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I just wanted to tell you that I thought this site was so wonderful!! I have completely felt like my body doesn?t resemble anything that it once was. Thanks for making me realize that I?m not the only one.

Here is my story: I got pregnant with my 1st child in 2003, and I had a very normal pregnancy?nausea and bloating included. I went into labor 2 days before my due date in February of 2004, and I woke up a month later in a different hospital. I do not recall any of the details of my son?s birth except for a few moments. I was told that I had had an amniotic fluid embolism. Here is some info on it:

https://www.obgyn.humc.edu/web/fellow/conferences/amniot.htm

My son was a vaginal birth with no tears, but my doctor couldn?t stop the bleeding. My blood pressure went down to 20. I went into DIC (Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation) which means I used up all of my clotting factors , and I was going to bleed to death if they didn?t do a hysterectomy. After the surgery, my kidneys and part of my lung failed. Due to all the fluid that was pumped into me and with the kidney failure, I gained approximately 100 lbs. in fluid. I did not have any stretch marks during my pregnancy, but I did get them when I gained all the fluid. I was life-flighted to a major hospital where I was put in a drug-induced coma while on 24-hour dialysis. I stayed that way for 4 weeks and was woken up when my kidney/lung function returned to normal.

I stayed in the hospital for another month for blood clots, a possible stroke, and a mysterious fever. I received rehab, and I finally went home. Ever since then I have not had the same body I did before I got pregnant. In the side photo, you can still see the brown scars on my forearm where the fluid was seeping it?s way out of my skin. The weight never came off, and I?m still fighting it. My stomach never properly returned to it?s normal shape. I also had a 10 lb. baby in there, and I wasn?t able to really work out until after a year. With my surgery scar, there is 3 inches of scar tissue due to the blood clots that are on top and bottom of my scar?hence the hang-over. My stomach is still all squishy, but it has gotten better in the past couple of years. My skin (all over my body) was literally hanging down when I returned home from the hospital. I had lost so much muscle mass that it?s amazing what happens to your skin. I was 29 at the time, and my skin hung like a 90-year-old woman.

I also know that I wouldn?t trade this body for the world because I got the chance to be a mother to my son and a wife to my husband. I gained 70 lbs. during my pregnancy (thinking that I would be able to take it off after), and I actually don?t regret it. My body is the mark of someone who survived a traumatic experience during one of the most special times. Who can complain about the size of the pants when 2 big, blue eyes look up at you because you are their mother.

Jennifer

“All this time spent in front of the mirrors when the soul itself is threadbare.”

There are a few things I wanted to touch on that I’ve been hearing around the web recently.

First some would claim that this site isn’t a very balanced view of what pregnancy does to a body. To that I would say, perhaps not. But who needs to see perfect bodies when that’s what we see every single day in the media? In any case, this site sure seems to have a beautiful diversity of bodies from lean to overweight and everything in between.

I also want to make clear here that I am not promoting unhealthy lifestyles by welcoming those who are overweight to post here. I am an advocate of eating healthy and exercising. However, I know since I have struggled with weight for all of my adult life that it is NOT EASY for some people to maintain a healthy weight and I will not censor any entries. It has been said, and I’m sure all the ladies here will laugh with me at this, that stretchmarks only occur for lazy women who do not work ontheir physical shape. I laugh, but it’s an offensive, ignorant thought.

Lastly, I want it to be clear that I do not choose what to post here. I have not yet seen an submission I wasn’t willing to use (in other words, I will post anything appropriate). So what you see is not my decision, but the choice of each woman who has been so wonderful as to share with us.

There has been some criticism, yes, and I definitely wanted to address it (particularly since I wasn’t able to respond in the news article I posted earlier today), but the fact is that the VAST majority of comments about this site are positive and empowering. You ladies rock. Keep it up!

First of all, I want to say THANK YOU for starting this website. It has been eye opening to me to see all the different ways women’s bodies change during and after pregnancy. I actually cried a bit as I was browsing through the stories and photos. Let me also preface by saying that despite the fact that I’ve recently been unhappy with my body, I love my children more than anything in the world and my changed appearance is really a small price to pay to have them in my life. They are my life. I’d seriously shave my head bald and never step on a scale again if it would insure their happiness and well being.

I’ve gone through two pregnancies and although neither were easy, I made it to the 37th week with both. The first one ended with a 36 hour labor and vaginal birth. Although I had stretchmarks, I rapidly lost all the weight I’d gained (25 pounds), plus an additional 7 or 8 pounds, so I was thinner than I’d been in years. I actually felt attractive again. My husband complimented me frequently! I attributed the weightloss to the fact that I was breastfeeding, because I certainly wasn’t exercising and I ate whatever and whenever I wanted to. It was great! When my daughter was 15 months old, I became pregnant again. In less than a month, I gained 10 pounds and this time, my son entered the world via Emergency C-section due to fetal distress. He spent 6 days in the NICU and I spent the next 2 weeks wondering if my body would ever feel ‘normal’ again. In addition to the stretched out belly, now, I had a huge, painful incision above my crotch!

Well, here I am, 8 and a half months later, still wondering if I’ll ever feel GOOD in my skin again. Despite the fact that my son still primarily breastfeeds, the weight isn’t coming off like it did after my first pregnancy. While I realize that I’m not excessively overweight, I’ve got 20 pounds that just won’t budge. In fact, I weigh the same now as I did at 6 weeks postpartum. None of my pre-pregnant pants or shorts fit me yet. I’ve been so determined to get into them, that I’ve been wearing elastic waist athletic shorts and maternity shorts all summer. I’ve been beating myself up for not being able to lose weight as quickly as my friends who have had babies months after I did.

During my pregnancies, I didn’t mind the extra weight. Obviously it was there for a reason, so I embraced the chance to be curvy without feeling like I should be on a diet. I loved having a big belly. I’d lift my shirt to show it off and take photos of myself almost weekly. My big, round belly was beautiful to me. That all changed as soon as my children were no longer in utero though. I was ready to switch back into my old body!

After browsing your website over the past couple days, I am slowly starting to be more accepting of my new body. Even if I do manage to drop the rest of the baby weight, my body will be forever changed. The scar and my stretchmarks will always be there. The skin is loose. When my son weans, the skin on my breasts will sag more. I know that this is going to bother me from time to time. When the media bombards us with images of women with slim, slender, gravity-defying bodies, and we are encouraged to achieve MILF status, it’s hard not to look in the mirror and wish we looked like them. But at least now, I have a place I can come and visit as a reminder that those of us who have brought children into the world are changed inside and out -and that there are far more women with stretchmarks, sags and scars than myself and there is nothing wrong with us!

Mandy (Ethne & Eliott’s Mommy)
our personal website is https://www.prismperfect.com/ if anyone cares to see my beautiful babies!

I was 38 when I had my baby last September (I?m 39 now). I put on a lot of water weight, which came off easily, and about 20 pounds of non-water weight, which hasn?t budged. (I?m at 216 now. I was at almost 250 when I had my baby.)

I have been dieting and working out (weights 3x/week, cardio 2x/week) and I wish I could say it was making a difference. The weights have been upped twice now as I get stronger so you?d think you could see it in my body. Nope. The shots below are front and side shots taken today (10 months and 2 weeks PP) both with my gut sucked in and letting it hang loose. If you look really carefully (i.e., squint), you can see a hint of muscle starting in my upper abdomen? maybe.

I hated my body before I had my baby and that hasn?t changed. I can?t really say I hate it more though, so I guess that?s something. And, you know what?, I don?t hate the stretch marks. They don?t bother me at all. Not one iota. It?s all that belly flibbidyblopping around that I hate, the fat that lops over my c-section scar and the pendulous arms, the thighs so large that thunder quakes with fear at the thought.

I am only getting the courage to share these as so many of the people that post here are still so beautifully slender and feel so badly about themselves. I wanted to put these up so that other women my size (XL/2XL at the moment) know they aren?t alone either.

Despite hating my body, I?d do it again in a heartbeat. It took us over 3 years to conceive my daughter; we?ve been trying again since the 6 week PP mark. Hopefully, it won?t take 3 years this time.

Hi, I’m Andrea. I’m 29 years old. I am so glad I found this site; it’s incredibly empowering.

I was around 150 pounds when I became pregnant last year and packed on 50 pounds during my pregnancy. Here is a photo of me at 36 weeks:

I knew about cocoa butter and other remedies to help with the stretch marks but really didn’t do anything about them once they began to appear. I didn’t really start to gain weight until my third trimester — and I think I put on 10 pounds in my last two weeks alone.

Here is a picture of my stomach now, six months after I had my wonderful daughter. She had to be induced after 41 weeks, but she was perfect in every way when she arrived.

I also have stretch marks on my breasts — they went up three bra sizes, and I fear that when I stop breastfeeding they will remain this size.

I lost most of the weight in the first two months while breastfeeding. My daughter is just starting to transition to solids. I figure I am about 10 pounds heavier than I was when I conceived.

I don’t consider my body to be ugly, but I’ve had no interest in sex since the baby was born (and for the majority of my pregnancy). I guess this is because I don’t feel like my body is truly my own anymore. I still nurse before and after work, and pump during the day. It’s the biggest postpartum issue I have.

I am so thankful for this site and to share my story with women everywhere.

My name is Ravea, Im 21 and I have one daughter who is 22 months old. I hated my belly but looking back,I’m so happy I took these pictures and I miss the belly!

Here is me at 8 weeks when I found out I was pregnant!

Me at 13 weeks

Me at 16 weeks

Me at 25 weeks

Me at 29 weeks

Me at 34 weeks

Me and my daughter 1 yr PP (didn’t think to take any others of my body after) I think I bounced back pretty quick, thanks to breastfeeding!

ETA more of her story…
I met the love of my life when I was 16, at that time I was taking care of a 1 yr old little boy (who I had since I was 15 -he was 3 weeks old) I always knew mothering was the reason I was put here. Well, even thought I shouldn’t have, he and I started trying for us our own baby (thank God I didn’t get pregnant then) I took in a few other babies during that time. 2 1/2 yrs. later, still nothing! I was currently still taking care of the little boy who was then 3 and had his sister was living with us who was 3 months old (had her since 2 weeks old) Well in 03 I decided to get on birth control to maybe help regulate everything since I rarely had periods. I got off in Oct 03 and tried like crazy to get pregnant (by then I was 19, on our own and VERY ready! Well Dec. I got my period (late but it was there) I was so depressed I quit. Thinking maybe I’m just meant to take care of these others. Well In Jan. when I got no period I thought well this is normal me so didn’t think twice. In Feb. I got sick, nausea for 2 weeks (didn’t put 2 and 2 together) Well I went to the Dr. and he did blood work and Feb. 12, 04 I got the call! I was pregnant!! Finally!! Well The pregnancy was great! I gained a lot in the beginning , thinking I had to eat. No complications what so ever. I was worried since I wasn’t full term Id go early and I was born with problems so I was terrified ( I worry a lot) I walked a lot in the end and started dilating at 35 weeks, by 39 weeks I was 4 cm and the Dr. asked if I wanted to be induced. Me wanting my baby in my arms I said YES! Well everything started out great! the baby’s head was very high though. Well I went in and had little 10 mins. of contractions and asked for my epidural which I didn’t feel at all! seemed to be going good I was going a cm every hr (head was still high) well I got to 9 cm and stayed there. Then came the shakes, the fever& the nausea…..and I was at 9 for 3 hrs! The head was still in the same spot it was in at my Dr. visit! I was 17 hrs into labor and felt terrible! Well they decided to do a C-section. Everything went good! Its a girl! 7 lbs 5 oz 19 in long! Healthy as can be (with a little fever) Well while I was being stitched up…. I started to bleed…bad. So the Dr. hurried and opened me back up and it was my uterus, it wouldn’t contract back. They worked on me for 2 hrs, trying everything! My organs began shutting down and veins collapsing making it hard to pump blood back into me. They had no choice, I needed a hysterectomy! I was only 19:( In recovery since my veins collapsed I needed a central line :( Wasn’t so bad…. Well I finally got to meet my little girl!! Due to the trauma I guess nothing had come for me to nurse her! I cup fed her formula for 2 days, still trying to breast feed & not giving her much formula, just enough to keep her going. I was discharged after 3 days and she stayed in. I got to stay with her since we were nursing. Well trying to nurse, She would fuss and Id cup feed expressed milk. On the last day we were in an L.C came in and put my breast in my baby’s mouth and showed me I wasn’t doing it right and we been smooth sailing ever since! Still nursing 22 months later! The hysterectomy thing does bother me sometimes, I want more children, but on days Kirstyn is more then 2 handfuls I think it was a blessing in disguise! Thanks for letting me share my story!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of interviewing with Misty Harris, who wrote this article which is appearing in several Canadian newspapers today.

Both of my parents are genetically beautiful people. My father was an athelete, and my mother was a knockout. I did not grow up knowing about diets or poor body image, it was just the opposite for me. I was always a thin child and teen. At the age of 10 I “grew” my first stretch marks on my hips. I remember showing my Mom, and then showing my Grandmother who was a nurse. The both agreed that I was experiencing the first signs of “womanhood” and assured me that it was completely normal.

Since I can remember, I wanted to become a mother.

When I first married my husband at the age of 23, I had (what America would consider) a “perfect” body. I was thin with perky breasts, a tight tummy, and lean muscular limbs. Our first pregnancy was with identical twins. I grew a slight belly and my breasts swelled a tad, but by the 4th month, we lost our babies. My body returned to it’s normal state with no evidence of any pregnancy, which kind of saddened me. Months later we became pregnant with our first live child. I was 125lbs. when she was concieved. I delivered her in my 8th month, weighing in at 210lbs.. Amazingly the only stretch marks I grew during that pregnancy were in the calves of my legs and some on my thighs- not a single mark on my large belly! My breasts, however, were changed forever. Going from a 34B, to a 38DD was an amazing process. I could barely stuff my nipple into my preemie’s mouth! Fourteen months later, we concieved our second child. I was 145lbs. at that time, and still nursing. I only gained 30lbs. this time around, but my belly was stretched to its limit by week 41. Our natural birth went off without a hitch and I delivered a healthy 7lber. With that pregnancy, by the 9th month, I noticed stretch marks growing around my flat naval. My thighs also grew a new family of stretch marks, as well as my bum. I felt as if I was bursting at the seams. Here is a picture taken during our labor with that baby:

That was over 4 years ago. I breastfed that baby until this past year, which is when I dropped most of my weight. Now we prepare to concieve again this coming year.
It has taken me a long time to learn to love my postpartum body. Now that I don’t have “babies” anymore, I see my stretch marks not as scars but as reminders. They each tell a story. My belly might not ever be the 6-pack it once was 10 years ago, but it has housed many babies- those that have passed on, as well as those that have “stuck”. So, here is my belly now. A bit jiggly, and speckled with stripes (and exploratory surgery scars), but still feminine to me!

I’ve had so many awesome people willing to help me design the new site today! At this point I’ve got someone willing to help me now at the moment and if, for some reason, that falls through, I will contact one of you who e-mailed me.

Thanks again! It’s so wonderful to know there are so many people out there willing to help!