how did you feel about your body post-babies?

nikinikinine

My skin broke into stretch marks last week and since then I've developed PUPPPS, to top it all off I'm measuring 40+ weeks now. I'm so excited about the babies, but I feel pretty grody. 

I'm hoping that my stomach doesn't look too bad postpartum, but I'm not holding my breath.

I know I'm so blessed to be their mommy, but I'm sad about what I'm going to look like after this is all done. We want to try for baby #3 in a few years so I will have to just work with what I have until we're done having kids.

My question is how did you feel about yourself after you delivered? Was it easier to get over the initial hump and accept your new shape than I'm thinking it will be? 

jalaiaa

To tell you the truth right after the babies were born I felt good. I got down to prepreg weight really quickly and was pretty excited about it. Now 11 months out, it's sinking in that my boobs are saggy and my belly, despite being thin enough will never be the same shape. I just had to realize that I will never get my body back, which for the most part I don't mind, but occasionally I look at myself and feel bummed about it. 

kimarino13

jalaiaa:

To tell you the truth right after the babies were born I felt good. I got down to prepreg weight really quickly and was pretty excited about it. Now 11 months out, it's sinking in that my boobs are saggy and my belly, despite being thin enough will never be the same shape. I just had to realize that I will never get my body back, which for the most part I don't mind, but occasionally I look at myself and feel bummed about it. 

This.

joliemariée

I just kept telling myself that I looked terrific, though of course  my belly was still huge after I delivered.  I felt so proud to have given birth to two healthy babies that I didn't really care.  My stomach took about 8mths to really go down. I am at my Pre-preg weight now, but my stomach is still  distended and loose. I have done zero to try to get it toned again though. I am very tiny in general, and figure in time I will work on those abs again but for now, loose shirts & layers are key! Accentuate the parts you still feel good about - neck, shoulders etc...

I totally accept my new shape and just feel like in time I will be able to work on getting the tummy thing under control too....

Good luck.

edit - oh yes, the post-BFing  boob thing was the only real shocker, thank goodness for push up bras! LOL

lgurian

there have been been ups and downs. i weigh about what i did pre-preg but it sure doesnt look the same. my stretched out stomach will never be what it was. no matter how much i tone i cant get rid of the extra skin. when i stopped pumping i was super depressed about what my boobs looked like, but they have recovered quiet a bit and just about look like what they used to (they were never much to begin with though).  i now am more aware of what Victoria's Secret is though  

i think my feelings about my post baby body are the same as how i feel about aging in general. every smile line, stretch mark, saggy skin patch, c sect scar, etc is worth it but i am a little sad that it just aint what it used to be. 

leslie13510

I wasn't thrilled with the way I looked immediately after giving birth (is anyone ever?  LOL), but my body mostly went back to normal.  Eventually of course, it doesn't happen overnight.  I was about 8 months out before I thought I looked like my pre-baby self again.  My skin on my stomach is a little looser than it was before but you can't really tell unless I bend over.  It's a little bit harder to maintain my weight now compared to before, but not impossible.  I've got a few stretch marks here and there that have mostly faded by now, and some things hang or sit a little differently, but overall I'm pretty happy with the way I look now.  I'd probably be 100% happy with my body if I made time to work out, but it's just not that high on my priority list these days.  Honestly I think I look pretty damn good all things considered.

caitdana

3 weeks out... I am below pre=pregnacy weight. I think it was because I was sooo sick. Even though I had the girls so early I swelled up right before the end because of fluid issues so I was almost full term size for a singleton. I fit into pre-preg jeans last night but my belly is mis-shappen because of my c-section scar. (I am hoping the scar is just healing still). It is sad that I am going to have to give up my low rise jeans but I think it is worth it for my sweet little angels!

jcthomas1281

this is how I feel about my body.

anyalee

I feel disgusting and fat!  With DD#1 I lost the weight super quick.  With this pregnancy I gained a ton and got really swollen and my stomach was huge.  Intially I lost about half but since then I have been fighting to lose the rest.  I feel like it will never come off.  I can't strictly diet because I'm nursing.  But I work out when I can.  I can't find any clothes that look good on me.  Between the ginormous boobs and the left over belly I just look huge in everything.  I hate it.  I always had a flat belly and now I have one of those old lady looking pouches in pants.  But then I look at my girls and think..it's worth it.  I'm still holding out hope the someday I'll get back to my toned size 6 self.  Maybe after nursing?!?

gumiberg

a few months ago i fit into my skinny skinny jeans.  and honestly, i was not expecting to ever fit into them again (they are SMALL). i just sorta happened.  at this point, i look exactly the same as i did PP except maybe a little more muscular.   BUT, keep in mind I am 16 months PP.   it didnt happen over night - it didnt even happen the first 6-9 months - it has been a slow process.  i have not had to diet, but i have worked out pretty much every day since 2 weeks PP.

jennie13

I didn't look as bad as I feared I would.   The weight came off slower than with my first, but almost all has come off (I'm 4 mo. out).  And honestly, I was too tired to notice what I looked like!     And because I have an older child, and my body was already different than pre-baby, it wasn't much of a shock.

MrsDonnelly2007

I wasn't feeling so bad about myself until I went to the hospital to visit the NICU nurses and see a friend who just had a baby - I was in the waiting room w/the twins and the security guard (youngish guy) says, "twins and one on the way??" I was in shock, I just looked at him and said, "no, just twins" and kept walking. I mean, my stomach is not flat, I'm back to pre-pg weight but I didn't think my belly looked THAT huge.  I'm still BFing so I haven't started dieting and haven't had motivation/energy/time to exercise yet since I have to time everything around the boys' feedings.  Hopefully when I'm done BFing I can get in a routine and my stomach won't be so distended.  I'm scared as to what my boobs will do post BFing but a bra can fix that, the belly/stretch marks may just need surgery when we're done having kids

Haven1

I'm actually pretty pleased with my post-baby body.  I'm not as strong as I'd like, but I'd wear a bikini right now if it wasn't 13 degrees here and I had some place to go.  (Well, I'd have to get a spray tan first.  Hello, pale-ville!)

I've always been naturally athletic and thin, so I know most of it was routine and genetics. 

sawyer918

I felt pretty god about getting back to pre-pg weight very quickly, but I have the pooch that I don't think will ever go away.  I also suffered from HORRIBLE acne after the boys were born....so it's been so/so for me. 

robinsokj

gumiberg:

a few months ago i fit into my skinny skinny jeans.  and honestly, i was not expecting to ever fit into them again (they are SMALL). i just sorta happened.  at this point, i look exactly the same as i did PP except maybe a little more muscular.   BUT, keep in mind I am 16 months PP.   it didnt happen over night - it didnt even happen the first 6-9 months - it has been a slow process.  i have not had to diet, but i have worked out pretty much every day since 2 weeks PP.

This.  But, we're obviously not at 16 months yet.  I'm still up 5 lbs, but they don't bother me.  I'm able to wear my old clothes and am fitting into things that I never thought I'd see again.  Id say I"m pretty happy.  But, this didn't come easily.  I make the time to work out nearly every day.  I don't diet, but I do eat healthily.  

blondek8

jcthomas1281:

this is how I feel about my body.

This. To be really honest, it's fvcking hideous right now. I'm only 8 weeks PP but eww.

twobytwo2010

jalaiaa:

To tell you the truth right after the babies were born I felt good. I got down to prepreg weight really quickly and was pretty excited about it. Now 11 months out, it's sinking in that my boobs are saggy and my belly, despite being thin enough will never be the same shape. I just had to realize that I will never get my body back, which for the most part I don't mind, but occasionally I look at myself and feel bummed about it. 

This but only 9 months out... I don't really care that I haven't gone back to how I was until I have to get ready for something nice and have nothing to wear that doesn't make me look like I am a couple months a long with another baby.

McKenna04

I didnt deliver til 38w5d and was measuring 8 weeks ahead.. My belly was HUGE.. I have stretch marks that cover my entire belly and there are days I stand in the mirror and cry my eyes out.  My stomach is flat.. but the stretch marks are just terrible.. BUT I have two beautiful boys so it makes up for it.

MoMandA

For the first 4 months I didn't care. Then things started to look better (less swollen). After that I had bad days and good days. My loose skin is really the worst part.

When I was 11 months pp a woman at my gym, who was looking at me with my shirt off, said to me, "you are so brave, I would kill myself if that happened to my body." That was probably the worst moment.

Looking at my big healthy boys really does help. I used to think that people were completely nuts when they said things like that. But when you really think about it, what you are doing is so amazing. It is a miracle and a gift. And I will happily trade my formerly perfect body for them every day.

cocojack10

I'm barely 6 wks post partum, but am actually very surprised at my body, and granted. I may be the minority, but sure didn't expect it.  Up through end of 2nd tri/beginning 3rd tri, I had a pretty small belly... def didn't look like twins.  But at the end of the pg, OMG I grew and swelled up immensely (very scary looking).  By the end, I had gained closed to 60lbs.  I even swelled up more after giving birth.

Well, by 3 wks pp, I had lost all the baby weight, and then some!  I was a bit overweight before getting pg, and am now only 15 lbs away from my ideal weight.  Granted, I am a bit flabby, and need to tone up, but honestly wouldn't be opposed to wearing a bikini right now if I had to.  LOL  

Rangergal9

My body isn't that different from before I got pregnant.  Granted, I am overweight so things were never tight and fit to begin with.  Not to mention I now weigh 15lbs less than I did when I got pg, so that helps me feel good about myself.  I am going to start running after my 6wk pp check up and hopefully I can get into better shape.

babya2010

I feel great. Better than I would have predicted, definitely. As of 2 weeks PP, I had lost 42 of the 46lbs I had gained. I have some dinky stretch marks around my belly button but nothing major. As PP said, I wouldn't be opposed to wearing a bikini if I had to. I tell DH all the time, "I look GOOD for having twins!!" He agrees, to a certain extent. LMAO.

nikinikinine

MoMandA:

When I was 11 months pp a woman at my gym, who was looking at me with my shirt off, said to me, "you are so brave, I would kill myself if that happened to my body." That was probably the worst moment.

I can't even believe someone would have the b@lls to say that out loud. WTF?  

groovygrl

Hard to know til you're there, everyone's genetics are different. I will honestly say I lucked out. no stretch marks, no twin skin and I returned to my normal weight within 6 months without trying (and I didn't even BF). but i have never had a weight problem so i think it's just the way my body is.

the skin on my belly is a little looser but it doesnt bother me much. And the boobs are definitely less plump and squishier but tehy were nothing special before, sooooo....

I say expect the worst & hope for the best. GL! 

MagPie08

groovygrl:

I lucked out. no stretch marks, no twin skin and I returned to my normal weight 

Same for me. My booty is flatter than pancake and my boobs are smaller, but other than that, I'm pretty darn happy with my post-baby body.  Luck of the draw!

nbptbride

I'm pleasantly surprised by my post-twin body. No stretchmarks, and my belly looks pretty much as it did before. I was in my regular, pp pants 6 days after the girls were born, which still surprises me. I gained just under 40 Lbs and weighed 132 before i got pregnant.I'll chalk it up to good genes and being way to busy to eat! There's hope!

redshoegirl

jalaiaa:

To tell you the truth right after the babies were born I felt good. I got down to prepreg weight really quickly and was pretty excited about it. Now 11 months out, it's sinking in that my boobs are saggy and my belly, despite being thin enough will never be the same shape. I just had to realize that I will never get my body back, which for the most part I don't mind, but occasionally I look at myself and feel bummed about it. 

+1, but only 7.5 months out. I'm back at my pre-pregnancy weight, but my body shape has changed so drastically - my stomach looks like a wrinkled sack, and I have some serious body issues (to the point where I don't even like DH to see me naked even though he swears he thinks I'm gorgeous - and yes, I know how effed up that is, but I'm really struggling with my body image right now).

jamie217

I was suprised at how my body was able to bounce back.  I am still a few lbs away from my prepregancy weight and my skin is not as tight as it used to be, but my body looks alot better than I expected it would. I threw away all my biknis a couple weeks before I had the girls because I swore I'd never be able to wear one again and now I regret it.

I think you will be surprised at how trying to juggle everything and carrying two babies up and down the steps multiple times a day will help you get back into shape.