A UK BASED FAMILY & LIFESTYLE BLOG

Search

Mum-tums + stretch marks ..

I'm lucky in that I've always been pretty slim. I've always been able to eat what I wanted when I wanted and not have to worry - I'd never gain weight. Which was good, because boy have I always loved junk food. Never one to choose a salad over a pizza, I suppose I didn't set the best example of a particularly 'heathy vegetarian' but a happy vegetarian I was, and still am. 

The difference is, I've now had a baby and a pretty large baby at that!.. Ethan was born weighing 9 lbs 9 ozs and by the end of my pregnancy my stomach resembled a dinosaur egg. I'd gone pretty much most of the way through with no stretch marks on my stomach, but as you can imagine, going from such a tiny frame with no ounce of fat in sight to having this very large baby bump my skin had to do an epic amount of stretching and the stretch marks came out in force. Not only that, but my muscles separated to make room for my growing baby and sadly they have decided that they no longer want to be joined as one and remain apart. That in itself is fine, however after every evening meal, no matter how small a meal it is, I bloat naturally and the stubborn separated muscles now serve to make me look about 20 weeks pregnant. Which, well, sucks. 






I'm not going to lie and tell you that I've been to physio to help correct the problem, because I haven't. I know that I'd go to be told I need to exercise and then be handed a sheet full of exercises that I could have printed myself from the Internet and then never find the time to do said exercises and the whole thing would be a waste of every bodies time. So, the muscles I shall tackle another time (or so I keep telling myself).

The stretch marks have now faded, no longer angry just a largely visible reminder that I grew a very large baby inside of me. But the belly button, oh the belly button.. well what can I say.. it's got a mind of it's own.. definitely no longer classed as an 'innie', no definitely not.. quite the opposite! Lets just say I won't be putting my belly bar back in for quite some time. 

And do I feel sexy? Well, I'm not overweight but I'm no longer as confident. My Husband makes me feel like a million dollars still but I want to feel it myself. No longer do I choose bikinis in the pool, it's now swimsuits all the way I'm afraid. And sexy lingerie? Well, yes I still like to make the effort, though anything that's a bit longer and covers the stomach is much more favourable these days. And with Valentines in a few days I shall be hitting Blossom Lingerie's valentines collection to find something to hopefully make me feel a little bit more special.

And though I know that my body is just a shell and that what is the most important is that I have my healthy little boy. I can't lie - I'm not happy with my stomach, I've put on weight and it's gone straight onto my belly. But it's true, I'm not actively trying to lose weight. I just can't seem to turn down the chocolate and glass of wine after a stressful day. I want to go to the gym, but I'd like to go with my Husband and that's pretty impossible since one of us needs to be home to take care of Ethan. I'm thinking that I might take a look at some exercise blu-rays and perhaps some pilates/yoga videos, but I've never done it or thought about it before in my life so god knows how it'll pan out. Please, if you've ever tried at home videos/dvd's do let me know how it worked out for you.

 

18 comments

  1. You sound just like me, large baby from a petite mother! It's not a confident outcome lol. I'm trying to regain my flat belly doing a 12 week programme. I have no idea if it works yet, but I'm doing it at home and it supposedly has great results. It helps build the split muscles back together again first before moving onto more belly targeting exercising so I don't make the problem worse. Be lazy for the next 12 weeks if you want and see if it works on me and then maybe try it if it does? http://thelondonmum.me/2014/02/10/getting-rid-of-my-pregnant-belly-in-association-with-mutu-and-thinking-slimmer-week-1/ (I've just started so this is week one... enjoy my belly it'll make you feel better!) xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love at-home videos! Personally I don't like to hit the gym for a class, so videos are like having a one-on-one trainer. I also get Shape magazine because I love the workouts they feature in there each month--having something new to try each month keeps things interesting! I think they also have workout videos on their site.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This sounds just like me! Amelia was 9 lb 13 and i have a tiny frame but I now have a podge and after i eat i always look pregnant haha doesn't help that i eat too much crap either but i really should do some sit ups or something xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. I bought exercise dvds, did them once and then never again! Like u say theres just not time, and I love my chocolate too much! After 3 babies, 2 c-section births ive learnt to live with the fact that i'll never have the figure i once had ever again. I gave it up for 3 beautiful children, well worth it! :-) Keep eating chocolate and drinking wine I say! lol xx

    Laura
    http://twothenblue.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ah I know how you feel! I've never been super slim but I'd worked hard to get my figure how it was before I got pregnant. Even though Oscar was quite a little baby at 6.12, my belly still stretched and even though I'm almost back to normal now, the belly is definitely more saggy and podgy than I'd like! I too struggle to turn down a glass of wine and chocolate when it's on offer and keep telling myself to get some exercise done but I can never find a time of day when I feel motivated. Maybe spring will bring it on... x

    Kat from Blushing Rose Beauty | Tiny Flutters - Mummy & Baby

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tracey Anderson's post pregnancy workout DVD is amazing! It is challenging but it really works wonders. I have just joined the gym and was nervous going without my hubby but after a few visits I feel confident and really look forward to going! Good luck xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. You look blooming marvellous! I loved my bump, in fact I loved being pregnant four times! I never complained - I treasured every moment!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I just go swimming once a week.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Aww seeing your bump pics is making me miss mine. Although I can't kiss and cuddle a bump like I can my Ozzy lol.

    Stacey was a much bigger baby than Oscar was and after I had her the womb lining came away from where it should be (I can never remember what they say at the hospital lol) and I ended up with a saggy belly. It doesn't seem as bad since I had Oscar but I still hate it!!

    Louise x

    Confessions of a Secret Shopper | An Undomestic Goddess

    ReplyDelete
  10. You look fantastic, but eurgh, I hate my stretchmarks. My stomach is covered!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow you look stunning! I'm a pretty small little lady, and when I found out first time round I was having twins, I guessed the fight against stretch marks was lost, I lost all the extra weight I'd gained afterwards but my stomach now resembles a bulldogs chops! On a positive note, I went on to have another little girl and I can't see a single stretch mark from her, they're all hidden by the original ones!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. You're a beautiful woman Alex! I'm a slim size 8 and was at my best for my wedding, one short month before falling pregnant! Now, at 21 weeks, I'm so proud of my bump and what it represents, but I do feel less sexy and less confident even though my husband is amazing and tells me I'm beautiful.
    It's easy to say you can't pressure yourself, but much easier said than done!xxx

    ReplyDelete
  13. Couldn't help but laugh at the belly button comments but you look lovely. I have some exercise dvds & to be honest I did them religiously for a couple of weeks then tidied them away one day I was dusting and they've never been out again! I bought a wii fit which is more fun than the dvds - but again I must turn it on and do it again!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. lovely pics. i didnt have this problem i have what my mother used to say child baring hips lol xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. That's a lovely bump, having a bump was the best part of being pregnant for me x

    ReplyDelete