Submissions

Helen

Bonnie (SOAM) Submissions 4 Comments

My name is Helen.
I have a website at: https://everydaystranger.net

In October 2007 I gave birth to 36 week boy/girl twins after 5 rounds of IVF. I’ve struggled for years and years with anorexia and purging disorders, and I knew that being pregnant would be hard for me, mentally, as I’ve always had a negative view of my body.

I was lucky enough to not get any stretch marks while pregnant, and in the end I only gained about 30 pounds despite eating constantly (albeit healthily). Within two weeks of delivery I was out of my maternity clothes and back in my regular clothes. Three months on and I’m two sizes smaller than I was when I got pregnant – I’m not actively dieting, but I am taking care of twin infants, which keeps me moving 16 hours a day.

Now that three months have passed, I have a noticeable C-section scar, a still visible linea negra, and my former navel ring piercing is a large scar. I have that apron of skin hanging down, too, which I’ve been working on but suspect it will never really go away. But I am so, so lucky to have beautiful, wonderful babies after trying for so many years.

I’ve included a shot of me the day I gave birth, as well as one of me today – both are watermarked as I had some photos stolen a little while ago and I’m now a little over-protective.


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9 Months Post Partum (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Submissions 3 Comments

I posted on here before when I was 10 weeks postpartum. Not much has changed since I last posted, I’m still at the same weight, but my stretch marks have faded so much! In the pictures they still look reddish, but they are actually more silver now. My stomach flattened out some. I still have a ways to go, but I know it will only get better! I’m so thankful for this site! It gives women a real view about how women’s bodies really look! We don’t bounce back in 6 weeks, and that’s okay! My husband actually loves my body now, he says I look womanly. He loves the extra weight, and it makes me feel so great! I would love to be a size 8, but if it never happens, that’s fine.




second pregnancy (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Submissions 5 Comments

It’s a boy! 30 weeks pregnant with my second. My first born was delivered by emergency c-section, and I’m hoping not to go down that road again. The stretch marks were barely noticeable and I was 20lbs away from my previous pre-pregnancy weight when I got pregnant this time! The weight was hard to lose, as I gained 60lbs and it took 4 years to lose 40.. So far I am happy with the way I look except for the pregnancy curve that has taken shape on my back. I’ve gained 37lbs so far. Hoping to breastfeed!









Perfection (Caurie)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Breastfeeding, Eating Disorder, First Pregnancy, Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Pregnant, Second Pregnancy, Submissions 10 Comments

Becoming a mother saved my life. Before I became pregnant with my first son my focus in life was my body. I had anorexia and exercise bulimia for years. In the pursuit of a “perfect” body my body was like an old woman’s. I had osteopenia, the enamel on my teeth was eroded, my heart had palpitations, and I had a seizure. I was 27 years old! I got pregnant on Valentine’s Day 2003 and immediately my whole focus in life changed. I fell in love with the little bean inside me instantly. At just five weeks pregnant, though, my body turned on me (who could blame it!?) I started throwing up and it would not stop. After passing out from dehydration and being taken to the hospital I found out I had Hyperemesis Gravidarum– a pregnancy complication marked by extreme vomiting, nausea, and weight loss. Basically it is like having the worst case of morning sickness 24-7. During my first trimester I lost 20 pounds and was hospitalized five times for IV hydration and nutrition. The IVs kept my baby alive as I could not even hold down water. I worried every minute that my baby was going to die. For the first time in my life I WANTED to gain weight, but I could not. The lowest point in my Hyperemesis came when a hospital physician suggested I was making myself sick because I didn’t want to gain weight. At around 24 weeks the vomiting stopped thanks to anti-emetic medicines used for chemotherapy patients. I slowly began to gain weight and look pregnant. I LOVED the rest of my pregnancy and embraced the roundness of my body, fullness of my breasts, and widening of my hips. Brice was born on November 4 and it was truly the best day of my life. Because of the Hyperemesis I did not plan to get pregnant again, but my husband and I were surprised with a souvenir from a vacation in May 2006! The day I found out I was pregnant again my OB started me on the same medications that helped my Hyperemesis with Brice. I am happy to report that I had an excellent pregnancy with Brady – the medications worked and I only had to be hospitalized once – when I delivered him. Although he had some breathing difficulty at birth, he is now a healthy, happy, and rotund baby. January 12 marks one year postpartum. I have had such a journey with my body over the past several years. At this point I no longer view my body with negativity, but with respect. I admire it not for what it looks like, but for what its achieved — two pregnancies, two births, and the nourishment of two babies through its milk. Unlike how it looked when I was anorexic – bony, gaunt, and child like – my body is now curvy, fleshy, and womanly. I have accepted it. Sure there are moments when I do not exactly embrace it, but thinness is no longer the focus of my life. My focus is my sons. How can I hate a body which gave me such precious gifts? In this sense, my body is finally “perfect.

www.caurie.com

Photos: Photos: 1) 34 weeks pregnant with my first in yoga pose 2) 34 weeks pregnant with my second 3) Breastfeeding 4) My boys and I



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Courtesy of photographer Sara Matlik




Good Bye Low-Rise Jeans… Hello “Mom Jeans” (Colleen)

Bonnie (SOAM) Submissions 38 Comments

this is probably one of the hardest things i have ever done. i mean, i really wanted to contribute to the website since it helped me so much during my pregnancy. just putting these pictures up, i was insecure before, but now i feel that my body is so misshapen now that it really doesn’t matter anymore. from one extreme to another. i just hope someone is looking at my pictures like i did during my pregnancy… hoping for the best for their bodies. i found out i was pregnant for the first time 2 weeks after my boyfriend of 7 years and i broke up. optimum timing. obviously this was quite a shock to me, and he’s been in denial ever since. it has taken me a long time to accept the pregnancy… and i’ve had a baby for 5 months! it’s just not something you get over quickly. you don’t get over having your entire life’s meaning and course change so abruptly very easily. i mean, there are days when i wake up and just want to go somewhere, or do something… and i forget, oh yeah, i can’t. being a single parent is one of the strangest experiences. you would think that in this day and age after how many teen/young/single mothers pop up… the world would get used to it? no. the world is not built for us yet. YET being the prime word. i’m also new at this mono-parenting so i know there are a lot more challenges facing me that i have yet to realize. i mean, once you try to go to the bathroom by yourself and figure out that is now an impossibility… that’s when you know your life has changed. i’m trying to get back on track. i can no longer be a musical theatre major as i was before “babyocalypse”, but i am going back to school, and trying to get a sensible degree to get a real-live job. i am also trying to work on a book for the single mother. since the only ones i could find while pregnant were mainly for divorcees or teen mothers. getting used to my body has been a challenge… getting used to my LIFE has been a challenge… body is secondary. i mean, before i got pregnant i was on a diet of mainly caffeine pills and rainbows. i was trying to lose weight desperately and then i plumped way up. and now i’m just a saggy sack of puddin waiting to become a jolly old lady. i am the perfect jolly old lady size… except i’m 21. so yeah. this is probably a step in the right direction for body image. one small step for flub, one giant leap for stretchmarks everywhere. but that’s enough about me. i had a little girl by c-section (unwanted, unneeded… i had pre-eclampsia and was induced and it was all downhill from there. anyone else have a catheter balloon in their cervix? fun, isn’t it?)on august 16, 2007 she was 6lb 10oz and is almost 5 mo. now and being a baby, you know how it is… living is tough stuff. her father sees her about twice a month for a couple of hours. it’s weird but whatever. his loss. her name is margaret evelyn and she poops a lot. my pictures are pretty much just stretchmark heaven. i tried to show also what happens to tattoos when they get invaded by stretchmarks. it’s not pretty let me tell you.

*website:* the_moaner_lisa.livejournal.com easy way to contact me, especially with any single mother tips and comments for research :)









Our Rainbow Baby is Coming! (Danielle)

Bonnie (SOAM) Submissions, Update 2 Comments

I’ve participated in the Shape of a Mother twice.I just wanted to share my joy of anticipating another baby to grow and nurture. My previous submissions were here and here. I’m currently 31 weeks pregnant with my fourth child. Owen is scheduled to arrive March 3, 2008. We are very excited and anxious for his arrival. I wanted to share some of my pregnancy pictures with you since I did not have any belly shots with my precious submission. You will see how far out there my belly extends to grow this little one. But I wouldn’t change the marks that will be left behind for anything. I do hope to post pictures after he is born to see the marks of 4 pregnancies left on my body. The first picture is at 21 weeks, the second and third is at 31 weeks.





Updated here.

Venus Before and After Baby (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Submissions 9 Comments

1. This picture was taken about a month before I got pregnant. I’d never had washboard abs, but I also never worried about my stomach, only my butt and thighs where I carry most of my weight.



2. This picture was taken at 12 weeks pregant with my first (and only, so far) child.



3. I have no idea how far along I was at this point, probably at least 8 months. I was so lucky to have not gotten any stretch marks until the last 2 weeks. So close!



4. My husband took this picture of me 2 days before our son was born. It is very deceiving, though, because my belly does not look nearly as big as it really was. But, it was the first time I had ever actually LIKED the way my stretch marks looked. And my huge dark pregnant nipples.



5. This picture was taken that same night, and you can really see how ripe I was.



6. This was taken about 5 days after having natural childbirth. I was not nearly as big as I thought I’d be, but the biggest thing is you cannot suck in your stomach right after birth. At all!



7. Also taken 5 days after delivery. You can really see my stretch marks here, and what I call my baby jelly roll, that little saggy shelf of skin that hangs over your pubic bone.



8. Just taken 10 minuts ago. 3 years 6 months post baby. After looking at all the pictures and stories on this blog, when I looked at this photo I actually smiled. I think I look downright foxy! This website has completely changed my perspective on what I think I’m supposed to look like as a mom.



9. A current front shot of my belly. Not bad. You can barely see my stretch marks, which goes to show you that they really DO fade.