Let's talk about Post Baby Bodies (#2 and on)

[auberge]

I'm worried its going to go more downhill after #2. Am I right?

The damage after baby number #1 for me was emptier boobs after bfing for over a year and stomach pouch. It just seems that my stomach will never go back to being flat. BOOOOO

[brit1017]

The only thing that is awful is my belly. It wasn't great before, but I got some stretchmarks with DS, and they got even bigger with DD. The pooch is not pretty.

[pierogigirl]

I was older when I had kids, so that may be why my body went to crap after pregnancy. My boobs will never be perky again and I will need hemorrhoid surgery. As I lose weight, the rest is improving.

[Deleted]

#1 royally effed me.

I am assuming #2 will do the same.

[karinothing]

I just want to not need pantaloons

[Deleted]

My boobs were less perky but that was it (and could be caused by general aging for all I know).

It remains to be seen what #3 will do to me.

[Jem]

Great question! I also got the empty boobs after DS. They are so sad looking now.

I really can't complain about my pouch because it generally stays hidden. It just pops out more than it ever did after a big meal.

I feel like I got off really easy with DS, so I do worry that #2 would get me, you know, karma and all.

[cinco]

Eh, my body has "bounced back" 3 times. It's taken longer every time, and I still have an extra 5 lbs of padding right now, but I don't think I'm worse for the wear. I know the lack of stretch marks is genetic, but I work hard for the flat (ish) tummy. My boobs are gone forever, I'm afraid

[vegas]

I really wish I hadn't clicked on this post. I did fine with #1 and was trying to think happy thoughts about #2, but I am at 25 weeks and have already gained almost the same amount of weight I gained during the entire pregnancy with DS.

[auberge]

vegas- it's the girl, I'm telling you!! see my post steal your beauty

[Deleted]

I was fine after #2... it was #3 that was the problem. I didn't lose weight while BFing him.

[Deleted]

With #1 my body looked great afterwards. Everything went back to how it was before, my tummy was super flat, no stretch marks. easily able to wear a bikini

With #2 my body took some more abuse. Two itty bitty stretch marks on my tummy, tummy not super flat. boobs completely deflated. Still could wear a bikini

With #3 my body took a lot more abuse. 6 months PP and I have a tummy pouch that I never had before, my hips and thighs are bigger. I'm still hanging onto 20 pounds that will not come off. And I got stretch marks, luckily they are light and mostly not noticeable, but they are there. Probably not as able to wear a bikini comfortably. If I lose the weight maybe, but not anytime soon.

It seems to get worse with each kid. You also are older for each kid which I'm sure plays into it.

[auberge]

May 17, 2012 14:00:31 GMT -5 @mrsgreeko said:

With #1 my body looked great afterwards. Everything went back to how it was before, my tummy was super flat, no stretch marks. easily able to wear a bikini

With #2 my body took some more abuse. Two itty bitty stretch marks on my tummy, tummy not super flat. boobs completely deflated. Still could wear a bikini

With #3 my body took a lot more abuse. 6 months PP and I have a tummy pouch that I never had before, my hips and thighs are bigger. I'm still hanging onto 20 pounds that will not come off. And I got stretch marks, luckily they are light and mostly not noticeable, but they are there. Probably not as able to wear a bikini comfortably. If I lose the weight maybe, but not anytime soon.

It seems to get worse with each kid. You also are older for each kid which I'm sure plays into it.

[omalley]

I know my situation is different b/c I had two at a time but my stomach is wrecked. I don't really have stretch marks but I have A LOT of extra skin. I was over 50 inches in diameter when I delivered and it did not bounce back.

[devonpow]

I was very lucky and had no stretch marks with either one. After DS1 I bounced right back without really doing anything. This time it is a lot harder. I gained 40 pounds with each pregnancy (but started off at a lower weight before DS2), and I am stuck with about 12 pounds that are.not.budging. I also still can't get into most of my pre pregnancy jeans due to my hips, and if I do squeeze them on the muffin top is insane. I am really pissed because I worked out HARD all during this pregnancy. Heck, I did an hour spin class and an hour with my trainer the day before I delivered, but my body is just not cooperating now. I think I am one of those people who will hold onto the extra 10 pounds until I stop BFing. It pisses me of.

[zeewifeandmama]

May 17, 2012 13:30:32 GMT -5 @lazerus24 said:

#1 royally effed me.

I am assuming #2 will do the same.

Same here. I was under my pre preg weight by 6 months but my stomach/legs all the way to my ankles were a WRECK! I am gaining weight in different places this time, so I can imagine that my whole body this time will just be not cute.

[Deleted]

My post kid#1 body was not that different...boobs stayed nice, stomach went back pretty flat. Was down to pre-preg weight eventually.

It went downhill after #2....and down a freaking landslide after #3.

After 2 was stretchmarks & a minor baby pouch stomach. I BF her & my boobs deflated/sagged. Lost 20 of the 30 I gained quickly...the rest stuck around.

After 3...anemia, hypothyroidism, horrible baby pouch, more stretchmarks, a prolapsed bladder & my lady bits need surgery because the episotomy was sewed up wrong. I had a 9lb baby & went home weighing 5lbs less & lost NO weight for a year (until I got my thyroid under control).

I was "only" 33 when I had DD3--I can only imagine the damage i'll have if I ever had #4 when I am 37 or older.

[h]

My stomach is a little pouchier and my breasts are maybe a bit saggier after two kids, but it is nothing I can't live with. I escaped stretch marks both times, and I have returned to my pre-pregnancy weight despite the fact that my mid-section has never returned to its pre-pregnancy flatness. Kid #2 wasn't really any harder on my body than kid #1.

[slug*bug]

For me, boobs are about the same (less full) but the stomach damage was noticeably worse after #2: after #1, it almost went back to normal, but this time, there's loose skin and a noticeably more pooch.

To be fair, though, I'm over 35 now and had way less time to work out postpartum this time around.

[bunch]

La la la la I can't hear you

[Willis Jackson]

The weight has been more stubborn with #2 but the general shape and condition of things is similar. My stomach has always been my problem area so I'm not devastated that it's not flat.

I've been pregnant and/or breastfeeding for 4 years straight so who the hell knows how everything will shake out in the end.

[hannamarin]

Am I the only one that did NOT breastfeed but still has droopy boobs?
Annoying! I used to have perky small boobs. Now they are droopy and small. I used to hang out in no bra. I cant do it anymore. Just like .i have to wear makeup to hangout.
Getting old.

[Willis Jackson]

May 17, 2012 14:39:00 GMT -5 @hannamarin said:

Am I the only one that did NOT breastfeed but still has droopy boobs?
Annoying! I used to have perky small boobs. Now they are droopy and small. I used to hang out in no bra. I cant do it anymore. Just like .i have to wear makeup to hangout.
Getting old.

My understanding is that pregnancy ruins your boobs, not breastfeeding.

At least that's what an OB told a girl on 16 and pregnant.

[starlily]

I was 34 when I got pregnant and had a beauty stealing girl.

I am all effed up.

[whitepicketfence]

My body is actually in much better shape after #2 than it was with #1. I was extremely sick with my second pregnancy and lost a bunch of weight in the beginning. As a result, I only ended up gaining 9 lbs by the time DD2 was born. Within a week after delivery, I was down to 10 lbs below my pre-pregnancy weight from DD1.

Since then, I've been able to keep the weight off and have even lost a few more pounds on top of that - chasing two kids around will do that to you My boobs never really recovered from my first pregnancy and still need some major help. My belly is also still somewhat saggy, but I think my c-section with DD1 did more damage to it than my VBAC did in terms of muscle loss. Also, not having gained much weight the second time helped as well.

All-in-all, things could be a lot worse in my case.

[agb2008]

My first one ruined my boobs but even after three kids I have zero stretch marks so I should be happy. Although I also have a pooch and can't really wear certain dresses without looking a pregnant.

[tardyfortheparty]

I'm 7 months post partum after #2 and back to pre pregnancy weight. However my stomach is a disaster and despite lots of core work I have a ways to go before I lose the pouch. My breasts are so saggy I dont think that can be fixed withoutsurgery.

[ijack]

It's really hard for me to tell if it was #2 or just a full term pregnancy, but everything is way flabbier. Though I don't do much to fight it.

[hilwithonelary]

I got in great shape by 6 months pp with DS. My stomach wasn't flat, but I've never had a flat stomach. My body looked pretty much the same as pre pg.

I'm only 7 weeks pp, but I think my stomach is permanently damaged. There is a flap of skin that folds over on my lower stomach. It's disgusting.

[onomatopoeia]

May 17, 2012 13:43:19 GMT -5 cinco said:

Eh, my body has "bounced back" 3 times. It's taken longer every time, and I still have an extra 5 lbs of padding right now, but I don't think I'm worse for the wear. I know the lack of stretch marks is genetic, but I work hard for the flat (ish) tummy. My boobs are gone forever, I'm afraid

This is me, except I've only had two kids. It's taken work but I'm pretty close to pre-kids, my belly is a 'little' softer but still looks decent in a bikini. My boobs flattened out quite a bit, especially after my second. I try to dress to flatter, lol.