Submissions

New Mommy and Three Months Postpartum (Pam)

Bonnie (SOAM) Before Pregnancy, Belly, First Pregnancy, Hips, Postpartum, Submissions, Tattoo, Thyroid Issues 22 Comments

So i am a first time mother of a beautiful baby boy named Christian, and I’ve always struggled with body issues. My name is Pam and i am 3 1/2 months PP. Growing up i always had weight issues but once i was diagnosed at the age of 14 with Hashimoto’s Hypothyroiditis and heart palpitations i began taking medicine and the weight dropped off. Before getting pregnant i weighed 110 lbs and thought that i had areas to improve on, but really i didn’t. During my pregnancy i gained 60 lbs but really didn’t notice it until after i gave birth and looked at the pictures of me. I guess its something to do with the belly that makes you feel good in your own body. But after giving birth to a healthy 6.6 lb baby boy i found that i wasn’t that skinny girl anymore and i had terrible stretch marks ALL over my belly. It defintely hasn’t improved my self esteem issues but the way i see it i’d rather have stretch marks and be able to get that flat stomach back than not have stretch marks and have a floppy apron. So far in the past 3 months pp i have lost 33 lbs and and still going strong in the weight loss dept. I contribute the first 20 lbs to having postpartum baby blues. Unfortunately i didn’t take pictures of my belly right after birth, but i do have them so far at 3 months pp, and glad to say that if you do exercise it can get better. I know i have a ways to go (28 lbs left) but it can get better. As for the stretch marks, they are starting to fade but i see them as an accomplishment of my miracle that i was given. I will try to keep up with the pics of the weight loss. But by no means do i think i have the upper hand on anyone who’s had a baby and has to deal with the belly and stretch marks. I respect those who are willing to sacrifice the perfect body for a miracle.










3 Months After 10lb 10oz Baby (Berni)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Breasts, Cesarean, First Pregnancy, NICU, Postpartum, Submissions, Update 17 Comments

I’m 18,I live in London England with boyfriend of 2.5 years. I recently had my first baby, a boy I named Caden. I had a traumatic labour, I had an emergeny c section, after my baby became distressed. He had opened his bowels whilst still in the womb and swallowed the poo. He didn’t breath for 4 min after he was born and he was whisked off to intensive care. Caden spent a week in SCBU. If this wasn’t bad enough the staff would rude and not vert helpful. I was never told if he was going to be OK, when we were likely go home, if he proggressed. On day two I was offered the chance to hold him and I hesitated (I was scared because all the tubes wires etc) the nurse made it very clear she thought I was an awful mother. Caden made a rapid recovery pulling out his breathing tubes and refusing to have them put back in the nurses relised he was breathing by himself.After that he never looked back and everyday got better until day 8 we were allowed home. I’m 5’8 and put on about 50 lbs during my pregnancy ( 10lb 10 oz was Caden lol) I lost about 43 pounds by the tim e he was 3 weeks old. However I’ve been left with a saggy tummy and stretchmarks.I also breastfed for the first 3 weeks and now my boobs are saggy and empty. Sometimes I’m ok with this but other days it upsets me. I completed my A levels when my son was 2 weeks old and plan to go to uni to study Fashion journalism next year but don’t know if I’ll feel comfortable around loads of fashionistas with my new mummy body. I also dabbled in modelling before I had my son and think thats another reason I find it hard to accept my new body. But I know my body did a great thing by carying my 10lb 10 oz beautiful boy.But I won’t be wearing a bikini anytime soon!! ( I think the pics don’t show the true extent of the damage – it looks better in pic(not sure why) )






Updated here, here, and here.

22 year old mother of triplets (Kelley)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Breasts, Cesarean, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions, Triplets 25 Comments

Hi, my name is Kelley and I had triplets at age 20. Yes, they were natural, and No, they do not run in my family. Anyway, that was a year and a half ago, I am now 22, and I struggle everyday to accept my body the way it is. I love my sons, but I’m not going to lie, I feel so unattractive sometimes…

Triplets and a C-Section…


Twins (Kasondra)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Pregnant, Second Pregnancy, Submissions, Twins, Update 8 Comments

Original entry here.

i first found this site right after i gave birth to my son 2 years ago. i of course was a little skeptical about putting photos of my once toned now scarred body on the internet for the world to see. after looking at the site more and seeing the confidence it had obviously brought to its other participants i decided to put my pictures up. my son was 16 months old by this time…and my body was still scarred….but i was proud of what those scars meant and was ready to share them with the world.

well like i said my son is now turning 2 … and i am currently 15 weeks along in my second pregnancy. the shocker in this one however is that we are having TWINS. i had begun having a few complications in the first trimester and had to have a sonogram…and low and behold…there they were….my TWO beautiful little peanuts!!! =)

though i didnt mention it before…my husband is an identical triplet…and therefore his family is thrilled to death we are having multiples….though his mom seems to think i should have just had all 3 at once….lol. CRAZY!!!

we however are extremely excited and trying our best to prepare for the birth of our 2 new babies due february 14th of next year!!!

the pictures i have added are of me pregnant at 15 weeks (huge already i know….)…..a sonogram picture of my babies…..my husband and his brothers when they were born and the little family we have now awaiting our new arrival. i will continue to update you as i progress in my pregnancy and of course once the babies are born.

i want to thank you for this site and thank all of the beautiful women that have participated so far!!!

thank you

Updated here.

I’m Proud… (Ewa)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Breech Birth, Child Loss, Postpartum, Submissions, Third Pregnancy 4 Comments

I’m Proud of my Stretchmarks

Today, after 17 years, my belly looks like this. I´ve been thinking that I should try to dress myself in in yellow, orange and red colours and paint my strechmarks so that they look like flames from a fire or a vulcano erupting on the next Halloween-party I go to….. It gives me great satisfaction to know that I have been able to carry 2 (out of three) lovely children full term and that they have grown into two lovely young ladies which have now reached the age of 17 and 19. The eldest is actually born “breech birth” i.e. with her little “behind” first . So was I and one or two of my brothers and sister. The only one we know for sure is born ” like everybody else” with the head first is my twin brother.

Kind Regards
Ewa



Acceptance (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Eating Disorder, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions 6 Comments

My body acceptance

My name is Janel and I gave birth to my daughter Jasmyn in June of 2006. I was the happiest I had ever been in my entire life. But after coming home from the hospital and seeing my new body in the mirror I couldn’t help but be depressed. I had never been “skinny” but I was toned and had a nice physique in my opinion. I was pretty active and cared about my appearance. I did however have issues with the eating disorder bulimia. My weight would shift often during that time because I would go weeks without binging and purging and then go weeks with only binging and purging…. After high school I felt I had it under control. I met Nima and became pregnant at 19. Anyway… After seeing what was left after pregnancy I felt defeated and decided I would cover up my body with saggy clothes and hide away indoors.I rationalized by saying this is my baby’s time not mine. Months went by with breastfeeding, exhaustion and depression. Slowly I slipped back into my eating disorder habits. I would exercise like crazy (indoors only) because I was ashamed to go to an actual gym. My self-esteem was at an all time low. Finally my Dad and step-mom stepped in and made me realize that I needed to stop feeling so horrible about myself. My aunt stepped in and bought me some new clothes that flattered my “new” body. Nima helped by giving compliments and taking me shopping for new clothes. I found the courage to join a gym, and even an aerobics class with one of my cousins.Things were getting better for me and still are. I work out regularly, I eat a balanced diet. Of course I indulge some days :). But overall I am becoming more accepting of myself and this new body. At the age of 22 I can finally say I am happier with myself then I ever have been. And that doesn’t just go for how I feel about my appearance but the inside too. By posting these pictures and actually seeing my body through the camera I realize its not that bad! It was liberating to see it for what it really is. I was too scared to take pictures of my body before. But this website helped. I dont feel comfortable with nudity, but I submitted some pics of my post baby tummy and body…… I hope I can break the cycle of insecurity that runs in my family and give my daughter a way to love herself for her!








8 Months PP (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions 6 Comments

I only gained 28 lbs in pregancy .Everything went as planed. She was even born on her due date. I am coping with my body after pregancy. I dont mind a few stretch marks. Well I had more but they have almost faded out completly. But I do have the loose stomach. I have lost 15 lbs which has helped that but still it bothers me. Has caused problems with my sex life. But I love My Shelbey so much I would do all over. I think she will be our one and only.





Carrying a Piece of Art (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Breasts, Butt, First Pregnancy, Pregnant, Submissions 11 Comments

I’m 20 years old, 36 weeks pregnant, and pretty content with most parts of my body. I’ve sported stretch marks on my stomach since about 13. I wasn’t “fat” by any means, but nature decided I’d be growing a little early. I was of course mortified by them for a long time, until I became pregnant. Along with that I had small, uneven, and “saggy” breasts. I read a lot of stories on here about those who are and are not okay with their bodies, some sporting stretch marks and other pregnancy battle scars, some were a clean canvas, no show of pregnancy whatsoever. I was skeptical about posting my story and my pictures in fear of someone I know seeing them, and then I remembered that this is me, nothing will change that. Brad was in love with my body and the miracle of life it was holding and t wasn’t until I read a few stories, on this site and others as well, of people who have lost children, cannot carry children themselves, etc. that i realized these marks i bear are a blessing. I have come to love my mama stripes and the breasts that will soon nourish my child. I love running my fingers down my belly and look for the constantly changing patterns of faded to the growing and glowing pink. I try and remember which ones I had pre-pregnancy and look for the most recent addition on my sides. I recently noticed I also have vertical ones as well, small, but casually marching themselves over the other ones. When sporting the bare belly to family members they are mortified…I think I am more annoyed with them than my stretch marks. I must say pregnancy itself is very uncomfortable, and I have yet to endure childbirth, but I know it’s all going to be worth it in the end. And I’m glad I’ll be able to walk away saying that I’m proud of the body pregnancy gave me, no matter how unattractive it may seem.





Love my body more now (Anonymous)

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

After gaining 45 lbs with my first at age 26, I though that I would never been in shape again. I put a lot of dedication into eating healthy after he was born and loved my body even more after becoming a mom. I am now 27 weeks pregnant with my second ….at 27 weeks I love my pregnant body. Pregnancy has helped with my body image issue and I love my body now more than ever before. The first photo is 33 weeks pregnant with my first, then 2 years post partum, and the last is this week (27 weeks pregnant).