To feel really down about myself..

[namechangedaily]

I had a baby on Monday after having a difficult hyperemesis pregnancy that really took its toll on me mentally.
I'm happy she's here and the pregnancy is over but I just feel so shit about myself. I look so gaunt and unwell, I can't even remember how I used to dress and all I seem to have left is frumpy tunics.. I had my hair cut when I was pregnant and they made a right mess now I'm stuck with a fringe I can't seem to tame. I just feel like crying.. I got rid of a lot of clothes in lockdown I can't even remember what they were but I'm kicking myself thinking have I given all my nice clothes away.. I don't even have nice shoes anymore just scuffed trainers.. I just don't know where "i've" gone. I'm not working so can't afford new clothes. I don't want to see people as I feel I have nothing to wear and just look hideous. Pic of me when I last felt confident vs pic on me now with my shitty fringe.
Has anyone else felt this way?

Yes op!
Firstly, congratulations!! Having a baby is a huge adjustment and you'll still have hormones flying around at this point, so give yourself a break.
With ds2, by day 5 I just needed to get our of the house but weather was awful so DH jus drove us to the local beauty spot. We got a coffee on the way back and I just felt a bit more normal.
Any family around to keep you company for a but?
Re the fringe. Get a barrel brush, hair dryer, brush to one side then the other whilst drying and that might help tame it. Fringes are a bloody nightmare!
Lastly, you look bloody amazing for only just having a baby. Keep smiling :)

And your little one is gorgeous, too xx

I think you look beautiful, i can tell you i didnt look that a week after mine and I hadn't a pregnancy like yours. It's all so hard with a newborn that nothing feels okay. You will find you again and feel okay. Good news is your gorgeous baby takes all attention and no one will mind what you're wearing. Congratulations x

Honestly I think you look lovely, you’ve great skin, a lovely face and your hair looks awesome, I can tell you I’d loved to have looked that “shit” a week after giving birth

Go east on yourself op. 💐

That's a really nice picture. You look great!

Please don't be so hard on yourself, I think you look great. Congratulations on your little one.

You look brilliant for someone whose had a bad pregnancy and a recent birth! Get a barrel brush on that fringe, when you dry your hair twistle the brush round and it will sort it out. Then straighteners. It takes seconds you don’t need to blow dry all your hair. Bit like in the pic here …

You had a baby five days ago. That you can even stitch together several cogent sentences is an achievement. If you judge yourself on how you’re going to look and feel for the next few months you’re going to really get yourself down. It gets better but you need to give yourself a break right now and focus on baby. In a few months you can start to rebuild your personal sense of autonomy step by step.

I remember feeling exactly that way around day 5 too OP.. looking back, I think it was the ‘baby blues’. It passed over time: be gentle with yourself, try to get sleep when you can. You look amazing in your photo by the way!

You don't look too bad, honestly. Very few of us look our best after just having a baby, except for film stars and the like, so you're not alone. Plus you've had a rough time.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself right now, take it as easy as you can. When you feel like going out, hit the charity shops for bargains.

Congratulations on your lovely new daughter.

There's only one picture, is that correct? The picture that is there is gorgeous. You look amazing and so happy. Please don't be so hard on yourself. I can't offer any advice on clothes really, do you have many friends? Similar size to yourself? Maybe you could all have a clothes swap evening? Or go to quite an affluent area and look in the charity shops, there's usually good bargains to be had.

Thanks everyone.. it wouldn't let me post another photo but this is the last time I felt something like myself x

You look the same OP. The second picture is a more flattering angle and you have make up on is all. You could look exactly like that very easily, just clip the fringe to the side and do the same pose as before and you'll see.

I think you look great OP honestly. And I thought that straightaway. You look glowing and your baby is beautiful. I felt the same after I had my DD.

You look really nice! I had a baby 4 months ago and you look a hell of a lot better than me!

You're kidding me? Stealth post much?! You and baby look gorgeous. Tis the season of wooly hats so bung one on and the Fringe of Misery will be long gone come Spring.

You look the same, except one has make up and the other doesn’t.

It’s quite normal to feel down after having a baby. The baby blues, but I think you’ve posted a few times, about your hair, your clothes, right? So this has been going on a while?

You have incredible eyes OP.

What a beautiful pic 💜

You look amazing in both pictures OP! Congratulations on your daughter 💐💐💐🥂🍾

Pressed send too soon -

Spend time getting to grips with what's been a massive, marathon, Olympic event. Carrying and birthing a baby is an incredible thing to do and you are being so very hard on yourself!

Take time on what's important - eat well, drink plenty of fluids, sleep as much as possible and REST. If you're not physically and emotionally well in yourself, no amount of clothes will address that.

Allow your body to get back to normal, feel normal before splashing out.

Again, you have a beautiful face and soulful eyes. Treat yourself kindly!

I can see by your other photo why the fringe pisses you off clip it up. Sorry for going on about it hairdresser here

Congratulations! The newborn stage is tough, please be kind to yourself. You look gorgeous but you literally JUST had a baby after a gruelling pregnancy - it is normal to feel a bit odd, maybe not quite yourself. You’ve been through a massive change and need some time to relax and recover. You’ll feel good again, you really will. But you need time. Sleep (when you can, I know it’s hard at the start), eat , drink lots of water. Don’t be afraid to ask for help as well.

What you are discovering is the bit that no one ever tells you about having a baby. But, it will get better, you will sleep again, you will feel yourself again. Right now, be kind and lower any expectations you have/had lower. Then lower again.

From now on though, when a friend announces they are having a baby for the first time - you will congratulate them for it is a very happy thing but inside you will secretly think - they have no idea what is about to happen to them!

But you won't tell them...you will join the order of smiling silence....

I think you look fabulous, natural beauty. Baby is gorgeous. I think it takes a few months to feel like yourself again, not easy these babas

I wish I looked like you!