Pregnancy changing your body for good

Leanna

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So yesterday I was reading this article that really freaked me out. It was talking about all of the horrible things that happen to women's bodies with each pregnancy: saggy breasts, stretch marks, veins, loss of control over bathroom use, on and on. I know all of these happen, but I really got worried about turning into a blob in my 20's. :( My first pregnancy was uncomplicated and I escaped almost completely unscathed (I look the same, I weigh the same, etc) but now I am realllllly worried about having babies and having incontinence or not being able to wear shorts because of really bad veins! :o They shouldn't write articles like that! I know it is probably a vanity problem, wanting to still look decent after kids.... but I am concerned. Did all of these things happen to you after your kids? Is it really worse after each pregnancy? :help: I know this may sound silly but this makes me want to wait longer to have another kid so I can enjoy what young looking days I have left.... :doh:
 

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Well, it hasn't been that bad for me. I'm mostly the same, before and after kids, too. I suppose, like everything else, it differs with each woman. I do have a few marks at my hips and tummy but no one needs to see those. I don't wet my pants or anything, but I'll say this - when I gotta go, I gotta GO:D. I am currently trying to do some kegel exercises to tighten those muscles up, and wish I had started them while pregnant, as advised.
 
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ShannonMcCatholic

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It really varies from person to person, I believe. I've had 6 full term vaginal deliveries- I do have some bladder sagging issues- but no incontinence. This is mostly the result of my 5th baby being born face up- rather than the number of children I have had. Well and I must admit my breasts will never be able to ever be 'perky' again- but I'd trade that for being able to nurse laying down anyday! (Plus my husband doesn't mind)

If you take care of yourself, try to eat well and exercise moderately- it shouldn't be that big of a deal. I see my stretchmarks and things as marks of love- of the sacrificial love of Jesus- the love where I am willing to lay down my life for another... to me it is very beautiful....
 
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you know what, children are a blessing and if i get stretch marks that cant be prevented, or ugly veins or whatever, oh well, i can deal with them or hide them and work my best to get back into shape, but honestly after having my son i dont care what kind of stretch marks i got, he is worth anything. I still look decent, but im not perfect.
 
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Ruhama

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Your body will change, though not necessarily for the worse.

It was something of a grieving process for me throughout my pregnancy. I don't like what it's done to my body, I'd have liked to have at least a year of marriage to enjoy first, but then I guess it teaches you more immediately not to hold onto what must inevitably eventually turn back to dust anyway.
 
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blessedmomof5

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well, i have what you call twinskin, yuk.... that lovely extra skin you get after carrying twins well double that for 2 sets and imagine what you get....and 3 c sections not a pretty site, at first it bothered me, but i used to dream of a tummy tuck....not anymore, i am so used to the skin i am not to sure what i would do without it...plus it is part of my kids.... its ugly , thank the Lord for tankinis. is that how you even spell that? lol
 
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sara elizabeth

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Every person is different, of course. I am at the end of my 5th pregnancy, so we'll see what I look like after this one, but after having 4 kids, my body had not changed much at all. I weighed (before this pregnancy) the same as I have since 16. I do have some very minor stretch marks on my stomach ( like 4-5 marks less than 2'' long) Those fade until you can't really see them. As far as breasts go, I am small breasted and after nursing 4 kids for about a yr each, I could still go bra-less if I wanted to (the good point in having small breasts ;) )
No bladder problems either. :thumbsup:
So, I guess what I'm saying is not everyone has major body changes from pregnancy. I know a lady who had 10 kids in about 15 yrs. She also has a body that most 20 yr olds would envy (she's about 45) So, go figure. I think genetics play a big part :)
 
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blessedmomof5

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honestly, i would not trade any bit of skin for one of my kids, they were all so worth it.....i weigh less now then before them, and i am 42, so thats a good thing, and even though i cannot wear a bikini, i would not want to..... to much skin showing for me....... yes i nursed all of mine also, hard but possible, needed to suppliment with the 1st 2 we had a low for gestastional age baby, but she nursed when she needed to.... motherhood is a wonderful experience, espiecally when you get to look into the eyes of your baby or babies for the first time and realize they are really yours forever,a dnthey are a GIFT from God..

Denise...
 
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Leanna said:
So yesterday I was reading this article that really freaked me out. It was talking about all of the horrible things that happen to women's bodies with each pregnancy: saggy breasts, stretch marks, veins, loss of control over bathroom use, on and on. I know all of these happen, but I really got worried about turning into a blob in my 20's. :( My first pregnancy was uncomplicated and I escaped almost completely unscathed (I look the same, I weigh the same, etc) but now I am realllllly worried about having babies and having incontinence or not being able to wear shorts because of really bad veins! :o They shouldn't write articles like that! I know it is probably a vanity problem, wanting to still look decent after kids.... but I am concerned. Did all of these things happen to you after your kids? Is it really worse after each pregnancy? :help: I know this may sound silly but this makes me want to wait longer to have another kid so I can enjoy what young looking days I have left.... :doh:

The way I look at it : my children are worth it. And once they're weaned I can spend hours and hours at the gym, and I can save money for breast augmentation and stretch mark removal (or I can just sign up for Extreme Makeover ;) )

Stretch marks are my battle scars.
 
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Leanna

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sara elizabeth said:
Every person is different, of course. I am at the end of my 5th pregnancy, so we'll see what I look like after this one, but after having 4 kids, my body had not changed much at all. I weighed (before this pregnancy) the same as I have since 16. I do have some very minor stretch marks on my stomach ( like 4-5 marks less than 2'' long) Those fade until you can't really see them. As far as breasts go, I am small breasted and after nursing 4 kids for about a yr each, I could still go bra-less if I wanted to (the good point in having small breasts ;) )
No bladder problems either. :thumbsup:
So, I guess what I'm saying is not everyone has major body changes from pregnancy. I know a lady who had 10 kids in about 15 yrs. She also has a body that most 20 yr olds would envy (she's about 45) So, go figure. I think genetics play a big part :)

Thanks, this was an encouraging post. You sound possibly like you might be built like me, I am naturally thin and small breasted and I actually like both qualities. So that's something....

I love my son completely and I would do anything for him, and I'm not saying I will not have kids because of these things, even if it bothers me I probably won't be able to delay very long... babies are a blessing and I wouldn't go without but that doesn't mean I should stop caring about my body and my general health not to mention my body image. So while I am sure someday I will look at stretch marks and think lovingly of what they mean... I'm afraid that day is not today. (luckily the only stretch marks I got from first pregnancy are on my butt and hardly noticable and can't be seen even in a bikini) Just being honest... :sorry:

I doubt very much I am the only one who feels this way, but I am probably the only one who would post it especially after reading the replies ... :doh:
 
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LovesOfMyLife

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I agree, it was a bit of a grieving process for me with my son. I "lost" my body. But I have since found a new body...well, I was on my way back to "my" body when I got pregnant with Baby ZEN :)

I figure the Good Lord has Blessed us with two children (well, ALMOST two) and if He sees fit to Bless us again down the road that's awesome. But, in our human plan, we're done having kids. I'll be 25 for about a month and a half when I give birth to Zoe and I'll be hitting the gym IMMEDIATELY (unlike the 6 month wait I had with my son), GOD WILLING.

It's worth it, because stretch marks fade, muscle tone can return, and you can look BETTER after kids (IMHO) because of the awesome glow that is MOTHERHOOD
 
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Leanna

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Thanks!! That's encouraging too. :) It is my goal this next time to be in much better shape at conception and maintain it until the birth. I think it will help recovery and hopefully the birth too because I will have more endurance. Last labor was 18 hours and I was prettttttty tired. So I've already started to work towards that goal ...
 
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sammipher

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The only things I have noticed since being pregnant that have changed on my body is...my breasts sag a bit more and my stretch marks are darker...whichs doesn't bother me...I deserve them and wear them proudly from what I went through before and during my pregnancy...as I said before I am also using them as scare tactics when she starts to date..:)...hubby doesn't mind them and he is the only one that sees me in the bare..All and all I think I did pretty good this pregnancy I am back at my pre pregnancy weight..which means since she has been born I have lost 42 pds! I think that is pretty good....for the rest of my life I am gonna see those marks and think of her..how can that be a bad thing?
 
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FaithfulServant

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It is so hard for me to understand being proud of stretch marks. I first got them when I was 12 becase my body grew too fast and I was devastated. I cried and stressed about it for years, all into high school, even when they had faded. Even now I won't wear a swimsuit bottom without shorts even though you can barely notice them now.

If I get stretch marks from pregnancy, I don't think I would be able to handle it at all. It was such a devastating blow to me at such a young age.
 
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BeachBlonde

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This is my 5th pregnancy friends.I don't have any stretching scars.Some people don't but also from my first pregnancy on my med friends advised me Vit E oil twice a day to combat this.My mother never had stretch marks but we only slightly plump. :)My main change was my foot size! My feet widened so much and I had to buy all new shoes.I also went through bladder problems with 3 of my children.Nearly causing some damage to me but I deal with this still. They are worth it,you know this.:)
 
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sara elizabeth

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I have heard that most bladder problems after giving birth are caused by not emptying the bladder frequently during labor and before pushing. Then if you push with a full bladder it causes bruising/trauma to the bladder. Don't know if this is right or not, but my midwives were very diligent about having me go every 1/2 hr. or more, and I have never had any problems. Its worth a try. :)
 
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FaithfulServant said:
It is so hard for me to understand being proud of stretch marks. I first got them when I was 12 becase my body grew too fast and I was devastated. I cried and stressed about it for years, all into high school, even when they had faded. Even now I won't wear a swimsuit bottom without shorts even though you can barely notice them now.

If I get stretch marks from pregnancy, I don't think I would be able to handle it at all. It was such a devastating blow to me at such a young age.


I got them too, for the same reasons...mostly on my hips and thighs. They ARE embarrassing at a young age. but guess what, motherhood stretch marks are a different animal entirely. You EARN those ;)

Unless you have amazing elasticity, nobody in your family has ever gotten them, and you don't get huge in the front (or expand too much down below) you WILL get them while pregnant.

The good news? They fade. THey're not always purple, they turn whitish silvery after a year or so and if you get a flat tummy back nobody cares. Especially if your HUBBY is OK with it. I might not ever wear a bikini again (then again, when I look awesome I WILL) but even if I don't I can look pretty darn good in a one piece anyway ;)

Don't stress. It's not worth it. Your children are worth it, and they are beautiful and gifts from GOD. Your stretch marks are reminders of them you carry with you all your life (or at least until you save the 8 thousand dollars to get them removed).
 
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