to not understand why some women are in such a hurry to lose baby weight?

[coochicoo]

Or is it just me? It never bothered me. I loved my pregnancy shape, I wasn't bothered by the flabby belly left after childbirth as I was too busy looking after my new baby. My dd is 8 months old now and I'm still eating like a horse (I'm bf so need all the calories ).

I just don't get the whole 'crash-diet as soon as the baby's out / mummy makeover' thing.

(can you tell I'm watching Louise Redknapp on ITV?!)

like the idea of laying eggs. We could buy fluffy sparkly pink covers for them and put headphones on them, so they listen to Mozart and imbibe ancient Greek as they wait to hatch

I actually liked the show last night for many reasons. I thought that it was a bit weird and shocking in parts.

I have often felt during my pregnancy that I am not eating the right things and that my baby could be suffering (probably all in my head but still). I have also only put on 14lb and I am 32 weeks. I eat what I want (within reason) and I would like to gain more. I have also worried about this.

I liked that fact that they showed the extremes which made me see that I am normal and that every pregnancy is different. I found it shocking that there are women out there with eating disorders during pregnancy. I do not agree with it but I had no idea (although I am sure if I thought about it I would have not been too shocked). I think that it was important to know so that hopefully these people can get help and to make people aware of the issues...

Also the surgery bit was shocking and just went to show that if you have the money, a surgeon will do whatever you want him to do even if you have only had a baby 5 months before.

I love being pregnant and I love my baby belly. I do still look at pictures of myself in the 'before babies' period of my life and I do still yearn for that again. I am excited that I am having DD2 in May because I have high hopes of walking a lot in the summer and being able to be a yummy mummy. DD1 was born in winter and I found it very difficult to get the weight off and in fact I never did which personally I think has impacted my own personal confidence.

I think it is a personal thing with how you feel about yourself. Some people whom I admire very much are happy in their skin, and some people just are not, no matter what. I know that I love my wobbly belly with small stretch marks as they remind me of my babies...however I hate my thunder thighs and will be sensible in losing the weight.

And to end...the website The Shape of a Mother is totally worth a look for anyone. I had seen it before when pregnant with DD1 and was happy to be reminded of it.

I found the overall message of last night encouraging, scary and enlightening.

Other than the obvious minimal weight gain, eating disorders, surgery, and crazy mindsets, I don't know why people are so up in arms about it.

This is my favorite link
theshapeofamother.com/blog/what-6-months-of-breastfeeding-can-do-anonymous/

Good for her

I had my DD when I was 25 and I was around 7st. I looked like a boy TBH. I only started to eat properly when I found out I was pg. I got up to about 10st which was pretty scary then. I had never been that 'big'.

Once I had my little lamby the weight did come off but I was never the same again. Thank the Lord! I finally got a bit of shape.

I started getting a lot more attention from men when I was on a night out. Not that I was looking for it, but it did feel strange.

I havnt had much problem dropping the extra weight with my other two birth kids (obviously losing the weight after my adopted baby was easy!). But after each one my body has changed. I cannot believe that I was once 7st and thought that was normal. I am 5'7''. I dont know how much I weigh now because I dont own scales but I am damn sure I look better now than then.

Maybe its because I am older? I dont know. Maybe its because I have been with OH for so long? Maybe its because I dont read or buy or watch that sleb stuff so dont get sucked in?

I DID feel the stirrings of pressure this time round but I cured that by eating a cake .

I feel sorry for those who are drawn into this hidious culture. I dont mean that in a patronising way. I can understand how easy it is. I do care a lot about the way I look, I am not an earth mum by any stretch . But I refuse to consider myself 'naughty' if I eat a donut so ner!

i think if you don't lose it quick, you're stuck with it

Thank you Dunder its a favourite rant of mine

It's that whole - 'oooh, I shouldn't but I will eat something - aren't I naughty?' mentality, isn't it? As though it's a treat to just eat!

As far as advertisers would have it, the biggest luxury for a woman is to have new fabric conditioner or (wow!) a bubble bath!

(Still loving your work Chegirl! Sorry, I'll stop before I sound TOO weird )

I wanted to lose weight because I wanted to feel like me again. I don't like being bigger, I wanted to get back into my old clothes and I feel better when I'm slimmer. I put on 2 stone with both my pregnancies and was back in my jeans 9 days after DC1 without dieting at all but I didn't BF for more than a couple of days. It took longer with DC2 but I was in normal clothes immediately after the delivery and my regular jeans within 6 weeks but didn't get back to pre preg weight until I stopped BF at 4 months. I didn't diet either time.

I don't see what's wrong with that, I just wanted to feel like me again. Why should I feel big and frumpy for longer than I need to just because I've had a baby?

There is nothing wrong with wanting to look yourself and lose weight. I have said I care a lot about how I look .

Its the pressure to look like a supermodel 5 mins after giving birth that I object to.

You are supposed to look better after than before which is all a bit weird.

It doesnt seem to be about eating healthy food and feeling good. Its about being thin at all costs. Doesnt matter how unhealthy you are as long as you are skinny.

Thats crap IMO and it makes women feel bad about themselves.

There should be a happy medium. It isn't good follow a starvation diet but neither is it good to use the excuse of pregnancy to eat lots of processed food.

Ooh I know a happy medium pisces! She's making a very good living at it. Credit crunch hasn't affected her income at all.