How to regain confidence in postpartum body?

[grcxo]

so before my precious little boy i had a tiny hourglass figure, lovely perky breasts and a nice little bum,
post partum everything says, stretch marks sit from my rib cage to my knees, i’m the biggest i’ve ever been.
Granted i’m only 3 months post partum so probably a little impatient but I can’t help but feel sorry for my body. i’m struggling to feel proud of what it’s done to carry a human, in struggling to feel any love for my new body. and it’s not just that confidence i’m lacking. i’m now lacking confidence in the bedroom too. I know my partner is no longer excited with this new body that I have, i can tell he’s completely different. My drives only just come back(with a vengeance)!! but my confidence in myself is really bringing me back down. I don’t know what to do, I can’t find the confidence in pictures, or anything. and i’m absolutely dreading the bikini days!!

Please please please could I just have some advice from u lovely mamas on how u managed to regain that confidence and/or how long it took for it to come back - if it ever does
Thank you xx

Oh op! Things will get better! The stretch marks will start to fade! I really sobbed at my body after for a good couple of months so I know how you feel! Give it time and you won’t care but it’s a huge shock at first! No advice on how to change it as you can’t get rid of stretch marks unfortunately but they do fade please be kind to yourself x

3 months is nothing, honestly nothing at all. I've had three babies, been fit as a fiddle and in great shape before each pregnancy, and it still takes a good 9 months to a year to get back to normal.

There will be the odd person (I'm sure one of them will be along shortly...) who is back in their size 8s two weeks after birth, but really, this isn't the norm.

You will get back to where you were. After my second child, within about 18 months I was in the best shape of my life and fitter than I've ever been. It is possible to get back to the place you were before, but it takes time. My third baby is 9 months old and it's been much harder this time but I'm getting there.

For now, try and be kind to your body. It's done a huge thing and you should try to be proud of that, I struggle with this myself but it is really important.

Time is your friend.

As well as Yoga and Pilates.

It took you nine months to grow your baby, you need to recover first.

I definitely know the feeling! I think it's worst with the first because you can really tell yourself you'll never be the same again but I really started to feel a bit more like my old self when I stopped breastfeeding at 14 months. 3 months is no time at all and I remember last time round feeling like i would never get my figure back but I think it was back largely by 18 months. I'm 3 months postpartum with number 2 and it doesn't look pretty but I know I'll get there again! You'll be ok. It's hard to have confidence you will but give it time and as PP said do your best to be kind to yourself. Your body has just done something amazing and difficult so let it have time to recover and don't compare yourself too much with the 'back in my old jeans 2 days pp' celeb crowd because that's all bollocks anyway!