Permanent changes to your body post partum?

[ftmquestions]

Currently 4 months post partum and completely unexpectedly I actually prefer my post partum body. I really respect what my body has done and like that I have more of an hour glass shape due to bigger hips and boobs (was very flat chested) and a bit more fat having been quite skinny and boyish previously. Seemed to have (so far) escaped the hair shedding too. What permanent changes have you noticed after giving birth? My rib cage has gotten smaller (still bigger than pre pregnancy) and hips remain wider. What should I expect long term? (Disclaimer: boobs when emptied of milk do rock the fried egg on a nail look so I'm guessing that's coming but c'est la vie!)

And should I give up my prepregnancy clothes as I can't get them past my hips ? (Have gone from a size 8-10 to 12)

My children are now 24 and 17 so these are definitely permanent changes! 🤣

I always had a completely flat stomach. Even after my first. But I had a c section with my second (plus I'm now 48 🙈) and I have a little tummy that sits on top of my scar. Nice... it's not big or bad but isn't a 'nicely shaped' tummy. I don't like that much!

Hips and rib cage are a bit wider. Boobs were bigger for years but are less so now which I think is due to dropping oestrogen levels 😩 but measurements are 38-28-39 so pretty much hourglass!

Small babies so I didn't get any stretch marks.

I actually prefer my post pregnancy body.

I'd keep the clothes for a bit. Cos you never know whats going to happen really.

My feet went up a size, and never went down again despite me weighing less now than before pregnancy.
I had to say goodbye to a lot of beautiful shoes :(

Ahh I already have giant feet for a lady and I think mine have become a little wider!!

I wouldn't give the clothes away just yet. I struggled wit my weight so much but when my second was two I managed to lose it and now slimmer than before my first.
My back is much broader and fatter which I dislike but I'm working on it.
It all takes time and a bit more effort.

My feet went up a size in pregnancy and then down two post partum.

Now have smaller feet! Weird!

My hips and rib cage are now bigger. I would have said that after about a year, I'd returned to my pre pregnancy weight, but a few items felt a bit more snug.

My daughter gave me decent eyebrows. They’ve always been naturally thin and short but they filled out and darkened and they’ve stayed that way. It may change as DS is only a couple of months but I’ve got nice cheekbones which are new.

Boobs are much bigger but I’ve been pregnant or feeding for 5 years.

Changes can go on for a while. When DD was a year I suddenly lost an inch from my ribs without any change in weight.

I never got stretch marks, neither did my mum nor sister so just genetic luck I think.

Such strange side effects! My ketatosis pilaris came back with a vengeance PP too. Strange how much is hormonal!

My body looks very similar to pre pregnancy but keeps spouting random new skin tags. My bum also has moved to sit lower down on my legs than it was before .

Definitely keep your old clothes. My body changed a lot in the year after birth, I bought clothes a few months post-partum which fit completely differently the next summer without any change in weight.

I have a wider ribcage, c section sticky out tummy, slightly bigger, wider feet, my bum is more flat and my boobs are bigger. I think I look more 'matronly' rather than the curvy hourglass figure I had before, although that's probably my age and peri-menopause as well (was 37 when I had a baby, now 41).

I don't particularly like either of the permanent changes I've been left with - firstly darker blonde hair (was very light ashy blonde before) and a wider rib cage. I probably weigh less than pre-kids so my rib cage sticks out and makes me look underweight, especially as im already flat-chested

It sounds like broadly, you've done well.

my feet got bigger, wider and more oddly shaped and now buying shoes is a nightmare.

I had SPD with both pregnancies and have not been able to lie on my back since pregnant with DC1. As he's now 12, it seems unlikely this is ever going to change. I resent this a great deal.

I am lucky in few pelvic issues, but the trampoline park is NOT the same. . SIL on the other hand has never fully recovered and this is the most irritating body change for her since she had a baby.

slightly wider hips is good for me as they were very narrow.

Not a body one as such, but I am now much more sensitive to things and I can't wear certain ear rings or jewellery that I had no problem with before children. Mostly, that's fine except for my favourite pearl earrings.

My rib cage took 6 months to go back to normal. Oddly my feet shrank a size and have never gone back.

Like pp I had a completely flat stomach.Even though it looks fairly flat now there's still a layer of fat that is there that I can't shift.

My kids are now in their teens. I still have lots of wide stretch marks (now silver) from the first giant baby. My feet are half a size bigger. I think everything else is back to normal. I always had wide hips an big boobs.

Bigger boobs. Weaker bladder most definitely also.

Yes darker hair (until the greys took over)