aibu to ask if you have a 'mothers apron' and what you think of it

[FlappertyFlippers]

I have 2 dc, ds has just turned 1 and I am back to my pre pregnancy weight. However my stomach is covered in faded stretch marks, wrinkly skin and there is a huge overhanging bit of flesh that I have to tuck into my trousers.

I know I should weave some lentils and view the devastation of my previously flat stomach as a beautiful reminder of my body's amazing capacity to grow new life, but I can't. I can cope with my saggy books, with my varicose veins, etc however I HATE my stomach and feel sadness every time I see it.

I am not especially vain or image conscious, my dh says he isn't bothered by it and tries to reassure me I am not disfigured but I find it so difficult to come to terms with the fact that I will never again look in a mirror and admire my body.

Does anyone else feel like this?

I played the long game with mine. One of my DS s was ten pounds and after that I had to hold my skin out of the way with both hands and look in a mirror if I wanted to see my pubes.
fast forward to 13 years after my third child and because I finally had a mahoosive fibroid removed via a hysterectomy, I decided I could be brave enough to overcome my lifelong fear of surgery.
For many very complex reasons, none of which were around simple vanity - I'd lived with my skin for 20 years all told - I had a tummy tuck for my 50 th birthday. It was a worse op than the abdominal hysterectomy and a longer recovery. 3 months on and I'm nowhere near feeling normal or being able to do all my activities without discomfort. If appearance had been my main concern, 2 months after the op I might have been able to be thrilled I'd had it done but I'm a bit meh about it and I'm not sure if I'd do it again if I could turn the clock back.

Oops. I thought they were to do with the scarring from a CS. I think that one year post birth can be too soon to tell though, it may well go as mine did eventually

I have this, but am too old to let it bother me. No way would I have surgery as too risky - can end up much worse than before.

Oh, and DH has lost most of his hair, so we're quits

I've had 3 babies (via the vag) and later on carried about 3 stones of excess fat on my belly for about 10 years.
I have got a small overhang but I don't have to roll it up or anything. I can also see my pubes. Exercise does help an awful lot , I do lots of crunches, I also found swimming improved it a lot.
I see your youngest child is one, I would give it at least another year to see how things improve. I've heard that skin takes about 2 years to settle back after weight loss, I would guess pregnancy would be similar.
As for stretch marks, they really do fade over time. I had bad ones and I really can't see anything there now.

If I'm driving or a passenger in a car, I stick my mobile under mine, so I don't lose it.

I wish wish this was a joke, but it isnt

My abs separated and never went back properly so I always look pregnant to some extent. No diet or exercise can cure it and I'm both too skint and too scared to have surgery. I always look like a big round barrel on legs and don't like it, clothes don't look good as they are either tight round the belly or too big everywhere else.

I don't particularly like mine, but it is what it is and I just dress to disguise it, as best as I can.

My knackered feet annoy me more.

I have one after 2 cs. I have been overweight for a long time and had a horrible overhang. But I got referred for physio for knee and hip pain. Turns out part of the problem was actually pelvic pain due to having no lower abdominals. The physio gave me very targeted exercises to do and my tummy is much improved. Still overhanging but I can actually pull it in if I try.

She also told me that crunches don't help as they aren't targeted enough. So I would try physio before surgery if poss.