How Do YOU Feel About Your Post Baby/kids Body?

Updated on February 25, 2012
3.B. asks from Tampa, FL
28 answers

I realize that having my pre-baby body back will probably never happen, without plastic surgery LOL But I am struggling somuch with my self image. With baby #2 I gained 40+lbs. So when I got pregnant w/ #3, ihadn't lost alot of that weight.I got pregnant less then 18 months after my 2nd, My weight is normal, good actually I weigh around 128and I'm about 5'3. But my belly is still "puffier" then I can stand.

I am TRYING to keep a workout schedule, it is sooooo hard. It seems like within minute of me getting up, they're up. And then I don't get a break until they go to bed, and at that poiint, NOT happening. We have some fitness equipment coming, and I am telling my husband that mornings before he goes to work are just going to be his time. Period. When he's home his work day is flexible. The only problem will be when he travels.

Anyways, I'm sure I feel alot worse then I really am. I know most women do not have flat perfect bellies after having multiple kids. I'm a good size (8-10) I just cringe when I get glances of a bulge when I sit down, or pass by a mirror and notice the "puff" popping out. I'm hoping that getting some good cardio by running on the new treadmill will help. And trying to sneak in some pilates when I can. Do you other moms feel like your own worst critic? Are you happy with your bodies after having kids?

I feel like I have to wear baggy shirts so my belly is never noticed! I wish I could have a tummy tuck! LOL But I'm too afraid :)

1 mom found this helpful

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L.S.

answers from Spokane on

I feel like a ROCKSTAR! Is Victoria's Secret banging on my door begging me to model skimpy bikinis? LOL - NOPE!

BUT, I grew 3 people and pushed them out into this world. I - and every other mother out there - am AH-mazing!

Just a tip....don't wear bagging clothing - it makes you look bigger than you are and makes people wonder just what you're hiding! lol Wear clothes that *fit* and are flattering :o)

8 moms found this helpful

R.D.

answers from Richmond on

I'm so scared about this tuck ;) The number one reason I'm having it is because my abs are so badly split that I will have serious health issues unless I correct it... and like I said on my post, nixing the extra skin will be nice too.

Even with my belly skin I'm happy with my post 3 baby body... Yes, my boobs are saggy and deflated, yes, I have stretch marks all over the place, yeah, things jiggle and you'll never see me running in a bathing suit, and yes, I have to wear a full pants size bigger to accommodate the extra belly skin, BUT... I'm kind of okay with all that. Oh, and I have cellulite on my thighs (and probably on my butt too, but I'm scared to look).

I'll still wear a bikini, I'll still wear tight fitting tank tops (I just tuck the skin into my mom jeans, LOL), I bought some pretty good push up bras... yep. I've got 3 little 'trophies' running around, making me crazy... I EARNED this body ;)

5 moms found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Houston on

I was happy with my first post baby body, extremely unhappy about my second. This pregnancy I have taken it upon myself to make it a fit one, I work out everyday and tone tone tone. I've only gained 15 lbs and I'm delivering a big baby tomorrow. I'm hoping I will be pleased with my post baby body this time, hopefully because in every way other than my belly I am smaller and more fit than when I got pregnant.

I love my stretch marks actually , they are silvery and not big and regard them as badges of honor.

2 moms found this helpful

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B.B.

answers from New York on

You sound pretty good, actually. I think I look good, I have a pretty flat tummy, but I only had one kid. Unless you live in LA, you are probably one of the better looking moms. Make sure you wear clothes that make you feel good and spend a few minutes on your hair and makeup. Oh, and don't forget about loving those great kids you have!

6 moms found this helpful
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T.K.

answers from Honolulu on

Rachel D I love you!!!
Great advice BB

I'm 5'8 140lbs I still have 20 lbs from baby # 1 I also rock a size 7 (I was a size 3) Im ok with my new body. I loved my old one but this is what I got to work with. I'm great at sucking it in. I just hate when I eat & get bloated I look 3 months preggo!! There's alot of cute tops that don't stick to ur body. We're in the same boat don't worry

4 moms found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Dallas on

You sound like you're doing great, and yes, I feel like my own worst critic. :)

I've had 2 children, 6 years apart. I gained exactly 50 pounds with each, and I'm only 4'11". That's a lot of weight. I lost the weight very quickly after having each child, but my body has never been the same.

I am very thin, but my stomach is awful. It's flat, but it's ugly - hard to describe. I look fine in clothes, but there is no way I will ever wear a bikini. I'm fine with that. My husband thinks I look great. I love him. :)

As for boobs, well, thank God for bras. ;)

I thought about plastic surgery about 5 years ago, and even went to see a surgeon, but decided it was too much money. Now at 41, I'm happy with the way I look in clothes, and don't fret about how I look naked. I think this outlook has come with age. I feel very content.

I am thrilled for you though, Rachel!

3 moms found this helpful

F.H.

answers from Phoenix on

With my first baby I gained 28 pounds and lost 56 when I had her. I figured I'd be a perfect size 6 if I have 6 kids! Lol!!! Oh well, not the case. I was fat before and after I had my kids. No worries, I embrace my rolls...and so does hubby. =)

3 moms found this helpful
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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

My belly was very flat pre-baby. Since weaning DD, I have some inches that don't seem to want to go away and I'm a little self-conscious about it. DH is far less critical than I am. I gained a little more curve (not that I needed it) in the hips, which he loves. I'm trying to move more, eat better and listen to DH, but I really am my own worst critic. Have you tried including them? Go for a jog with the smallest in the stroller and the other two on trikes or bikes? Or maybe follow them through the playground? DH takes DD on his runs. Friend of ours is a single dad to 2 boys and they all get up and dance around and do exercises in the morning as a family.

2 moms found this helpful

M..

answers from Nashville on

You are not alone sister.
Motherhood is rough on our body.
I have 4 kids.
I am an 8-10 in my clothes as well.
I also have a little tummy. ( I HATE MINE TOO....)
I call it my kangaroo pouch.
I breastfeed all 4 of my kids, for like up to a year for each one.
So my tata's look sad. = ( TMI
I wish I could hook up one of those tire pumps to my tata's and just fill them up.

Well, this is what I do to feel better ~ I look at my kids and I say to myself "it was worth it."

I hope you feel your greatest real soon.
Take care mama.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Lake Charles on

After my first (I gained 80 lbs) I was SO h*** o* myself. It took me so long to drop the weight that I had just gotten to my normal size right before she turned 2, then I got pregnant with #2... this time I only gained 25 lbs and right now (10 weeks post partum) I feel amazing. I realized that I looked damn good right when I got pregnant (I didn't think so at the time) and now I know that I'm not far off from that size so any time I start to put myself down I tell myself it's just my perception. I invested in a better bra that puts my boobs back where I want them (they aren't saggy, just look natural because I had a boob job then 2 kids). My but is probably pretty gross looking when I'm naked but it looks good in jeans LOL so I'm okay with that. I'm starting to work out and drop more weight so hopefully I'll just keep feeling better! I have to say that the one thing that I hate more than anything is my stretch marks... my stomach looks pretty good until you see them and that makes me a little sad! Someone needs to come up with a cure pronto.

2 moms found this helpful

N.A.

answers from Chicago on

I actually think my body look's better than before! I feel more confident, I mean I finally got curve's!!! Wohooo! Yes I have stretch marks (like you wouldn't believe!) and of course I have some belly fat! But I love it! I went through a phase where I was skin and bone's! Even after two kid's! Nothing ever fit on me, I was a 00 and I felt ugly and depressed. I still til today hate looking at my pictures from the past when I was that thin. I ate anything and everything and still wasnt able to gain any weight. After I had my 3rd, I was a size 9 and LOVED it! My hubby loved it too! I felt like I had a "woman's" body figure and felt really good about myself. I do work out, not as much as I would like to but 2-3 times a week and I have all of Jillian Michaels dvd's and LOVE them! I never weigh myself only because I know I eat healthy and I am an active person so to me there is no sense in weighing myself. I have lost alot of weight and wear a size 2 but I still maintain to have some curve's. I don't have "that" perfect body but am confident with myself and body type. It's funny, when the other mom's look at me and make comments like "your soo lucky" I just look at them and tell them how I felt back then. I think that we all have some sort of insecurity with ourselve's and I somewhat think it's a normal feeling. Now I will admitt, I do sometime's look at my belly fat and wish to have it vanish! LOL, but I just have to work alittle harder(gotta quit drinking that darn pop!) on flattening it! Bur whatever, my husband love's my body which makes me even more confident. Oh yeah! I also have cellulite! Lol...reminde's me of jell-o! But oh well! But try out the Jillian michaels dvd's! She will get your heart pumping and you'll be sweating like crazy!

2 moms found this helpful

A.R.

answers from Houston on

I have always thought in this life I can either be my own worst enemy or not. I don't have a perfect body. There is no such thing but what I do have is my health, a healthy, loving husband and a healthy, happy baby. Sure, my body rearranged during and after the pregnancy. That's life and its attendant battle scars. I have bulges, some cellulite, sagging boobies and such. What honest woman doesn't have something, especially after babies? We all have to age at some point so gravity is going to take over whether we want it to or not. I plan on going with the flow as gracefully as possible and with plenty of allowance for me being me. I eat well and try to stay as active as possible. I never have been nor will I ever be a gym rat or granola muncher. It's not in my make up. Power to all those who can and do. Besides my husband still thinks I rock it with or without clothes. Who am I to argue with the man? Bless him. Finally I wear the nicest clothes I can. I won't wear baggy clothes since who would I think I was kidding. Oversized clothing looks just as bad as skin tight clothing. Neither will I wear Daisy Dukes with microtops. Ignoring my figure entirely, I don't think it's right for my age or my place as a wife and mother. That's just me, though. You should always like you. The whole world spends it's time trying to knock you down so no point in helping out by having a poor self-opinion.

2 moms found this helpful
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L.N.

answers from New York on

i don't think it's post-baby body. i think it's the age thing. i had lost all my pregnancy weight within weeks and then i went down to 82 lbs within 6 months of delivering my twins. so i was a stick figure. got back my health on track, and i am not overweight or underweight anymore but body has lost its elasticity. you know i am a size 0 or 2, xs or s (depending on the store) yet i have a belly, some love handles etc. it's the age thing. how do i deal with it? well, let me just say like i have always dealt with body image, i come from a society where being thin was not considered beautiful, so i struggled for so many years wearing baggy stuff so i can look 'healthy' now i live in a society where being skinny is considered beautiful and while i am skinny i am far from having a perfect body. so i finally love everything, all the imperfections, all the blemishes, all the love handles, and i also tell my friends to just accept it. people will think you are beautiful once you start feeling beautiful.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.B.

answers from Sarasota on

I actually like mine. I needed the ten pounds I gained, I was too thin before. (Just my metabolism, and I lose weight when I'm worried/stressed) It's easier to find clothes that fit now. To my amazement I only got a small amount of stretch marks, right around my hip bones so they're not very noticeable.

I think my husband gained more weight with the baby than I did, frankly. LOL!

1 mom found this helpful

V.C.

answers from Dallas on

It sounds like you are doing great, just a little h*** o* yourself. Don't do the tuck!
I gained enormous amounts of weight with my pregnancies due to an undiagnosed hole in heart. Then found out I had lung cancer for years that was spewing cortisol into my system. I am now back to a size 6 and very happy about that.
You don't have all that to deal with so you will get back to where you want to be!

1 mom found this helpful
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B..

answers from Dallas on

I feel pretty lucky in this department I suppose. I look the same...pretty much exactly. I don't know how, but I'm thankful for it. We had my son and we're done, so I don't anticipate future pregnancies completely changing that.

1 mom found this helpful
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H.P.

answers from Houston on

When I got off the pill several years ago, my body went to hell. (I had stopped some years before and noticed an immediate change in my weight and skin and energy and hair, etc. I got back on, and everything just lined right back up.) I got off again when I got married, and the weight started piling on. When I got pregnant, it went back down. (Honestly, I could stay pregnant, except for the anticipation.) A few months after baby was born, my weight started coming back. I don't like being a fatty, but I know why, and I know that it's not permanent. Once I stop breastfeeding, I can get back on the magic pill. Right now, it's hard not fitting my clothes. I feel so unattractive, but I am thankful that that is not a priority for me right now.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.M.

answers from Omaha on

I hate my post baby #2 body. I have stretch marks and when i bend over I actually have to ask myself where that came from. O well I am one month post baby so I will get it off. Just walk when you can eat right and wrestle with hubby and baby it will come off.

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K.O.

answers from Atlanta on

My waist is gone. I'm pretty thin now (after a bunch of weight loss), but I used to have an hour glass shape, now it's more of a square. That doesn't bother me too much, but i hate my breasts. They are just so saggy without any fullness to them. I hope to someday get that fixed ;-)

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K.D.

answers from Raleigh on

I recommend missussmartypants.com. Wearing baggy shirts makes things worse. Sign up for her free e-newsletter and then see if you want to pay for the weekly tips. Dressing right will make you look like you've lost weight before you have!

C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I feel the same way! I need to loose about 15 pounds right now. I am also a size 8-10. I know exactally what you mean about wearing the baggier shirts or seeing the over hang when I sit down. This is one of the reasons why I love winter so much, I can hide it all behind a jacket or sweatshirt! I have a gym membership and last week I was good and went 3 days. This week I haven't gone at all. I'm also trying to quit soda. I went 4 days with out any and then had 1. Then I went 1 day with out and then today I didn't do so well. I'm starting back up on my trying to quit again tomorrow and I'm hoping to at LEAST make it until my daughters birthday party on March 3rd.
But yes, I hate my body. When I got married 10 years ago I weighed 110, size 3. After I had my kids I was around a 7/8 and now because of thyroid issues (and my soda drinking, I'm sure) I'm around an 8/10.

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E.M.

answers from Louisville on

heck no i hate my body! i actually had a breast reduction bc i had utters not boobs! lol but as my boobs got smaller my belly got bigger! i try to work out too but getting the energy to work out is my problem. try looking into your ymca we have a great kids area at ours and i get to work out!

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S.H.

answers from Washington DC on

I don't like my tummy. I have lost all of my baby weight, plus a little more, but my stomach looks horrible. I've had three kids all c-sections, and I have saggy skin and a little pouch that hangs over the c-section scar. I hate it, but fortunately my clothes hide the flaws well. I don't see bikini's in my future. Someday I'm going to save up for a tummy tuck.

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J.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Ugh, I hate it! Wish I could say different and I try not to be too negative around my daughter, but I don't like it at all. :(

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M.M.

answers from Boston on

How about the Y with childcare or Jillian DVD's. Post baby body is still a work in progress.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

HATE it :D

I gained 180lbs (medical condition), and my uterus was carrying 40 of it (again, medical condition... that's like carrying quads or quints size 'o my belly wise).

There is NO way my skin will ever recover. Losing the weight was fairly easy (heck, 40 on day one only left 140 to go... took 2 years for most of it). I have SO MUCH extra skin that my doctor subtracts 20-30lbs every time they do my weight.

Lovely. Just lovely. :P

So you're better off than me!

J.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

i wore my jeans all the way up until i had my daughter and the day after. I'm 6 foot and 145-155 lbs. BUT I have silvery-white stretch mark lines luckily under my waiste line so i can get away with a bikini if its the shorts kind that covers that...but I don't like how my stomach falls when I sit or bend over anymore, it looks like I have a puffy stomach when i move...if i lay flayt on my back i'm fine and if i stand i'm fine, not other positions
But I now have varicose veins and am getting them removed with surgery next month..hopefully if insurance covers it
thats what i hat most I hate veins on my legs, i walk backwards to avoid people looking, i wear pants all year long and feel like everyone is gawking when i walk by...the surgeons told M. i should see most peoples legs but i have a good amt that hurt to look at and physically hurt

A.J.

answers from Williamsport on

Put it this way: It's not baby weight anyway. I don't know your age, but everyone I know my age (41) has puffy flubby bellies if they don't work VERY HARD to keep them at bay. EVEN ladies who have never had kids.

My youngest is 2 1/2. I fit into all my pre first pregnancy tight jeans. My belly is perfectly flat and toned. FOR THE MOMENT. Why? Because for the past couple of months I've been able to be diligent with working out and eating right, and this week, my kids are OUT OF TOWN so I've been to the gym EVERY DAY to do the final stretch of the belly break down. But guess what? It will be back. I'm on a constant yo-yo with 5 to 20 pounds that all goes to my belly when I slack off. So. Yeah. My baby-birth belly has been back about 7 times since my third was born, but it's been gone just as many times. Sometimes you can be good, sometimes you can't. Don't sweat it! When you do get some routine, you will get your body back if you really work. All the flawless hard-body instructors at my gym with TONED BELLIES have kids. (They also work out at least 8 times per week :-0)

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