Souvenirs of Past Pregnancies

kbrands7 · April 2016

So, with all of the talk of getting our bodies back, or adjusting to changes, I thought it might be good to get a bit of realism here for those who want to hear experiences of ST+Ms. I think people tend to focus on the negative things, but I have found that I've had more changes that were ultimately good (even if it didn't seem that way at first).

What changes were you left with after pregnancy/after recovery? (Besides a beautiful baby/babies!)

I'll start! After recovery, I was left with...
- Wider hip bones
- Larger breasts
- Stronger arms/stronger back/stronger legs
- More body confidence (somehow!)
- Greater respect from DH
- Improved eye sight (not as common as worsened...but possible!)
- Improved asthma
- Increased sense of urgency with feminism and family rights
- Total amazement at the way my body works
- A snort when I laugh very hard
- A greater ability to function on very little sleep
- Mama reflexes/quick danger-assessment
- A "roll" of scar tissue where my 2nd layer cs closeup is, which falls right above my outer cs scar
- A tiny white pen-line of a cs scar
- Not quite the flat stomach I used to have, but I've made my peace with that.
- Faint stretch marks on my hips, the million smaller ones more or less disappeared eventually
- An improved ability to fall asleep quickly (I used to have a lot of trouble with this pre-pregnancy)
- A few faint scars on my thighs from scratching my PUPPS rash
- A few extra gray hairs

Bluejay3030 · April 2016

- A few cavities
- pregnancy brain turned mommy brain that never really went away
- a little bit of cellulite on my tummy that never fully went away, and a stomach that wasn't quite as flat as before
- a much greater ability to put myself aside and be unselfish than I ever thought was possible
- much stronger arms
- bigger boobs
- a greater contentment with myself/body image, strangely
- a new sense of where my priorities should be

I would definitely say the good outweighed the bad!

thismakes4 · April 2016

I definitely felt like I had a greater purpose for being on this earth as well as becoming a stronger woman.

JessicaB0627 · April 2016

I love everything you all have said!

I would just add patience. It was non-existent before DD but I have discovered that I can actually exhibit patience. (Mostly only for DD, but it's there!)

JennyS86 · April 2016

@Bluejay3030 said:

- a greater contentment with myself/body image, strangely

I would definitely say the good outweighed the bad!

This is true for me too! I wasn't really expecting it, but I'm so glad to finally be more content with my body. I didn't hate myself before, but I was nitpicky about my tummy.

The "bad things" list might be a bit longer, but the good list is so much more important. I learned to let go of anxiety and other things out of my control. I've always sought prayer, but I leaned so much more heavily on my faith and prayer than I thought I ever would.

I learned to go non-stop. I used to wonder how my Mom always has so much energy. Suddenly, I could just keep going like the Energizer Mommy! I don't have this energy during pregnancy, but I sure hope to get it back postpartum.

eta: I totally avoid confrontation (middle child), but after I became a mom, I gained some assertiveness, especially regarding the girls, that surprised myself.

araecasey · April 2016

I love this thread. I can only get a few comments into the body threads before I have to close out, my heart is so heavy to see so many caged by their body image.

-Stronger muscles overall
-Better body awareness
-Motherhood ignited the feminist fire in me. Like whoa.
-Very very faint stretch marks on my belly
-A stretched out belly button that I view with some humor, some nostalgia for the little person who used to grow underneath it, and some reverence that I actually grew an entire human being. And she's awesome. My body grew someone awesome!
-A shift in the way I view my body. From "My ______ is disgusting, I wish it looked like _____" to "Eh, some women have a smoking hot ______, but I am powerful and loving. That's more than enough. And hubby still thinks I'm hot."
-Laser focus on health versus appearance
-Way hotter sex life
-My face is a little more aged from DD ravaging my sleep
-A deeper understanding of God's love for us, my love for him, and my love for others
-Truer to myself than ever before

Bltbear82 · April 2016

I think the biggest thing was becoming stronger - physically and mentally. Like PPs have said, stronger arms from holding my son whenever and wherever, but also mentally tough to be the mommy he needs when he's happy, sad, scared, tired etc. I didn't know how much I could do until I just did, and that's been the best lesson I've ever learned. I'm stronger than I ever imagined. And I'm way more forgiving about my body, my self esteem is improved, and DH and I are closer than ever 10 years in because we know we can handle anything together.

jumpy57 · April 2016

As a FTM I love reading all of these! Thank you for sharing!!!!!!!

doozer1345 · April 2016

Gray hairs
Cured IBS
Cured spastic bladder (which you would think would be opposite)
Better periods (not as rough)
More body awareness
Wider hips (I feel like I got more of a shape though)
Broke my nail biting habit (not sure if this was birth related but it happened right after)
HUGE boobs (I've since rectified that)
Stretch marks that luckily faded just as fast as they showed up
I feel like my endurance was enhanced
New appreciation of rest and sleep

asummerbride · April 2016

What all the PP's said, and I will add:

- Being in love like I never knew before (you think you love your DH...just wait until you meet your child)

- Lighter and less "crampy" periods
- A strong stomach (you won't believe some of the gross things you will do just to make your child feel better or to comfort them)

Bluejay3030 · April 2016

asummerbride said:

What all the PP's said, and I will add:

- Being in love like I never knew before (you think you love your DH...just wait until you meet your child)
- Lighter and less "crampy" periods
- A strong stomach (you won't believe some of the gross things you will do just to make your child feel better or to comfort them)

So true!!

kbrands7 · April 2016

Yes to the assertiveness and patience! I forgot about those; they feel like such a natural part of my personality now.

jenashawn · April 2016

I love love love this thread.

mello13 · April 2016

Wider hips which translated into a phenomenal hourglass once baby weight was gone!
Body confidence, in that I almost died twice, and not only did my body pull through that but I MADE A PERSON. That's amazing!
DH's love and respect for me evolved seeing what I went through, and seeing me as a mother. My in-laws too tell me often what I great mom I am.
A strengthening of faith. With everything I went through, and bleeding and contracting the whole way to the hospital, a premie baby, and my own mess, I just prayed like never before, and had prayers answered like never before. When I was finally able to hold hold that perfect baby after everything, I have never felt closer to God.
A respect and camaraderie with other moms, even those I've never met.
A love unlike anything I've ever known. People tell you this, but honestly, you have no way of knowing it until you are there. It's the most amazing thing ever.
A willingness to sacrifice anything for my child.
A stronger awareness of the world, social change, and the future, and a desire to have a positive impact.
Fears I didn't previously have, because now every decision that I make has an impact on someone that matters more than me.
Better skin, bigger boobs, and weirder hair. Win some, lose some.

VS2016 · April 2016

Everything everyone else said along with a newfound respect for what my body is capable of.
I know it was already said but that immediate unconditional love. She will be 2 in July and I still look at her and get teary eyed by how much I love her!

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