Like Mrs. Tricycle, my stomach has always been the last place to show that I’ve been eating too much junk food. My pants’ size is usually two sizes larger than what I’d wear in dresses with an a-line silhouette because weight always goes to my butt and thighs, but my upper body has always been small. I had my insecurities, as we all do, but I learned to love the shape of my body and was comfortable with my pear shaped figure.
When I was pregnant, I still gained weight in my usual places, though, which is making me not love my postpartum body.
The only thing I feel comfortable in are dresses, but even those have caused some problems. Most of the dresses I own, even some of the larger maternity ones, are really tight on my now huge boobs. I know Mr. TTT is happy with this change, but I can’t stand my fuller bust. Even some dresses that fit are so tight on top that it’s impossible to pull down one side to nurse, so I can’t wear them.
One of Mr. TTT’s favorite bonding times with Liam is the bath they share every other night. He has suggested that I bathe with baby TTT, but I never want to because I’m so uncomfortable being naked. My new body is so foreign to me – I’m just not comfortable in my own skin.
This week, we’re headed to Palm Springs to celebrate our anniversary poolside. I went out and bought a new bathing suit for the occasion – one that covers and sucks in and is far from sexy, but at least I won’t be hiding inside the whole time.
I’ve been exercising and eating healthy (most of the time), so I’m hoping that I’ll notice some changes soon and become more comfortable in my own skin as time goes on. I know my body will never be like it was before baby, and it shouldn’t, but I hope I can learn to appreciate it again. After all, it carried my beautiful baby and now nourishes him, so it is pretty amazing.
Did you have any problems coming to terms with your body post baby?
squash / 13199 posts
Yes I definitely have issues with my body post partum. Its now been a month since I had my c-section and my belly is pretty flat now thanks to breastfeeding, but the skin is loose and soft and nothing like it was before. I also have a ring of stretch marks around my belly button. I hate looking at my belly now and cant wait to do exercises to tighten up the muscles
kiwi / 678 posts
I think everyone does at first. You really just have to be kind to yourself and give it time. It gets MUCH better.
GOLD / eggplant / 11517 posts
I have that bathing suit as well.
GOLD / papaya / 10166 posts
I REALLY had problems with the way I looked, and I still struggle with it. I’m now 4 months pp and I’m starting to feel better about the way I look. I’ve been working out and watching what I eat for the past few weeks and that has helped tremendously.
Like everyone said to me, just give it time.
pomegranate / 3658 posts
For what it’s worth, I think it’s a really cute swimsuit. I’m pre-TTC and still am looking for a one-piece like that; I feel like one-pieces are enjoying an upsurge in popularity. So, you won’t be the only person who’s not wearing a strappy bikini!
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
Sweetie, he’s only 7 weeks old, it’s far too early to be concerned with your body. Remember, 9 months on, 9 months off. Give yourself and your body a break and turn that negative energy into positive energy and just love on that awesome little boy!
My MW and LC say that there are a few growth spurts when you’ll lose a little more weight at 3, 6 and 9 most. However, most women hang on to 10lbs when BF’ing, maybe you’ll be one of the lucky ones who loses it all, but just keep up with feeding him, eating healthy and walking when you feel good. And enjoy your giant boobs, they’ll go away when you’re done breastfeeding.
blogger / pear / 1964 posts
I like the “9 months on 9 months off” rule — that sounds very sensible. If only I can remember that when I’m trying to fit into my per-pregnancy clothes as I head back to work next winter. Somehow I’m pretty sure I’ll feel EXACTLY the same way you do, Mrs. TTT.
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
Does the bathing suit really suck everything in? I’m having a ruinion soon on the beach and need something to make me feel better!
@Mrs. Tricycle: I used to like that rule… but my LO is 10 months and I’m still not even close to prebaby weight
guest
I’m almost 4 months PP now. Sometime in the past month I began feeling like my old self. Early on, I remember thinking that I would have to buy a whole new wardrobe– NOTHING fit. I’m glad I didn’t; I ended up wearing some of my maternity clothes and borrowing a few pieces from my mother (good thing she has great taste). My boobs were huge… ugh. But during the last few weeks, I realized that I was fitting back into all of my old clothes. My boobs are also smaller (still not back to their pre-pregnancy size, but more manageable than they were in the weeks after I gave birth).
You are so brave to wear a bathing suit at 8 weeks PP! Even though I’m back to my pre-pregnancy weight, I still don’t even want to LOOK at a bathing suit!
Have fun and enjoy your anniversary!
pomegranate / 3053 posts
Yes, but like rock n roll said, it does get much better with time. Breastfeeding helps enormously; but you just have to be careful when you stop b/c that’s when you gain weight the easiest b/c you’re used to eating a lot more to keep up with breastfeeding. I made that mistake with #1 and am going to try not to make the same mistake with #2. I am almost 8 weeks postpartum with #2 now and my belly is much smaller now (thanks to breastfeeding every 2 hours during the day time) but it’s still soft and jiggly and hangs over my c-section scar a bit.
I don’t think I’ll ever be my pre-pregnancy size or shape anymore but I’ve come to terms that it’s okay. I’m healthy and I have two wonderful and healthy baby boys. Well, one toddler and one baby.
apricot / 277 posts
I wish we lived closer together so we could work out together and motivate one another!! I feel the same way! I feel like I eat healthy and do my walk/jog every other day to no result. I still have that front pooch and now know why they are called “mom jeans” LOL
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
It took about 10 months for my body to get somewhat back to normal.. at almost 14 months pp, it’s expanding again!
I can’t wait until baby #2 arrives so I can finally get my body back!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
I was just at old navy and would have bought that swimsuit if they’d had it in my size! I’ve been looking for something like that too. I am 3 months post partum and still have 15 lbs to lose. It is very defeating, yes, but I have to try to remind myself what my body just went through the past nine months and learn to give myself grace. It’s not easy… at all. I hate my body now too and I never really have before (not that I loved it before, but never hated it). I had a stomach, thighs and butt full of stretch and even if I lose this weight I will never wear a bikini ever again. I still cringe and push my husband’s hand off my stomach when he tries to caress me.
It is hard. But do try to have grace, for yourself. Our bodies just did an incredible thing growing these babies!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@obxwife: how old is your LO? I started exercising right at 6 weeks and lost 4 lbs instantly, but ever since – 12 weeks now – I haven’t lost one lb. It’s been so discouraging! I gave up exercising for two weeks because I felt so defeated, I was working so hard and the number never changed. Finally my husband really encouraged me and I got back into it this week. I know I should continue because it’s HEALTHY not just because I want to lose weight.
guest
Ugh, I got my body back and better after birth, because I had to go on an elimination diet for 3 months (baby food allergies). I was the smallest by 30 lbs I’d been in ten years! Awesome! And then the allergies couldn’t be fixed, and I weaned… and got pregnant again with my LO only 7 months old. I can’t stand my 34I cup boobs, and long for my old D cups (which seemed too big at the time!). I wonder what is going to happen to my body postpartum with this baby, where it will settle between my old-old body, my new-old body, and having had and BF’ed 2 kids.
guest
It gets better. I used to hate hate hate my body and it was a terrible place to be in. Both of our bodies was blessed enough to be able to give birth to a child and support our children with nutritious milk. That’s an amazing miracle! After stopping BFing, my body finally feels more responsive to diet and exercise. In the meantime, buy yourself some fabulous, amazing clothes for the body that you have now!
guest
I’m more than seven months postpartum and am still recovering. I gained seventy pounds and have diastasis recti. While the abdominal separation is beginning to close, I still have twenty pounds to lose. It takes time! When I went to physical therapy in the early weeks after delivery, I thought the therapist was totally out of her mind when she told me it would take at least seven months to get back to pre-pregnancy size!
grapefruit / 4120 posts
I am not sure if they work or not, but people here in Mexico (and in a lot of other countries) are big believers in maternity corsets starting basically as soon as you give birth. Like this: http://www.priceminister.es/offer/buy/66322368/s1K02929/s2PM43878645, except clearly this woman never gave birth.
Even my doula told me to get one. So…. I did and I am not sure if it worked or not, but I used it for a few days and at the very least it helped me feel like my tummy was not bulging all over the place. I will definitely use it again and probably more for number 2.
Now, actual weight loss is a totally different and depressing subject altogether!