Piercing

Update at 7 Months PP (Jessica)

Bonnie (SOAM) Before Pregnancy, Belly, First Pregnancy, Piercing, Postpartum, Submissions, Update 7 Comments

I’m writing to update my previous post at a few weeks postpartum back in August/September 2008. I am now 7 months postpartum and (very) slowly coming to terms with my “new” body. The lines are fading in color, but the texture, I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to! My husband assures me that I am more beautiful now, and I pray that someday I believe even an ounce of that statement. My sweet girl has her first tooth, is crawling, and is still breastfeeding (which has taken a huge toll on my once perky breasts!) Here is a before and current photo of my belly and a shot of my little angel Natalie.




Updated here.

Still Trying to Cope with My New Body (Becky)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Piercing, Postpartum, Submissions 29 Comments

I am a 20 year old stay at home mother of a 15 month old, and while my body has gone back to almost the same, it isn’t how it used to be. I get horribly depressed over the fact that my hips are now wider, and that I’m not the old me anymore. All my life growing up I was considered the small one, and everyone in my life really put an emphasis on my weight. When I found out I was pregnant June 07 (I found out late) I was at a weight of 107lbs 5’5. ( I now weigh 114lbs.) By the time I was due, I had gained 20 lbs, and I became even more depressed, but I just kept telling myself it was for the baby. When my son was born Dec 1st 07, I left the hospital wearing the same size jeans as before, but my skin was all flabby. :( Over a year later, its gotten better, but its not as tight as it used to be. I managed to get back into a bikini this past summer, but felt embarrassed and uncomfortable at the same time. My breasts have sagged, and have stretch marks covering them. I constantly wear a push up bra, but they still aren’t as perky as they were before. I cant really complain though, because my son was worth it, and I would gladly go through this all again for him. And even though my boyfriend likes my curves more now, then before, its still hard to look in the mirror and agree. Maybe someday I can be happy with my body again. Also as a prize to me for having my son, I got a navel piercing. I like it, but I think it emphasizes the loose skin I have in the middle of my stomach. :( -Becky





A Miracle Baby and Learning to Accept My Body (Amber)

Bonnie (SOAM) Before Pregnancy, Belly, First Pregnancy, Piercing, Postpartum, Submissions 14 Comments

My name is Amber and I am 21, almost 22. I had a planned pregnancy after only one month of trying with my ex fiance. I had no idea my body was going to look the way that it does, but after reading the site and lurking, I see that I have a lot to be thankful for. Mothers are beautiful, only us women are capable of giving life and it still to this day amazes me, even after going through the process. Pregnancy was hard, broken rib near the end, no sleep, and little did I know I was really 3 weeks late (totally had the date off) and ended up giving a vaginal birth to a 9.5 pound baby. Had the worst postpartum healing with a 2nd degree tear.

I was only 120-125 pounds and 5’4. I used to think I was fat, and now looking back at my pictures.. I want to SMACK myself! I would give an arm and a leg to look like that again, but alas I don’t have that luxury.

With that said, 3 months breastfeeding and working out has done pretty well for me.

And I can’t complain, the birth was amazing. I was 5cm dilated (yup, first time mom) before I was even induced. In two hours I was 10cm dilated and ready to push :D 45 mins of pushing and Aiden was born at 332 pm on 8-20-08.

3 months later I was back down to 125. Yay! But still people apparently think I weigh more, I guess it’s the hips? And when I’m bloated I look like 16 weeks pregnant. My body and I have a love hate relationship. Right now it’s love, tomorrow most likely hate. My hips just need to return, if they will at all… I notice changes when I check every so often, but they still seem to be quite wide.

In the end, I have the most amazing baby boy I’ve ever seen and I am so in love with being a mommy. Even if there is no daddy.

Pics are as follows: Me pre preg, 3 of me 6 months post partum (as of feb 20th) and 2 of my son at almost 6 months.

Myspace: Myspace.com/ayame
Facebook: ayame87@gmail.com
AiM: x4N71554x

Feel free to contact me if you feel you want to be friends, or talk with another mommy. Or if you want to feel good about yourself etc. :)







7 months pp. A crazy new life. (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Piercing, Postpartum, Submissions, Teen Mom, Update 10 Comments

I was surprised to find that my story was a lot more common than I thought. I first found out I was pregnant as a senior in high school. My boyfriend (who is now my husband) reacted differently than most young men would have in his situation. He told me that whatever I chose to do, he would support. The though of abortion crossed my mind for a brief moment but I knew that I was in love with the baby that was already growing in me. As the months went by I got bigger and bigger. No thanks to my steady diet of anything greasy. =)I saw the pregancy as the only time in my life when i could indulge. Because I never did before. Pre pregnancy i weighed 125 pounds 5’7″. I fit nicely into a size two and would freak out if my weight approached the dreaded 130. At the end of my pregnancy i weighed 175 pounds. I used coco butter religiously but I still got stretch marks all over my sides, underneath the belly button, and thighs. Following the birth of my son I fell into post partum depression. At the time I did not know that I was actually depressed. I felt guilty for my thoughts and actions and the only person who experienced my bad attitude was my husband. I would snap on him because I was so unhappy with the way I looked. It was hard to accept that my body was “ruined” ( or so I thought). I would blame him for getting me pregnant and blame him for the way I looked. I found this website browsing the web one night depressed and feeling hopeless about the state of my body. I couldnt believe that the stretchmarks that I got would stay on me forever, in fact I refused to believe it. I spent countless hours looking for the “miracle creams” and hundreds of dollars. I looked into plastic surgery and laser treatemts. Every time that I would feel sad and hopeless my husband would tell me that I was beautiful and that he was so lucky to be with me. Around the 4th month after having my baby my depressing got out of control. I refused to stay home alone with the baby and I would often hand him off to whoever was around so that I could “live my own life” I am now 7 months post partum and I have a new outlook on life. I went back to work which made a huge difference. Talking about how I felt with my mom and close friends helped me get my problems and anger out. I now weight 140 pounds and have about 10 more to drop. Its definatelly been a wild ride. I love my son more than anything. But being a teen mom is hard. I missed out on my high school graduation and prom. Those precious moments that I have with him however cannot be described. I couldnt have done all that I have without the love and support from my husband, my parents and my friends. I hope that my post will be able to give hope to someone. Anything is possible in life. I feel like this whole experience has completely changed my life around and for the better. I now have a purpose in life and that is my beautiful son and amazing husband. <3



Updated here.

Update (Berni)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Piercing, Postpartum, Submissions, Tattoo, Teen Mom, Update 13 Comments

Original entry here.

My son is now 6 and a half months old and feel worse the ever about my body. I love my son so much and feel so guilty for hating my body as it carried him for for 40+11 weeks. My body created a beautiful 10 lb 10oz baby boy but I can’t accept it. I feel like at 19 years old my body is ruined. The worst thing is I know I’m being stupid but I can’t help it. I don’t understand how over women do it.






Updated here and here.

First Pregnancy at 16, Not So Bad (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Piercing, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions, Teen Mom 6 Comments

When I first Got pregnant at 16, I was completely horrified. I was scared of everthing from baby care to stretch marks. I was 5’4 and 115 pounds. I gained about 17 pounds throught my pregnancy. I was so scared that I was going to be overweight and have stretch marks from head to toe.. but I didn’t get but two tiny half inch stretch marks, one right above my belly button and one right below, and you can hardly notice them. I guess I’m just trying to share my pregnancy experience with other teen moms so they don’t see pregnancy as a bad thing. I lost all the weight and more. And on top of it all, I have a happy heathly baby girl…Lila Mae








belly (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Before Pregnancy, Belly, First Pregnancy, Piercing, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions, Teen Mom 8 Comments

i was 19 when i had my little boy. my body has changed and im trying to accept it. im almost at my pre-pregnany weight but my stomach is still mushy and i have soo many stretchmarks all over the place it makes it hard to love. i do however love my son and i wouldnt trade him for anything. if it means that ill have a mushy stomach and a road map on my butt the rest of my life then im just fine with that.







One Mental Year Later (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Before Pregnancy, Belly, Breasts, First Pregnancy, Piercing, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions 7 Comments

Hi everyone! :) I found this site at the beginning of my pregnancy and thought that now, just past my daughter’s first birthday, would be a fairly apt moment to reflect on this mental year and nine months and make a post myself. I’m 5ft2 ish and I started my pregnancy at 9st (see before photo!) I put on about a stone in the first month then two more by the end – total weight gain of 3 stone or 52lbs !! I was also polyhydramnios (more amniotic fluid than usual) so I was MASSIVE. I thought I had got away without stretchmarks on my tummy until week 36 when they started creeping up from my knicker line. I also have a belly button piercing and that stretched alot. Also, I developed weird stretchmarks on both inner thighs from baout week 26 which got bigger and bigger until my daughter was born. Couldnt understand whay I got them there! I also have more on my hips and LOADS on my boobs, although these have faded quite a bit. My pregnancy went smoothly other than very low blood pressure which left me feeling faint and breathless most of the time from about week 34. I worked until 6 days before my due date and went into natural labour 6 days past my due date. I was due that morning to have a membrane sweep, which I didnt much fancy, so I was quite pleased with Lily’s timing! My waters broke slowly overnght and I gave birth at 18.50 the following evening, with NO PAIN RELIEF AT ALL to my beautiful 8lb 9oz baby girl Lily. She is the most wonderful little girl in the world and most definitely worth it all. I desperately wanted to breast feed but Lily just didnt take to it. The midwife decided to cup-feed her formula for one feed because they were concerned she was hungry and after that she just wanted really interested in trying to feed from me. I was very upset but managed to express breast milk for her for 8 weeks until my supply dried up. Im pleased that she got my breat milk, even thouh it meant milking myself every 90 minutes and feeling somewhat like a cow for 2 months! ;) My body was ‘better’ before in many ways – my tummy was flat and toned and the skin was tight and my boobs stood up more, but honestly Im happier with my body now than I was before. It is just so incredible what our bodies can do – way more amazing than a flat stomach and toned skin. I celebrate my body so much more now and I feel like a whole woman. I have included a before photo, several through my pregnancy and some after pics. :) :) :)


Before
121008-anon-1

39 weeks – two weeks before the birth

3 days PP

25 days PP closeup of tummy

20 weeks

3 photos at one year PP




Lost and Found Pregnancy, 7 Weeks Postpartum (Charity)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Piercing, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions 12 Comments

Meant To Be: My Pregnancy Story

I’m a 22 year old single mom and I can’t tell you how excited I am! This baby was DEFINITELY unexpected. I knew I was pregnant from day 1, but didn’t find out for sure until the end of January. My boyfriend and I were on a technical ‘break’ at the time, and after I contacted him, we decided that keeping this baby wouldn’t be a good idea. The day of my appointment to end it, I started spotting. I spotted and cramped for 3 days, finally passing a large clot on Valentines Day. A week later I saw my ob/gyn and he felt me up and said that my uterus was small, my cervix closed, and yes, I had probaby passed it.

I was sad, but also sort of relieved that I wouldn’t have to be the one responsible for ending it. I went on birth control and an antidepressant. Two weeks later, my blood pregnancy test came back positive, but my doctor assured me it was probably still reading positive because my hormones were still high when they took my blood.

28 days after beginning my birth control, I didn’t get a period. I waited a week for it… nothing. It took some balls but I finally got a pregnancy test…. positive. I took another one. Positive. I called my doctor, who still stubbornly insisted I had probably had an ‘incomplete miscarriage’. So I scheduled an ultrasound.

I’ll never forget the moment they put the scanner thing on my tummy. Instead of bits and pieces of an incomplete miscarriage… there was a teeny tiny miniature person in there, waving at me frantically. I screamed and started crying. The doctor said I was measuring 13 weeks and 3 days pregnant.

I had the world’s best labor/delivery. I was induced at 39 weeks because of the size of my baby and because his daddy was going out of town the next day. I was in labor for about 7 1/2 hours and pushed through 5 contractions for 12 minutes. Thank god for modern medicine, because I had the epidural and because the baby came so fast, I tore pretty badly.

My boyfriend and I remained close friends through my pregnancy, and once we went through labor together, it pretty much went without saying that we were back together.

I’m 6ft tall (i was a teenage runway model who quit because I was sick of the eating disorders I had to resort to in order to stay under 120lbs) and though I lost 30lbs in the first 4 weeks pp, I am now 7 weeks pp and stuck at 170. My goal is 145 by 6 months pp.

I’m walking 1.5 miles a day and just started doing a 20 minute Pilate dvd, which I’m trying to do on a daily basis as well. I’m a nursing mother, so I can’t cut back on calories too much, but I find just by tracking what I eat, I am eating much less than I was before.

I love being a mommy, and I am proud of my stretch marks. Once I lose this baby weight I’ll be as proud of my body as I was when I was a teenager… except now I’ll be healthy.









7 Days pp after 1lb 13 oz micro preemie @ 26 5/7 weeks (Ashley)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Child Loss, First Pregnancy, NICU, Piercing, Postpartum, Preemie, Submissions, Tattoo 14 Comments

These are the pictures taken tonight, exactly one week after the birth of my first, Gunner Isaiah @ 26 weeks and 5 days. He was a micro-preemie and weighed 1 lb 13 oz and was 13.25 in. long. I had a normal pregnancy right up until I went into labor. I was thick before pregnancy and gained 10 lbs total. You can see in the pics that my navel piercing scar stretched a great deal. My unfinished tattoo on my ribs was not affected at all. Pumping so that I can eventually breastfeed has started to cause stretchmarks on my breasts, but other than that they look AMAZING! I am loving how big they are right now. :) The old stretchmarks I had on my hips and thighs had just started to extend, but it’s barely noticeable in the pictures. In a lot of ways I envy the moms who have stretchmarks to show. Since my son is in the NICU, the only physical indications that I even HAVE a baby are the hospital bracelets I refuse to take off. I would have rather had my whole lower body covered in stretch marks than have my son so early.