Submissions

1 Month PP! will it ever go away?? (Anonymous)

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

I’m 26 and had my first and only baby girl 1 months age. I’m hating my body and very down on myself image! I always had a big ego and low self esteem! Now I have no ego and no self esteem! I know my stomach is better then most but I feel as if I’m as big as a house! Alot of people tell me I look good but with people telling me this, I still feel very uncomfortable in my own skin! I wear a tummy holder just to feel ok enough to go out in public. I’m in the Army and being fat is a no-go! So that adds more presure to me! (They give you 6 months after having a child to get back into shape) I look up to woman now that have more then one child, and that are happy in their own skin!






Pregnancy Photos (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Homebirth, Postpartum, Pregnant, Second Pregnancy, Submissions 2 Comments

I’ve included three pictures of my belly when I was pregnant the second time. The one in the white shirt is at 40 weeks, just a few days before labor began. The black shirt is at 37 weeks, and the view from the top of my bulging belly-button is at 34 weeks. I had my first in a hospital in Florida and gave birth to a 9 lb 2 oz boy. My stretch marks went from pubic bone to belly button, and from side to side, all the way. I thought they couldn’t get any worse. As you may be able to see, they did. My daughter (#2) was 10 lbs 4 oz, born at home, unassisted, in a pool. She caused my stretch marks to extend by about two inches, now they go up past my belly button. It doesn’t bother me the way it used to. I still have a belly, but I haven’t exactly done a lot of working out either. I’m sure even when I do lose the weight I’ll still have an apron. Maybe when I get a new camera I can submit a picture of my postpartum body.





New Mum, 22, How can I love my body again? (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions 18 Comments

I am 22 and have just had my first baby, 9 weeks ago. Ive never considered myself to be especially vain or image obsessed or that. I am so happy my baby is healthy and happy and I am happy I managed to fall pregnant to begin with (as I am challenged in the fertility department). Although Im very happy and grateful for all those things, I just dont see how I will ever accept let alone embrace or love my new body. Im not trying to insult or offend anyone by saying that. I just wish so much that I could love my body and stretchmarks and extra weight like so many other Mum’s on here seem to be able to. Im scared I will never feel confident or sexy again. I just cry and cry when I look at myself and Im trying so hard to be positive and thankful, but I just cant seem to get past it. The feelings of shame, anger and embarassment will almost consume me if I let them. Its so hard :-(




(Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Cesarean, Postpartum, Pregnant, Second Pregnancy, Submissions 3 Comments

i am 27 years and have 2 children. my daughter is 3 and i gave birth to her naturally and she weighed 8 lbs 5 oz. i was in labor for 20 hours with any pain meds.i bounced back so quickly! i loved it. then my husband and i decided to have another baby. we were blessed with our sweet little boy in july! i was in labor for over 3 days and finally after pushing for hours my doctor told me a c-section was the only way he would come. this was the scariest experience. I was passing out and getting sick the entire time. he was 9 lbs and 22 inches long! i was able to see my sweet angel for 2 minutes and was in recovery for 5 hours until i saw him again. my son is 3 months old now and my tummy still hurts every now and then. i did get stretch marks with my last pregnancy but i love them. they are a reminder of what my body did. i love how soft my tummy is now and that my daughter finds comfort by laying on my tummy! I am so proud to be a mother. i find my strength through their eyes , they are my sweet angels! so all you moms be proud of what you look like! look at what our bodies are able to do! we are pretty crafty… we make people!!





Second Time Preggo (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Pregnant, Second Pregnancy, Submissions, Teen Mom 6 Comments

So when i was sixteen i got pregnant and when i was 17 on February first 2008 i gave birth to my beautiful little girl Alana Grace Watson,whats really weird is one of my closest friends Ashley took the same journey at the same time and she had her Beautiful little girl Bailey Nicole Robles on January 30 2008 and another one of our friends had hers on the 31st of january so it we all went right after the other….but neways ashley and i went to the same school and it just helps to have someone take this long journey with you….after we were both more than a little dissapointed with our bodies but it was comforting to have eachother and i think this site is a great thing cuz its comforting…but we would always encourage eachother it helps alot but i was so unhappy with my body i thought i looked ok but i didnt feel sexy anymore and as most people know its hard enough to feel sexy when your gaining weight and ur feet are swollen and you suddenly have to chins and you dont feel beautiful anymore.I was about 125 when i got pregnant with my daughter alana whom is now 9 months old and i was 148 after giving birth to her before giving birth i was 168 so i lost 20 lbs from giving birth and i was just going crazy thinking how am i gna loose the rest of it….i tried to workout but it was too soon and i just started bleeding so i waited a lil longer and i started working out again and eventually i got down to 130 but when ur looking at ur stomache and its jiggly and you have stretch marks you dont congratulate yourself on getting your weight back down you just dwell in this completely different body that weighs the same as your pre pregnant body…. its just hard to get that confidence back i think i look good but i dont feel sexy i dont want my husband to see me naked nemore and now that im pregnant again i feel like i lost my weight didnt get skinny and now im gna get huge again and not lose my weight but i am currently 135 lbs and im 5 months pregnant and im so scared im gna get even more horrible scars….i have them on my lower belly thighs butt its just hard to be beautiful when your coverd in marks and saggy skin althought mine isnt to saggy right now bcuz im pregnant but it will get that way again…..i love my daughter with all my heart she gives me a reason to smile and im learning to say i look good and im gna look good after this baby i will love myself for bringing my baby girl into the world and thats enough for me even if others think that my body should never be seen….i dont have pictures of my bare bell but i do have pics of how big i got and how big im getting now….




My Body 8 Months Postpartum (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Before Pregnancy, Belly, Breasts, Cesarean, Cesarean Scar and/or Incision, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions 10 Comments

As everyone on this website I have lots of body issues and this is how I found this website. I am 5’5″ and before I got pregnant weighed 145 lbs. I gained about 36lbs during the pregnancy, had sever pre-eclampsia and fluid retention. I felt so bad about my pregnant body that I didnt want to take any pictures. I have always ahd strecthmarks on my breasts, but didnt excpect it to get so bad with pregnancy. My body is so different after pregnancy not only the shape but my health is also affected. I kept on retaining fluid, even on a strict diet and intense exercise regime I cant seem to lose weight and even gained weight during breastfeeding. I have stopped since and have lost 3 lbs. I would have felt better about my body if it wasnt such a struggle to lose weight. I now weigh 161 lbs, have lots of strechmarks are described by doctors as overweight and extremely depressed. The big problem that I have is that I dont want to transfer all these issues to my daughter when sshe grows up. I am extremely blessed to have her in my life and would do it all over again, I just wish I was as lucky as some other mothers who still have the same bodies as before. I include pictures of before pregancy, just before my c-section, 1 month pp and 8 months pp. Thanks for this website!










3 Months PP (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions 10 Comments

This is me three months after my son was born. I was 130 pounds and 5’8 before getting pregnant. I delivered at 217 pounds! I got alot of stretch marks, and even have a few light ones behind my knees! My stomach and boobs are ruined, but I would do it again! I just wish I could lose the rest of this weight, I wouldn’t care if my stomach looked like a tractor drove over it if I could fit into my old jeans!! LOL!






From Making Money with my Body to Making Babies (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Before Pregnancy, Birth, Homebirth, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions, Third Pregnancy 13 Comments

After meeting the man of my dreams and spending two years dancing and modelling at 173cm and 57kg and 10d Bra size, I fell pregnant with my first son.
I quit smoking, Nightshift, Dancing, Vegetarianism and took up a healthy diet.
10 months later i weighed 85kg- I had put on 28kg.
My bra size went up to a 16EE.
After the gentle birth of my 9pd Son, I lost all the weight and was back modelling 7 months later.
My breasts were smaller and saggier, but If I dressed accordingly- I looked firm and fit.
I continued to dance and model and kept my family on a good wage and paid off my home.
We had a good quality of life and I spent a great deal of quality time with my son.
I conceived again- My second son.
This time I was 75kg pre-pregnancy weight.
At 20 weeks I quit dancing and modelling and took up office work for my partner.
Sitting on my bum in front of the Computer, Drinking Hot-Chocolate in Winter took me up to 95kg.

For a girl who relied on her looks and body to look after her family- This was disasterous.
I felt like I had let myself down, and that I had taken my income stream away.
I apologised to people why I was so fat and had a terrible time finding nice clothes that fitted well.
My 10pd Son was born unnassisted in the most amazing home water birth and His presence has been an absolute gift.
I would despair at my figure- Knowing that my partner was attracted to a thin-lean look and small breasts.
He Never mentioned anything, but I knew he was not attracted to me- As loving as he Is.
This broke my heart. I began to get jealous of Younger Girls with thin thighs hips and Arms.

At least twice a week, I would be holding my newborn and peole would ask me when the next baby was due…
I commented- “this is what you really look like after a baby for a little while…”

I would see my reflecting in the mirror and get a shock and then cringe.. I realised how judgemental of myself I had become.

I stopped going to social functions because I felt “too fat”..

I lost only 5kg after baby was born.

At 85kg and 4 months post-partum I conceived again!
I was breastfeeding and still in my maternity pants! I surrendered and decided to change my attitude and lifestyle.
I accepted my roundness and simply decided to be very healthy and exercise frequently enough to get me in good habits so I could get fit again after the birth of baby number three.

I am now 7 months pregnant and have put on 3kg with this pregnancy!
I am still quite heavy- But I am proud that I have limited my weight gain to a healthy level.

My Two sons are the Sunshine of my Life and their happy smiling faces are all I need to feel blissfully contented.

I am enjoying my new exercise routine and am quite proud that at 30 years old I have started to take responsibility to my health..

I will never be the same again- But this is the transition from maiden to mother….I am celebrating my fertility and enjoying it while I am ripe and luscious…I know that when I am older I will look back and remember these as the best years of my life- So I am making an effort to surrender and love myself for me- not for what I look like to others…Peace.








After My First Pregnancy (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Cesarean, First Pregnancy, Hips, Postpartum, Submissions 11 Comments

The 20th of March 2008 i became the mother of a beautiful son. I had an emergency cesarean. When i came home and took a look in the mirror i was shocked.. I hoped it would go away.. But it didn’t change much.. Now 8 months later I’m trying to accept the new me. It’s weird, when i look in the mirror.. One day i couldn’t care less and the other day i don’t recognize that belly as my own.




10 Days Postpartum with Twins (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Cesarean, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions, Twins 16 Comments

I’m 23 and have been married 2 and a half years. Pre-pregnancy I was 5’1 and 115 lbs. I went up to 165 the day I had my twins boys by c-section. I was never happy with my body before pregnancy my lowest weight was 78 lbs. With some help from my hubby over a year I got up to a healthy weight but not a healthy attitude. So of course I was miserable throughout my pregnancy. Now 10 days after I gave birth to my beautiful baby boys I couldn’t be happier with how I look. I haven’t weighed myself yet as I’m still a bit swollen but I really could care less. I wish I wouldn’t have wasted so much time being unhappy with myself while I was pregnant. I had the perfect pregnancy health wise. Never went on bedrest and was active up until the day I delivered. I hope that this will give hope to others worried about how the will look after pregnancy.