Flubber

I was looking forward to birth so I could have my great athletic body back. I had an image in my mind that I would have my flat stomach back, I would be perfectly fit again, and I could go on runs, wear my old clothes, feel attractive and skinny again. I was far from understanding that my body had changed and had to go through a healing process.

It sounds silly to think about now, of course your body needs to heal, and of course your body will need work to get back to pre-pregnancy weight and fitness. Being the perfectionist that I am, I was very displeased with myself when I still had a little, well in my case, a big belly after I gave birth. It honestly took some convincing that it was okay to have that belly. My husband would constantly remind me, that I just gave birth to a 8.5 pound baby. I'm 5'4" and weighed 135 before I gave birth. That's a big baby for a small person!

I understand some women don't have this problem. Some women loose their baby weight the moment they give birth. THAT'S AMAZING! I write this post because that didn't happen to me, and probably won't happen to the majority of women out there, especially if it's your second, third or fourth pregnancy. The body isn't as resilient the older we get, it takes more time to recover.

Now, LISTEN UP! If this is the only part of the post you read I will be satisfied. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL! You just created, sustained, carried around, and birthed a baby, an ACTUAL human being! Looking at my baby now, who doesn't talk or understand what I'm saying, I forget he is a real human. Someday he will be able to talk back to me: we can have intellectual conversations and he will make his own decisions. It seems unfathomable right now, but you created that!

Your body went through so much! Labor in itself is a workout and an exhausting experience. The night I gave birth I turned to my husband and said, "I don't want to do that again," it was literally traumatizing for me! I had a rough labor and some women will choose labor over 9 months of pregnancy. Not me!

Your body will never be the same, which is okay, but something you need to be prepared for. Understanding what your body is going through may help you cope with your after birth body. Your uterus has stretched to over 500 times its pre pregnancy capacity and weighs 15 times more than it previously did, it will take time for your uterus to shrink back into your pelvis. From what I've read that is usually between 4-6 weeks.

So why was I still so flubbery? Well, my abdominal muscles had also stretched, very loosey goosey. It makes sense that I still looked pregnant two months after giving birth.  There is also going to be some loose skin, your stomach is being stretched to the max! Embrace the beauty of what that skin means, yes, it takes some convincing (especially for those perfectionists) but it truly is beautiful. (Baby Center)

Regular exercise will help. It wasn't until I was about 9 months post birth that I really felt like my body was back, minus the loose skin. It takes time and patience, you will soon understand these after effects, all come with the joy of a child.

You are a beautiful, strong, powerful woman! You gave birth to a baby, a human being, an angel sent from God to reside with you! You sacrificed your body for that baby. You will continue to sacrifice sleepless nights, clothes that get spit up on, and your own sanity for that baby. You are beautiful! You are strong! You are powerful! Be confident in what you just accomplished! It is all such a beautiful process and one I would gladly do over again, even labor!