How do I get my post baby body back?
It’s the question all new moms ask. If you ask me, the answer is, you don’t.
Sure, we can lose a few pounds and maintain a healthier weight, but realistically our bodies will never be the same. And that’s okay.
It is no small thing to bring life into this world. It’s a painful process, one that changes us body and soul.
We will never be the same, and that’s good. The growing, stretching, hurting and changing is just a part of life. A beautiful one at that.
I love my stretch marks. They are a reminder when I feel weak, of just how strong I truly am. That I can bear the unimaginable for love, and finish, smiling through my tears.
There is so much beauty in the postpartum body, and to our bodies even 5 to 50 years later.
I asked moms what they love about their post baby bodies and what they said brought me to tears.
“It may sound weird but, I love my stretch marks! They are my proof that I created life. I used to look in the mirror and see pudge or overly-puffed muffin top. Now, I see evidence that my body nurtured a child from a tiny cluster of cells into the little child I snuggle and play with today. Others may see unfortunate purple tiger stripes and, I’m sad for them. I earned every one of these and I honor them because, with each new mark that scrawled across my belly, I knew I was just that much closer to holding my son.” – Tracy
“Even after I lost weight, my tummy still had this shelf-like appearance to it, and my love handles never left. It used to frustrate me SO much because I had always been so slender, and it made me feel fat. One day, my daughter fell on the pavement. She was pretty banged up, crying her eyes out. I came and picked her up, even though she had gotten SO BIG, I was still able to hold her on my hip as she cried on my shoulder. Why? Because of my love handles and belly shelf. I didn’t realize it until that very moment that the shape of my body was the perfect seat for my little ones, and it has helped me hold them up through so many tears and booboos. Honestly, I can’t stand my stretch marks and the extra skin makes me very self-conscious. But I wouldn’t trade this body for any other, because it’s the body of my little girls’ mommy, and it’s just perfect for them.” – Kirsten
Honestly? I never disliked my body before, but I certainly didn’t Love It. Now, I look in the mirror and see a crazy amount of stretch marks and sag, but I love my body, I love the fact that this body went through a beating to grow and give birth to a human being. Add the fact that my body is still nourishing and growing my son, and I really see no reason not to love every aspect of it, saggy boobs and all. (hey, who are we kidding, mine sagged before baby too!) – Kendra
Uh hello boobs! – Adara, Summer, Erin, Cathy, Amber, Elizabeth, Debra, Cassandra, Vicky
I have no bellybutton to get lint stuck in…. lol – Tiffany
I love my stretch marks, the knots in my stomach from blood thinner shots to keep her above, my c-section scar and my baby pooch! They’re ALL medals of honor in my mind for making, caring for, 39 weeks of carrying my daughter and giving birth to her. I love my body! – Christine
I’m stronger – Julianna
Knowing that it brought new life into the world. The human body is so much more than what we judge it by. I have a wonderful body, despite the so-called flaws. – Michelle
My stretch marks! I have “tiers” that vary slightly in color to show which marks are from which kid (I have 7). They don’t bother hubby at all, and the kids love to see the permanent proof that they were once inside my belly. – Kathryn
Not having a baby in it – Caralyn
My husband loved my belly when I was pregnant. I use to look in the mirror and ask myself, what is it that he sees? I now look in the mirror and see a very strong mother of 2 boys. The best part though, my 2 year old still kisses my belly and says, I wuv you. – Kandis
My body didn’t change much after 2 kids because I don’t drive…I bike or walk everywhere and got back into shape quite fast both times. Any stretch marks I see as a thing of beauty however….how can you not see the beauty in what your body has created? If I feel bad about my post-baby body, I just look at my beautiful kids and don’t feel bad anymore….everything was worth it! – Virginia
When I see the extra skin on my tummy I always smile cause it reminds me of how hard my body worked to grow a life and it always makes me think of my sweet boy and just how he is worth it all. Other than that my body didn’t change much, only got better. Having a baby actually gave me the incentive to work out regularly and I have gotten in better shape then ever before. – Heidi
I have weight on me now! Before I got pregnant I never could gain weight and I definitely don’t have that problem now!! – Jennifer
Stretch marks- they are the physical proof of pregnancy’s strain on the female body. When I feel down about myself I look at my tummy and smile because I grew life inside of me. I made 3 beautiful and unique kids. To me that’s something to be proud of Boobs-I gained some pretty nice boobs from having three kids lol The rest of me is the same pre-pregnancy. – Lesly
My Tiger Stripes – Catherine
Sure there are days that I wish I was skinnier but all in all I’m proud of my body. I’m proud to have a body that so graciously carried twins to 35 weeks and continues to be able to carry them on my hips with grace. I’m proud of my not so perky breasts which were the sole providers of nutrition for my sweet babies for 13.5 months. I’m confident in my post partum body and I think that’s important. – Hayley
This is a difficult question! Honestly, though, I appreciate the fact that my now more shapely body has resulted in fewer people assuming that I am a child. Being less than 5 feet with a very petite build (90 lbs pre-baby) led people to talk over me, hand me a child menu, and generally disrespect me. Now, however, I am obviously an adult yet my 40 years don’t show very much. People now look me in the eye and realize they can have an intelligent conversation with me! Good question, one that is thought-provoking. – Christina
My tiger stripes went through battle! – Amber
My muscly arms. – Carol
As much as I complain about them, I secretly love those extra wide hips that seem to hold 2 babies perfectly! lol – Alicia
I hope you enjoy these as much as I did. Share in the comments something you love about your post baby body.
May you see how truly beautiful you are, today and every day.
Jennifer says
It’s nice to hear woman appreciate their post baby bodies instead of hating it. I went into my pregnancy knowing that my body would never be the same, but I didn’t know what to expect. When I think of a womanly figure, I think of thicker women with hips and breasts. I only had the breasts before my pregnancy. After, I got those wider hips, but lost my breasts. Like many of the woman have said, it’s like those hips are put there for the purpose of your children because they fit so nicely. But it also makes me feel like I look more like a woman and less like a pre pubescent boy.