When I was pregnant with my first, people told me stories of how pregnancy changed their body in one form or another. The first thing that came to mind were stretch marks (and boy did I get those!), but I didn’t really hear about the other types of changes that can occur.
After giving birth to Mavrick and my cankles disappeared, I was beyond excited to start wearing my pumps and wedges again. Unfortunately… my excitement soon changed to shock when my shoes no longer fit. No, my feet weren’t swollen; the shoes were just too small. I always thought that it was an urban legend. Alas, it wasn’t and I found myself with a closet full of shoes that no longer fit. Imagine the sadness!
Let’s not even talk about how my feet went from big to bigger. I was previously a size 9 or 9 1/2, and I became a size 10. Luckily there are a few advantages: 1) I need to build up my shoe waredrobe (yay to new shoes!), and 2) the majority of the time, size 10 is what’s left on the shelves when there are sales. But letting go of some of my favorite shoes I’ve accumulated over the years was a bittersweet feeling. I hope you never have to go through that.
The next thing pregnancy hormones blessed me with is white hair, and not just a little. I have patches of white hair and I’m not even 30 yet. Prior to my pregnancies, I had maybe 1 or two hairs that I would pluck out (I know, you aren’t supposed to do that), but it was manageable. Now I just feel like there’s no way around it. Right before I gave birth to Mavrick, I said I wouldn’t dye my hair again. So since then, over 2.5 years later, I’m back to my natural color… of brown + white. After my second birth, I’ve gotten even more white hair and I don’t think I can go dye-free for much longer!
Honestly all these changes took me by surprise… but I’m more than ready to rock the new me!
Did pregnancy and childbirth hormones change your body?
blogger / pomegranate / 3300 posts
Yep I now have a size 11 foot. It’s horrendous and difficult to find shoes. My hips are way wider. I had some issues with them while I was carrying my twins and it has not corrected itself. I still get joint paint and my hip pops sometimes. My hair also isn’t as curly as it used to be. It’s not gray yet but I’m sure a few more years of four kids and it will be grey.
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
My body shape changed a bit.. Butt got super FLAT. I never used to have B.O. But now I do! It’s so much fun.
Luckily feet haven’t grown
GOLD / pomelo / 5167 posts
@chopsuey119: Oh I heard about the BO thing. So happy I don’t have that. Hopefully it isn’t forever.
GOLD / pomelo / 5167 posts
@Oceanis723: No kidding your hips are wider you had twins! I already had wide hips. (gotta thank my grandma for those) so it didn’t change much in that area. I have more back pain then prior to my pregnancies though.
guest
My feet are 1/2 size bigger– I still try to wear some of my 8 1/2 shoes and by the end of the day? Ouch! Also, I had pregnancy carpel tunnel and my son just turned one and it has reappeared. At least in on wrist I think… yuck. And I have a little pouch (or pooch) that I’m sure will never go away. My c-section scar hurts when it rains. Oh motherhood!
pomelo / 5178 posts
Lol, my husband started sprouting gray hairs after we had our first; does that count?
My boobs will never be the same. Sigh. I never had great boobs, but now I hardly fill an A cup.
One good thing, I used to have really severe menstrual cramps, and that pretty much disappeared after having DD. Now, I’m only 5 months post-partum from having my second, but so far, I haven’t had them come back yet! Fingers crossed this lasts forever!
grapefruit / 4582 posts
I have white hairs too! Less than 10. My husband says he can’t see them but I definitely do. I’ve only worn flip flops so haven’t found out about shoe size and need to loose 30 more lbs before I can tell about hips. Ughh
pea / 18 posts
My shoe size grew a 1/2 size. Plus I have one breast that is much bigger than the other even though I only breastfed for 2 months and quit months ago. I also always feel car sick in the car now when I’m not driving. I don’t know if this is related to my pregnancy but it only happened after giving birth.
grapefruit / 4120 posts
Soooo much white hair. Also, thyroiditis which is here to stay. Hope my next little bundle of joy doesn’t gift me any lifelong medical conditions!
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
Yup, I went from an 8.5-9 to a solid 9.5 in shoes. Had to throw out a lot of mine, too
persimmon / 1361 posts
My feet grew too…I was already a 10.5 so was really hoping that wouldn’t happen to me! I
GOLD / squash / 13576 posts
I have horrible acne now and I’ve never had acne in my life. I don’t think my hips will ever go back to their old size. I was lucky that my feet didn’t grow.
grapefruit / 4582 posts
On a good note, pregnancy totaled cleared up my skin an I don’t even use facewash now! Which I suppose makes up for 70 lbs weight gain and a receding white hairline…
clementine / 933 posts
I’m praying my feet will grow when I eventually (hopefully!) get pregnant. I wear a size 4, which means I have to special order shoes unless I want to shop in the kids’ department. I appreciate it when I can get cheaper kids’ shoes, but finding a stiletto in a 4 is nearly impossible on a budget. So that’s one pregnancy side effect I’m crossing my fingers for!
grapefruit / 4671 posts
@chopsuey119: oh my GOd, the frigging BO is crazy. I really hope it is temporary.
I also now randomly break out in hives all over my hips and belly. Argh.
guest
So glad my feet didn’t grow! My mom’s did so I thought I was doomed. I am back to my prebaby weight, but none of my clothes fit; shirts are too short, pants don’t button. I can’t quite figure out why though. Yep I got acne, yuck.
pear / 1639 posts
After DS, my foot went from a 7.5 to a 6!!! Yes it shrunk!!!!! Luckily, it went back to its 7.5 old self, and stayed that way even after DD! I have HORRIBLE acne, like look like I am just hitting puberty. My clothes don’t fit the same, even though I am 1 lb away from pre-baby weight. I have been having horrible BO. I’m sagging all over, especially the boobs. Oh man, it has really done a toll on me!