pregnancy doesn't "ruin" your body...

kamakazeekim

I was on bed rest for the vast majority of both pregnancies. I had a ovarian tumor removed during my first pregnancy...they had to cut my abdomen from my belly button down. I couldn't heal right because of the growing baby. My daughter's heart stopped beating and I was dying so they cut me open again from my belly button down (the anesthesia hadn't even taken effect yet when they began to cut and I still remember the pain!). I then contracted a uterine and blood infection. And then after that mastitis.

Baby number 2...I was told at 9 weeks that I was miscarrying. I bled more than I knew was humanly possible. 5 days later when they realized I wasn't going to lose the baby I was put on strict bed rest. I dealt with migraines and HELLP syndrome. My platelet count dropped really fast and they AGAIN cut my ab muscles from the belly button down. Because my baby was a NICU baby...I exclusively pumped every 2 hours day and night for 6 months. My boobs will never be the same.

My poor stomach is COVERED in stretch marks and the skin folds over on itself in a crease from my belly button down. I will eventually have to have surgery to fix my muscles.

KatLifter

I was on bed rest for the vast majority of both pregnancies. I had a ovarian tumor removed during my first pregnancy...they had to cut my abdomen from my belly button down. I couldn't heal right because of the growing baby. My daughter's heart stopped beating and I was dying so they cut me open again from my belly button down (the anesthesia hadn't even taken effect yet when they began to cut and I still remember the pain!). I then contracted a uterine and blood infection. And then after that mastitis.

Baby number 2...I was told at 9 weeks that I was miscarrying. I bled more than I knew was humanly possible. 5 days later when they realized I wasn't going to lose the baby I was put on strict bed rest. I dealt with migraines and HELLP syndrome. My platelet count dropped really fast and they AGAIN cut my ab muscles from the belly button down. Because my baby was a NICU baby...I exclusively pumped every 2 hours day and night for 6 months. My boobs will never be the same.

My poor stomach is COVERED in stretch marks and the skin folds over on itself in a crease from my belly button down. I will eventually have to have surgery to fix my muscles.

I'm sorry for what you went through, I really am. Buy WHY WHY WHY would you post this on this thread?
Is this a contest of who has had the worst time with pregnancy?

_chiaroscuro

Boo to this thread. It has descended to...well...pretty much where I knew it would. Just posting to complain, and to help this turd roll and get off my topics list.

Pepper2185

Boo to this thread. It has descended to...well...pretty much where I knew it would. Just posting to complain, and to help this turd roll and get off my topics list.

I'm with you. Lets roll this turd and pretend it never happened.

sizzle74

And how old are you?

Your shape doesn't bounce back at 40 the way it does at 30 or 20. You young people think everyone has, or should have, the exact same experience as you. When you have more experience you will find that isn't true.

Really? I had my son at 18, he is now 19 & that makes me 38 in a few weeks so that's closer to 40.... my body bounced back easily. In fact it came back better. I only started last year & only been at it for 7 months when I hit goal, and that was under what I was before I had my son. 18 months in total & you would now not know I'd had a child.


Doesn't bounce back. :laugh: That's the excuse people use when they want an excuse for slacking off.

You bounced back 19 years later?! That is amazing! Tell me your secret???????

mtnstar

HIPPO'd a lot of this thread. I had 3 kids in my 30s and 40s and was lucky to have no stretch marks. Do I have a little pooch and extra belly skin? Yeah, but you'd probably only notice in a bathing suit. I ate well, exercised, and gained the recommended 25 lbs with each. And I was genetically lucky.

But if you are that worried about pregnancy "ruining" your body, you are right to choose not to have kids. They are worth every jiggle and bounce. When you read any thread about pregnancy, be prepared for a lot of horror stories. Most moms love to talk about pregnancy and labor. Don't even get us started on the mucous plug! For those planning to have kids, please don't let this crap worry you. You'll be fine!

_Wild_Card_

Please excuse the double belly button that I have been left with :ohwell:

[/quote]

:flowerforyou:

bwalker0823

...and it shouldn't be an excuse to let yourself go.

When I got pregnant, I searched the internet, hoping to come across post baby belly pictures. No one continues to take photos of their belly after the baby is out! I desperately wanted to know what to expect and was terrified of what pregnancy would do to my body. I'm here to tell you that it doesn't ruin your body and you will bounce back quickly.

few days before delivery
http://oi39.tinypic.com/343qm38.jpg

6 months post delivery
http://oi41.tinypic.com/1zd43o7.jpg

now. 1.5 years post delivery
http://oi44.tinypic.com/1tu87r.jpg

I beg to differ...did you have C-sections or vaginal birth? How are your genetics? how is the elasticity of your skin? this all plays a part. I had 3 C-sections and my belly got really stretched out. I can work out and loose the weight I have with each kid up until my last one and no matter what the stretched out skin is still there.

I know people that have great genetics and have kids and go right back to their original body. not all of us are this lucky-so count your lucky blessings.

Samanthaskywalker

I think what would have saved all the butthurt on this thread is if you had included the word "always" between "doesn't" and "ruin" and had used the word "can" instead of "will" before "bounce back quickly." "Pregnancy doesn't always ruin your body and you CAN bounce back quickly" followed by your pictures is a very hopeful statement! I don't think you deserved all the snarky and rude comments. People are incredibly sensitive, especially postpartum women. I'd say the majority of women's bodies change after they give birth, in ways that are NOT shown on tv or magazine covers, which adds to their low self esteem. I don't blame them in the slightest.

I think it was a good try to motivate folks. I hope it makes you feel better to know that I find your pictures inspiring! Thanks!

I'm due in September and I'm hoping I have as good results as you did.

arains89

LOL this made me laugh. I did not read all of the responses. But I did look at your photos. You didn't appear to have a single stretch mark. I know you can't think that every woman is so lucky? And yes I say lucky because whether I lathered with cocoa butter daily my skin still genetically had little elasticity. I lost the baby weight fine with both pregnancies. Only took me a few months, but I do have loose skin and stretch marks. And my breasts are absolutely destroyed from pregnancy and breastfeeding. I was an "a" cup and got up to a "d" when breastfeeding. You look absolutely incredible but it is actually discoursaging seeing this knowing that I do everything I can and my tummy will never look like yours. Unfortunately everyBODY is different...

_Wild_Card_

I think all moms are beautiful

StephanieLee85

i am going to disagree it has ruined mine i was always small firm and trim size 6 (49kilos) and when i was pregnant with my first. I ate healthy drunk water did everything right gained over 70 kilos it took me 4 years to loose it i never bounced back within the 2 years like i was told...no matter what i did. My family is like how did u gain so much weight when u ate healthy. I really dont know.. I have lost that weight now i am all just jelly lol. All the mums i know walked out of hospital in there pre baby shape. i would like to say it depends on your genes but idk because all my family are tiny.

avababy05

I think all moms are beautiful

Best post on this thread

servilia

i am going to disagree it has ruined mine i was always small firm and trim size 6 (49kilos) and when i was pregnant with my first. I ate healthy drunk water did everything right gained over 70 kilos it took me 4 years to loose it i never bounced back within the 2 years like i was told...no matter what i did. My family is like how did u gain so much weight when u ate healthy. I really dont know.. I have lost that weight now i am all just jelly lol. All the mums i know walked out of hospital in there pre baby shape. i would like to say it depends on your genes but idk because all my family are tiny.

70 KILOS? Or lbs? Because that's 155 lbs. did you have gestational diabetes? Just curious

msleanlegs

I think all moms are beautiful

/thread :flowerforyou:

StephanieLee85

70 kilos im australian kilos all i know lol no gestational diabetes

bbl2013t

it doesn't ruin it it changes your body for the better to become a mother. my female friends all looked like models before pregnancy, they all do drugs, eat on junk food and like being drunk daily like me! before their pregnancy i was super skinny and living with them too. we wanted a "fun" pregnancy stuffing our faces with junk food and watching tv, we all gained at least 100lb and it felt great! After pregnancy we looked average( pop belly, kangaroo belly, yellow teeth, acne, got really fat, stretch marks, saggy skin if they lose weight. I t doesn't stop you from sex, using drugs and getting drunk,going out we do that all the time

pinkraynedropjacki

it doesn't ruin it it changes your body for the better to become a mother. my female friends all looked like models before pregnancy, they all do drugs, eat on junk food and like being drunk daily like me! before their pregnancy i was super skinny and living with them too. we wanted a "fun" pregnancy stuffing our faces with junk food and watching tv, we all gained at least 100lb and it felt great! After pregnancy we looked average( pop belly, kangaroo belly, yellow teeth, acne, got really fat, stretch marks, saggy skin if they lose weight. I t doesn't stop you from sex, using drugs and getting drunk,going out we do that all the time

:noway:


all I can do is :noway:

sc10985

it doesn't ruin it it changes your body for the better to become a mother. my female friends all looked like models before pregnancy, they all do drugs, eat on junk food and like being drunk daily like me! before their pregnancy i was super skinny and living with them too. we wanted a "fun" pregnancy stuffing our faces with junk food and watching tv, we all gained at least 100lb and it felt great! After pregnancy we looked average( pop belly, kangaroo belly, yellow teeth, acne, got really fat, stretch marks, saggy skin if they lose weight. I t doesn't stop you from sex, using drugs and getting drunk,going out we do that all the time

WTF.

W...T...F..

WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GreenChile3

just wanted in before the lock...LOL

rml_16

it doesn't ruin it it changes your body for the better to become a mother. my female friends all looked like models before pregnancy, they all do drugs, eat on junk food and like being drunk daily like me! before their pregnancy i was super skinny and living with them too. we wanted a "fun" pregnancy stuffing our faces with junk food and watching tv, we all gained at least 100lb and it felt great! After pregnancy we looked average( pop belly, kangaroo belly, yellow teeth, acne, got really fat, stretch marks, saggy skin if they lose weight. I t doesn't stop you from sex, using drugs and getting drunk,going out we do that all the time

WTF.

W...T...F..

WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm hoping this is a troll.

Yeah ... blank profile that says 28 and male.

_Wild_Card_

Bump

annagoodner

When I saw the topic of this thread, I was hoping it would be about what instantly came to my mind. Our bodies were built to birth, nourish, and nurture children. Our society has deemed stretch marks ugly, and tells us to cover our c-section scars. But my stretch marks and scar are my battle wounds from bringing into the world my biggest blessing and sweetest joy. Children are a blessing, and our bodies are going to age and stretch and not look like they did when we were 18, and that's okay. Sagging breasts are testimony to nights marked by motherhood, nursing our sweet little people back to sleep. And pregnancy does leave some lasting wounds for some of us, which can be incredibly painful. But I think to call a body "ruined" that's been a bit stretched out by a burden of love is inaccurate. I think it's time to strive for healthy, and be okay if some of us don't have stretch marks and some of us do. Let's love this bodies which have bore and struggled and loved our babies, because children are so much more precious than society's standard of beauty. And let me say, I struggle with this all the time, because losing weight after having a baby has become SO much harder. But I refuse to see a body changed by giving my birth to my son as anything less than beautiful, even if I have to fight for that mindset on many days.

CassandraBurgos83

Having babies didn't ruin my body either... I bounced back a couple of months after I had my daughter and had a 6 pack 6 months post pregnancy. Then I had my son at 28 and less than a year I had my pre baby body back, but this past fall o0/2012 I let myself go all to crap with MY bad eating habits and lack of exercise. Currently busting my bum to fix my self made mess. Good luck and God Bless to all of you out their making your own positive changes!

jmcreynolds91

you look awesome. I didnt ruin my body, however i am left with stretchmarks. But that doesnt matter to me.

talk2elles

I am really pleased that some people can bounce back after pregnancy (and a tiny bit jealous ) but it is all to do with genetics. I was 20 when I had my daughter, I was small and had abs before I was pregnant, i didn't put on much weight while pregnant (still a healthy amount though) and my daughter wasn't a big baby...my tummy isn't pretty though and I have stretch marks almost all the way up to my sternum/breastbone. Not everyone can bounce back but we can definitely try our hardest :happy:

SabrinaLC

I would love for my belly to look like yours. I weigh 15lbs less than my pre-pregnancy weight but my belly is ruined.
It's not genetics, my mom doesn't have a single stretch mark on her.
Here is my belly. My youngest will be 3 in a month

fyoufat

My body was bad before pregnant 90 pounds overweight or so-fat but I sitll worked out a little and had decent muscle. I lost a lot of muscle while pregnant and gained 50 pounds. I have lost the 50 pounds and my Body seems the same, boobs a little smaller but my belly sag is even worse and I can't IMAGINE what is will be like after I loose the rest of my weight. Being pregnant also kind of ruined my arms, but it's my own fault for not working out and gaining so much. I never wanted plastic surgery but I am dreading loose skin. I had a c section so...

rjbkain

Here' s the thing. Stretch marks=genetics. My grandma has stretch marks, my mom has stretch marks, I have stretch marks. Also, how you carry the baby makes a difference. From behind, you couldn't tell I was pregnant, but turn around, and WHOA, Nellie! I grew out, not wide, so my belly took the brunt of the growth--plus I have narrow hips.

Here's the thing. Everyone is different. No, pregnancy isn't a guarantee that your body will be "ruined", but it definitely transforms some people's bodies and not everyone can snap back no matter how in shape you are before or how much weight you do or don't gain.

I don't look at my body as being "ruined" at all--just changed. It will never go back to exactly the way it was, but there's not much I can do about that.

Also, most of my stretch marks appeared before I got very big. Just my skin. Whatcha gonna do? Your post seems to want to place the blame for stretch marks or loose skin on the woman's behavior. Not necessarily the case.

rjbkain

When I saw the topic of this thread, I was hoping it would be about what instantly came to my mind. Our bodies were built to birth, nourish, and nurture children. Our society has deemed stretch marks ugly, and tells us to cover our c-section scars. But my stretch marks and scar are my battle wounds from bringing into the world my biggest blessing and sweetest joy. Children are a blessing, and our bodies are going to age and stretch and not look like they did when we were 18, and that's okay. Sagging breasts are testimony to nights marked by motherhood, nursing our sweet little people back to sleep. And pregnancy does leave some lasting wounds for some of us, which can be incredibly painful. But I think to call a body "ruined" that's been a bit stretched out by a burden of love is inaccurate. I think it's time to strive for healthy, and be okay if some of us don't have stretch marks and some of us do. Let's love this bodies which have bore and struggled and loved our babies, because children are so much more precious than society's standard of beauty. And let me say, I struggle with this all the time, because losing weight after having a baby has become SO much harder. But I refuse to see a body changed by giving my birth to my son as anything less than beautiful, even if I have to fight for that mindset on many days.

Yes. This!!!