Postpartum belly pics

[diana_of_the_dunes]

I saw this on another forum a while back and thought it was a cool way for mamas to celebrate the changes in their bodies. I have to admit, I'm not too excited about the saggy skin and stretch marks, but I'm learning to accept that my body will never be the same. I still can't even find my abdominal muscles to tell if they're split or not... What's even weirder is that when I lay down flat, my belly just sinks WAY in, like my organs just up and vanished. I keep wondering if I were to really push down if I would be able to feel my spine. Eventually I'm sure I'll return to some semblance of normal, right?

I do wish I'd taken a picture sooner, just to be able to document the changes my body has already made in the 11 days since birthing Ethan. But for now, here I am 11 days postpartum. I still have 10 lbs to lose to get below my pre-pregnancy weight, and another 5 after that to be under my pre-miscarriage weight. ((Please excuse my lack-of-shower hair. I'm too chicken to take a bath or shower before DH gets up))

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3...llypics001.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3...llypics002.jpg

Anyone else wanna play??

[2boyzmama]

You look great, very happy!! I have one picture from 2 days post partum, but I haven't downloaded it yet. I'll have hubby take some more and I'll put them up on my blog. I'm working on my birth story anyway!

And YES, you *can* look "normal" again, it just depends on whether you're willing to put in the work!! I was able to get a nice 6-pack back after each of my boys, but it didn't happen on its own, I sacrificed sleep to go to the gym very early in the morning! I did have more loose skin after my second, but the fat was gone!

[Auroara Bobcat]

I will try to post some today. I love the idea of pp belly pics!

[Dmitrizmom]

ok... I'll play.

last day pg: http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...vivinutero.jpg
two weeks post partum: http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...m/2weekspp.jpg
and just for comparison, December 2007: http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/d...JenDec2007.jpg

[diana_of_the_dunes]

Lookin' good!! Are those "normal" (non-maternity) jeans? I can't remember the last time I wore something with belt loops!!

[Dmitrizmom]

Originally Posted by diana_of_the_dunes

Lookin' good!! Are those "normal" (non-maternity) jeans? I can't remember the last time I wore something with belt loops!!

yep... normal, non-maternity jeans... in a size smaller than I was wearing last year... and I have a belt on to help keep them up.

[confustication]

Post-partum glamor..

Oops, this was supposed to be a topic...

[Auroara Bobcat]

Here I am 3 1/2 weeks UN pregnant.

I feel very good about my postpartum body this time around. With my first child I think I was a littel shocked at what my body looked like without a baby, but I feel so wonderful this time.

http://s702.photobucket.com/albums/w...current=pp.jpg

[skydancer]

I'll play too! I still have a little way to go, but each day brings me closer to the shape I was before this pg.

Two weeks after baby

[ein328]

http://einolan.blogspot.com/2009/09/...-my-belly.html

The blog post is old...this pic is from one week post-partum. You can't tell in the picture, but I still have plenty of loose skin. It's not noticeable when I'm standing up, more when I'm sitting down. But....yay for running during pregnancy!

[diana_of_the_dunes]

Wow, you look great!! I'd have loved to keep running through my pregnancy, but I just couldn't get back into it after my horrible "morning" sickness ended at 5 months. I'm already thinking about going for a jog at 17 days pp, but not sure if I should yet...

Here's me again, 1 week later: http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3.../17dayspp2.jpg I'm so excited that there's a noticible difference!! I still can't wear my pre-pregnancy pants, but I fit into all my shirts. Too bad they make my un-baby-bump show more than I like. So for now I'm still wearing baggy-ish t-shirts and hoodies...

[Dmitrizmom]

Diana - you look GREAT!

[diana_of_the_dunes]

Thanks Dmitrizmom! This morning I was able to fit into my first pair of non-maternity pants... They're just my windpants that I use to work out in, but they didn't fit me last week! I was so excited that I put them on and took Ethan for a 2.5 mile walk!

[octobermoon]

ummm i'm still up about 20. if i suck it in really hard i look OK otherwise i think i look pregnant still. you ladies look great.

[StrongFeather]

Good job Diana! Looking good I look pretty much like i did before I was preggers. I do need to work out to get more definition in my tummy area, and just genrally tone up, but as mentioned in other posts, breastfeeding seems to be all I need to burn any weight off..maybe too much weight. My husband says I am too skinny

[acemama]

I'm not playing with pictures But I can say it has taken longer each time to get back to normal. With this being #4 I don't like my body any more With #1 I was back to "normal" in less than 2 weeks. This time I lost 20lbs within one week, but haven't lost any more. I'm still hanging on to 15lbs and have NOTHING to wear. UGH.

[skydancer]

Melissa...so glad to hear of someone else in the same boat as I am in. This was our fourth as well. I have no idea what my weight is (we don't have a scale in the house), but my body is certainly not rebounding as quickly as it did after the other pgs. It's a bit discouraging, especially as winter sets in and I know my activity level will only decrease as soon as the snow sets in.

[diana_of_the_dunes]

Anyone else have any updates?? Let's see those bellies!!

I haven't lost any weight to speak of, maybe 2 lbs, but out scale is pretty inaccurate. I can weigh myself twice in a row and get a 4 lb difference... The belly is shrinking a little I think. I'm still too bump-y to wear 90% of my "real" shirts, though. I miss my clothes!!

25 days PP: http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h3...cture002-1.jpg

[confustication]

Originally Posted by skydancer

Melissa...so glad to hear of someone else in the same boat as I am in. This was our fourth as well. I have no idea what my weight is (we don't have a scale in the house), but my body is certainly not rebounding as quickly as it did after the other pgs. It's a bit discouraging, especially as winter sets in and I know my activity level will only decrease as soon as the snow sets in.

Absolutely the same boat. I'm working on making peace with not bouncing back quickly. Even clothes that are too big on me don't fit right at this point, so I'm limited in terms of clothing choices.

I came up with a completely useless rationalization though- I plan to make do with the things I have, and make a concerted effort to tone up between now and whenever our tax refund arrives. Then I'm going clothing shopping. This SHOULD give me around 6 months to work on it.

[tzs]

the worst is of that the clothes that do fit, 90% are ruled out b/c they won;t work with nursing! (long dresses, etc)
i had more to wear at 9 months preggos!!!