Anybody else feel disgusting after having a baby?

[OoohMasala]

Did anyone else have a baby and go from having loads of confidence to suddenly feeling so unattractive that the idea of taking your clothes off in front of someone makes you cringe?

Single mum to a 9 month old. Not looking to date but would like to sort out my body issues. I need to exercises but am seriously exhausted. Help!

Everyone. Literally everyone feels like this! You smell weird, you have ALL sorts of horrific discharge. Your internal organs have only just returned to where they should be. No wonder you don’t feel yourself! You will get there, took me 2 years after first (traumatic birth) but only 6 months after second. Be kind to yourself and understand that this too shall pass and you’ll feel all nostalgic about when you had a tiny baby, forgetting all these negative feelings.

Oh my love. I want to hug you. Fuck yes, I felt disgusting. I know so many women who said the same. I still look at pics of me from my early twenties when I wore skimpy little crops tops and actually could pull them off. Now it's all a balancing act to hide the wobbly bits and industrial bras to lift my saggy boobs.

It's awful that we do this to ourselves. As long as you are eating well and exercising then there is no reason to hate your body. You created life! It's natural and beautiful and you should be very proud. I know it's so SO much easier said than done but try and be kinder to yourself. To be honest I've not figured out how to do this yet...

Yep. And ds is 4yo in October... I feel horrid most of the time. DH is great, he thinks I look just marvellous. But I don't feel like that about myself at all. I feel gross.

This is completely normal. Only after going back to work did I start to feel like some semblance of myself. I think it was being out of the house and wearing work clothes that helped. Remember that baby is still young and consuming. Do things that help you feel good about yourself without putting Yourself under too much pressure

I had my last baby 5 years ago and I still feel somewhat disgusting 🙈

Mine is coming up to 3 weeks old and I’ve never felt so revolting in my life. Leaking downstairs. Stitches pulling. Haven’t brushed my hair in days. I’ve got post-partum sweats. Leaky, lopsided boobs and clothes covered in milk spit. Wobbly tummy with stretch marks (my stomach was my pride and joy pre-pregnancy!) Extra fat on arms, bum and thighs. Huge bags under eyes. Wondering when I’m going to feel normal again!

I really hope I’ll

Sorry - really hope it won’t be too long!

Everyone. Literally everyone feels like this!

No they don't. Some women do.

I feel exactly the same. DD is 11 weeks and my stomach is disgusting. I’m breastfeeding so thought that I’d lose most of the baby weight but there’s over a stone to go and I still look pregnant! My bits are not where I remember them, I’m basically walking food for DD and all photos have to be cropped. I’m trying desperately hard to avoid seeing myself naked, that would destroy the last of my confidence. It’s a horrible feeling.

I’m 6.5 months post partum and just beginning to feel ‘normal’.

I’ve managed to lose all baby weight and then some but I still feel gross. My poor stomach is crepey and rank🙁

My oldest is 5 years old, my youngest is 2 years old and I still hate my body.

I’m not huge, I’m only 9st 5lbs but I hate, hate, hate my stomach.

It’s seriously affected my confidence and a few weeks ago I actually had tears in my eyes when I looked at my reflection when I was wearing underwear.

It’s definitely affected my marriage because I don’t feel comfortable anymore with my husband seeing me naked.

Yep, your body's been through a lot! DC2 was three before I felt OK with my body. Take it easy and know the time will come.

I think the vast, vast majority feel like this.

I’m now 15 months post partum and I’m feeling back on track, but it took that long. And my stomach is never going to recover from 2 pregnancies, but oh well, totally worth it.

Yes, yes and yes. There right now with number two and it took about 18 months after number one before I looked normal again. I didn’t have the time of energy to exercise or put much effort into dieting so it was a very slow and gradual process. I also put a lot of weight on so there was a lot to lose.

Have faith, it does happen!

Don't think of doing anything apart from walks until about a year - and then only if your LO sleeps.

Totally normal! Nine months is still fairly new. I've lost my baby weight (thank you breast feeding!) but hate the fact I now have some stretch marks on my tits (thank you, breast feeding) and have completely shit hair as a result of all the hormonal nonsense. I never have time to get my hair cut and coloured and haven't got time to do make up. I look at yummy mummies, especially whose babies are younger than my 17month old, and wonder how the fuck they do it!

We'll get our mojo back eventually I'm sure.

Yes I felt the same after both pregnancies. Body went back to normal about a year later with healthy eating, and exercise. Please be kind to yourself and love yourself.

Everyone. Literally everyone feels like this!

No, they don't. I certainly didn't. Yes, things had shifted a bit, but considering the amazing thing my body had just done, I certainly didn't feel disgusted by it. I say that as someone who had/has various body issues from the age of about 14.

I think it was the moment my hair started coming out in huge handfuls, just as I was congratulating myself on finding the time and space for a shower.

For a while, that broke me.

But I found so much to delight me in the little body that I had made and birthed, that my own ‘looks’ didn’t bother me so much.

It’s a bit ‘sink or swim’, around 10 months. So much pressure on you already, don’t invite any more in. It’s only the last couple of decades of human history that women have swallowed the message (in our culture) that we’re supposed to be sexy on top of everything else.

Luxuriate in how marvellous your body is (and stay off Instagram).

Congrats!

I didn't feel disgusting as such, but I definitely felt different about bodies in general.

I felt very much about the mechanics of my body, and my baby's body. I spent so much time wiping her and changing her nappy that I couldn't imagine that those body parts were ever about sex or pleasure.

It just felt biologically practical, not for pleasure. I don't know if I've described it all that well, it's hard to say exactly what I mean.

Hi op
I'd say it's pretty normal to feel thus way. One thing I would say is that I kept waiting to get back to my old self and I just didn't. Because I'd changed. In time as I l9st weight and toned up again I probably looked better in some ways.
So don't wait to get back into old clothes, get new ones if you can afford it. Get your hair done or whatever will make you feel better for now.
But please don't beat yourself up. You've created a person and brought new life into the world. It's an amazing thing.
It gets easier getting time to yourself when they get a bit older.