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This is me three months pregnant at 23 with my first. As you can see I started out my pregnancy overweight–at 5’4 and 223 lbs. The next picture is one of me at sixth months or so pregnant. I’m now 38 weeks pregnant, tons of stretch marks, and I weigh a whopping 263 lbs. I tried really hard not to gain weight, but it has just kept coming on! The most frustrating part is that you don’t feel “cute” and pregnant when you are overweight. I saw some pictures from my baby shower the other day and feel so ashamed for all the weight I’ve gained. I’ll send postpartum and hopefully a great weight loss story when I finally have my little guy.

I am a 23 mother of one. The first pic is me a 5 weeks pregnant, the second is at 37 weeks. I’m still coping with my post-baby body. I gained over 60 lbs in my pregnancy and developed stretch marks on my breasts, belly, thighs, butt and calves! Thank goodness I have a supportive and loving husband. I DID lose 30 lbs in the first two weeks (without exercizing at all)! My son is worth every mark on my body, there is no words for how much I love him! This site really helped me prepare for the reality of what my post-baby body would look like, I hope this helps other women. Your sweet baby will make every bump and bulge worth it, I promise!!

I just want to start off by saying how much I LOVE this site! I had my son in June of 2003, and a little over 18 mo. later had my daughter. I had to have an emergancy c-section with my son, because his heart rate dropped. They were going to put me under, but my epidural was so strong they performed the c-section with out putting me under. We chose to have a scheduled c-section with our daughter, because it was easier to know when (to have arrangements for our son). I also did not want any surprise either. After my daughter was born I looked into becomming a gestational surrogate. My kids meant so much to me I wanted to help another couple. I gave birth to twins (a boy and girl) at 34 weeks 4 days via c-section. Now I’m trying to get back into shape, and have about 12 pounds to lose, after gaining 55 pounds. Seems I always gain that :o) The picture is of me nine weeks post partum after the twins.

I got pregnant when I was 21 years old. Looking back now, I was always so critical of my body before I had my baby boy, only now do I realize that I will never be happy with my body no matter what size I am. I learned to love my body now because it isn’t going to get any easier! The first photo is me before I got pregnant, then me at a week overdue (that was a fun week :p ) and lastly me now, 13 months to the day of the birth of my son! I find now that my body is a lot different than it used to be, but its not bad. I have a beautiful son to show for it and I would do it all again for him!

Before I had a baby, I was a poster child for positive body image, imperfections and all. The problem is, I *liked* my body, and then after a baby, it was completely different. I feel pretty good about my body these days- mostly- but it’s taken time for me to get here. When people talk about how your body changes after pregnancy, they talk about gaining weight or stretch marks- no one talks about how drastic the alterations can be. For example, I had no idea that I’d fluctuate between three cup sizes (B to C/D to A) before/during/after having a baby! It’s made finding bras difficult. I’m not used to the idea that my body is going to keep changing in these radical ways- since I’m not done having kids, I may have difficulty getting a good-fitting bra for *years* to come!

Two babies in less than two years. I’ve always had a small frame, average breasts. My pregnancies were hard – terrible nausea and vomiting requiring IV fluids and zofran. I managed to gain 20 lbs with my daughter, but only gained just over 6 lbs during my son’s pregnancy. I started my procreation years at 118 lbs. I was 127 before Wyatt’s pregnancy and 133 the day I delivered him. My babies were on the small size to start, 6 lbs 3 oz and 6 lbs 4 oz. They were both c-sections and I’ve keloided each time. Wyatt is over 15 lbs now at almost 6 months. I’m currently 110 lbs. I’ve done nothing other than breastfeed exclusively and try to eat “regularily” between a busy toddler and a happy-at-the-boob-all-day boy! I’ve been to the gym twice, but haven’t made it back in quite a while. I’m actually ok with my postpartum body. It’s the crookedness of my spine that bothers me when I see myself. I doubt I’ll have anymore children as my husband considers our family complete. I’ll nurse wyatt until he self weans as I feel slighted in that I had to stop nursing his sister at 15 months when I started having complications with my pregnancy that ended up with me on bedrest from weeks 27 until 36 and then an emergency delivery at 37 weeks. I’m currently on the road to becoming a lactation consultant (IBCLC) and love to see pictures of babies at breast and the changes women’s bodies go through for their children. It’s important to be realistic about our bodies as they change. Lactation completes the final stage of development in a woman’s breasts and it’s a beautiful thing for a baby to be at breast. I’ve always taken pictures of my children at breast because I think it’s important for them to know that they were breastfed because I wanted the best for them. I want them to grow up knowing that babies are born to breastfeed and that it’s the norm and not the exception…

Although I did get a lot of stretch marks right at the end of my pregnancy (of course!) I can say that they have slowly faded in color and size over the past 19 months after having my daughter. They are still there, but you have to look pretty closely to see them. There is hope that stretch marks will fade with time!

my son was born at 7 lbs 9 oz on may 4th, 2007 and after a looooooong 9 months, every minute was worth it :) before getting pregnant i weighed about 125 lbs at 5 foot 5. during my pregnancy, i got up ti 169 lbs and now weigh about 152 lbs. im hoping to get back to my pre-preggo weight but im not holding my breath. there are many aspect of my body i dont like anymore (most of them) but before my little one, i had no hips, which i do now. as much as everything sags and jiggles when i walk naked, its still all worth it. we created a life!! what an amazing feeling. before pregnancy i was comfortable with my body after being with my boyfriend for 2 yrs and i knew i was beautiful to him and thats all that mattered. i even showed it off every now and then! im sure it will be a long time before i ever let anyone besides myself or my boyfriend see my body but im ok with that. 8 wks after his birth, im just enjoying him and havent done much as far as exercise yet. i still dont have my energy back because i hemmoraged after delivering him and lost a lot of blood. the pics ive included are of me at 24 weeks pregnant, 30 weeks pregnant, and just shy of 38 wks pregnant. the next 3 are my body 8 wks post partum (stretch marks and all, which i didnt get until about 35-36 wks preggo) and then my gorgeous little man, owen douglas at 8 wks old. glad to know im not the only one with a post baby belly that has become more of a jelly belly !