Women with children, give me hope?

Yeah I had an EMCS because the doctors messed up, didn't realise my body cannot have a natural birth due to something not being arched enough to push and blah de blah, and my son was simply too big for it to handle, so I'm attriubting that to disgusting c-section overhang

I also had a 10lbs 8oz baby, so put on over a stone/14lbs in pregnancy alone! (including water, placenta etc.) I was like a small walking whale by the time I was due, and going over certainly never helped either!

When I stand up you can definitely feel muscle, not too fat on top either, but the skin on top is just really saggy and I have no idea how to firm it back up enough to see the fruits of my labour. I feel like no matter how small I get I'm still going to have this gross overhang!

Well, I've had two kids and lost almost all of the weight. The belly fat is coming off last of course but I am nearing a place where I think I will be comfortable staying. My skin is definately not what it was before babies, so I don't know how much advice I can give, but I can encourage! I'm sure you would agree with me that my kids are the greatest things that could ever happen to me, and worth every sacrifice. It has taken me some time (because I used to hate what was happening to my body!) but I am learning to look at myself with respect and gratitude. When I see stretch marks and belly skin that is NOT what it used to be, I let it remind me of the time I got to spend carrying my babies inside me. (We were creating new life, that is some accomplishment!) I let it remind me of how grateful I am that I was able to get pregnant, and have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies, because that is not a reality for some women. And when I see my breasts that look so very pathetic (because they were only an A to begin with!), drooping just like that belly skin, I choose to remember the countless hours I spent nursing my babies and what an awesome experience that was, bonding with them, giving them all the nutrition they needed to grow and be strong and healthy. That was such a blessing and an honor! And I wouldn't trade these boobs of my for the most gorgeous celebrity ones if it would mean missing that time of breastfeeding. Some days, I am right there with you, looking in the mirror, remembering what I used to look like and missing it terribly. But then I choose to see what I have now that I didn't then, this amazing little family, and it is all worth it! Love the skin you're in, girl! It tells a story of where you have been and all you have done. You were designed to have babies, and you are even more beautiful now, after reaching that potential, than any flat-stomached teenager out there!

I still have a bit of love-handles but my stomach is almost completely flat. I have the start of a 6 pack. I've had 3 children (no C-sections though). The youngest just turned one, and the old is almost 5.

Someone was asking for pictures the other day so I shall be an attention *kitten* and post again:

I have to somewhat disagree with some people. Although genetics do play a role in how your skin bounces back, they aren't completely to blame. My mother and grandma both never bounced back from having children. They both have loose skin and lots of stretch marks. But I look like I haven't had a child, even only 3 and a half months later, except for 4 or 5 stretch marks under my belly button. Moisturize and exercise and make sure to drink lots and lots of water. Good luck!