is hard work, lots of sacrifice and a tiny bit of reward thrown in). They dismiss my sadness and hatred of my body as pure vanity. I disagree. I don’t show in the photo here, but my breasts went from a B cup to a DD and now are a D cup. Some ladies might wish for this–I can’t stand them! I never wanted large breasts. My husband doesn’t even like large breasts–he thinks they are weird and scary. They droop and drag and have just as many stretch marks on them as my belly does–my nipples point south–like the funny cartoon of the old lady who has to lift her skirt to flash you her breasts. I never am without a bra–I now sleep in one and wear one 24-hours/day just because it is uncomfortable to wake up with my boob under my ear or somewhere it wasn’t meant to go.

Anyway, so I wonder where the time machine is that can take me back to pre-baby so I can have a “do over.” If you find it, please notify me immediately.




Updated here.

Triplet Mom carries to full term for triplets 36 weeks and get 6″ of muscle separation (Triplet Mom)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Cosmetic and/or Reconstructive Surgery, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions, Triplets 51 Comments

I am a 22 year old mom of triplets (also non-IVF) I had been married only 2 months when we found out we were expecting. After two ultrasounds of one baby–triplets! I carried them to full term for triplets–36 weeks– and gained 80 lbs. I went from a size 6 to 230lbs on delivery day. After 3 months I was back in my size 6 jeans so I think a lot must have been swelling. Healthy babied did come with a heavy price tag on my body. My abdominals split 6″ apart leaving me at dangerous risk of a hernia. I had to have them sewn back together and got 5lbs of skin cut off as well. I hated my saggy skin every day especially being so young so surgery was not only medically the way to go for me but self esteem wise. Here is my pictures of pregnancy, post partum, surgery and post surgery. Enjoy! I’m baring it all for you. Hope this touches someone like all the other posts have touched me.


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Surgery Photos can be seen here and here.

11 Months Postpartum and Very Happy With My Body (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Breastfeeding, Breasts, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions 13 Comments

I had my first baby, a little girl, at 21 years old. I had a really great pregnancy, I gained about 35 pounds and didn’t get any stretch marks on my belly, I have a few now on my boobs, but they are white and don’t bother me very much. I loved being pregnant and I would do it again in a heartbeat if we could afford it. I had a really beautiful and peaceful birth at a birthing center after only 7 hours of labor with the help of my supportive husband. I feel so proud of what my body has done, and so lucky to have given birth naturally to my beautifully baby girl, who I am still breastfeeding and loving every minute of it! I remember taking a bath at home the morning after having my baby and looking down at my body and having this amazing feeling, I felt so beautiful. I have never felt that wonderful about my body. And lets be honest, I had just had a baby so we all know I didn’t look that great. But I felt it, I felt a feeling of self acceptance, that I had never had before. I don’t know if all women go through that after giving birth but it was life changing for me, the times that i have felt the happiest and the best about myself have had nothing to do with my outer layer. Now I love my mom body, I do wish my boobs were a little more perky and didn’t have stretch marks but they been through 11 months of nursing so far so I’d like t think they are holding up just fine. These are pictures of me at 38 weeks pregnant, 40 weeks pregnant, 7 months pp, 7 months pp nursing, and 3 of me at 11 months pp.









10+ Years Later (V)

Bonnie (SOAM) 5+ Years Postpartum, Belly, Breasts, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions, Teen Mom 9 Comments

I am 28 years old, and had my child when I was 17. When I got pregnant I was 5’6″ and 101 lbs. and barely an A cup. I was never happy with my weight and wanted to weigh more, and wished my breasts were bigger.

Well, I got my wish! I had a beautiful baby boy 3 months before my 18th birthday. And at my heaviest pregnant I was 139 lbs. I had stretch marks on my belly, breasts, thighs, upper arms, everywhere it felt like. They were very deep purple. Those have all gone away or turned into silvery lines, as you see in the pictures. I quickly lost weight, and was back down to 115 easily. But I did not want to be that small.

I’m now 135 lbs and I’m very happy with my body except for my saggy breasts. They hurt my shoulders, I can’t fit in anything sexy, I can barely find a functional bra. I really have a love hate relationship with them. My husband loves me how I am. And they fed my son and will feed future children (we’re trying again now to have another baby).

Part of me wants a breast reduction so badly. But I would never ever do that, unless I start to have bad medical problems. I’m just not that concerned about my looks to have a surgery. It’s not worth the risks.

The pictures are of me now at 28 years old. 10 years 7 months post-partum.