Your postnatal body

[ohthegoats]

How is it?
How do you feel about it?

I'm really struggling with how saggy, flabby, weak and generally meh my body is. I've always been a bit chubby, but I've never had a negative body image... right now I hate it. I feel awful about myself - mostly because all the thing that make me feel positive about it (exercise, eating healthily, being strong, sex, dressing nicely) are out of reach at the moment. My baby is 4 months old and I'm so fed up of wearing my 'fat' clothes, yet am so tired I can't eat properly because I just want sugar and caffeine, I can't exercise because I don't have time and boyfriend gets home from work too late for me to do anything, we're in separate rooms so sex isn't spontaneous (and therefore doesn't happen). Urgh.

The weather will turn soon and you will be able to get outside more - pushchair pushing counts in my view. See if there is a mum friendly yoga class in your area and if you could juggle a class with everything else you are managing right now. If it's really getting you down, can you speak to an HV. my experience of HV service in our area is very negative but you might get what you need from them if you give them a push. Have some carrot batons and a healthy herbal tea on me. Which is sparky code for tea and a biscuit of your choice.

I am putting thoughts about this to the back of my mind for now (dd is nearly 10 weeks). Don't feel great about it, I feel like it's something I need to sort. I don't have a lot of weight to lose, more toning but I wish I had more time for pampering/beauty regime which was important to me before dd arrived and important for my self confidence. I'm sure with time you lo will settle and you will be less tired so can focus on getting fit and healthy.

I could have written your post. I'm also used to being fit and fairly slim and feel very uncomfortable with a saggy tummy and dimply thighs. It's almost a shock when I look in the mirror because I forget I don't look like 'me'.

I have recently joined a bootcamp though and that's really helping to motivate me, especially to eat more cleanly.

I have also noticed a big change in the past month from walking 2 hours a day. I walk an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon when dropping and picking up dd1 from school and that has has a really quick beneficial effect. I am slowly but surely starting to become less tofu looking. Would that be an option as you could just take baby in buggy/sling.

As for the sex it really bothered me when I had dd1 but I know from that experience that once you are back in the same room it gets back to normal fairly quickly!

It just takes time to get back to yourself. 4 months is still early days...have faith :)

Well, I bought a pair of flattering jeans. In a size bigger than normal, but no need to wear leggings and manky nursing dresses anymore.

Congratulations. Hope you can start feeling more positive.

I don't know the answer but just wanted to say I could have written this exact post. I can't get rid of the last stone. I feel all flabby. We're going on a group holiday in may and I'm dreading being in a swimsuit in front of people. We're in separate rooms and sex is still an issue due to my stitches still hurting. My baby is so amazing though and when I look at her I remember it's all worth it

relax...9months on 9months off, I'm a form believer in it, you've got 5months of repair left!

I have a sweet tooth, and need sugar to keep me going, I swapped refined sugar for natural sugar. honey on toast is great for a energy boat or a banana. small steps, no need for a diet overhaul or a fitness kick with a 16week old baby, small steps . It will all come back in time. My DS is now 6.5mo and I've lost 1.5 stone that's on average 0.5 pound a week weight loss, nothing drastic.

don't worry about it, enjoy your baby.

Agree early days yet. When the baby gets mobile, the weight it comes off, believe me!

Hi ladies,

I am very early in pregnancy but particularly worried about not feeling like I am in my own body after the birth. So, I have read loads of good reviews for these:

www.srchealth.com/research/

They are an Australian product and quite expensive (saving now!) but may be helpful to help the muscles retract etc.

As I said, I wouldn't want to spend so much but googling showed a long list of 5 star reviews.

xx

It is really hard to come to terms with your pre pregnancy body.
I gained four stone with dd1 and hated myself. I got straight back on the wagon after she was born though and lost 5.5 stone by the time she was a year old.
I joined weight watchers which meant I could have treats and didn't feel deprived but it kept me on track and was easy to keep tabs on with the app on my phone while dealing with a newborn.
I got exercise dvds and did 20 mins a day during her morning nap. (I know you say you don't have time but if it's ipsetting you this much then try and find 20 mins even 4/5 times a week). I did the 30 day shred and it revolutioised my body!

When I fell pregnant with dd2 I was so much fitter and healthier. I only gained 1.5 stone with her. I'm now 5 weeks post birth and back in my pre preg jeans within 2 weeks and can wear all my old clothes. Have 6lbs still to lose.
What I'm saying is it's definitely doable and you just need to get a routine going where you can eat better and get a little bit of exercise each day.
Buy a really good pair of jeans that fit as you're losing weight. You c an always sell them on eBay after. I found that made me feel less frumpy and more confident.
Set yourself mini targets and treat yourself to a manicure or a massage whenever you hit that target.
Good luck x

Everyone's situation is different. Don't beat yourself up you will get there just go at your own pace. It would have been literally impossible for me to have got back to normal in the same timescale as roseybee (for example). I was barely able to walk more than the length of my house for months after dd was born and I didn't get over my injury until 20mth post natal. Super shitty. Really massively dented my self confidence and body image. I also wasn't at all bothered pre-pregnancy because I was in control, but having almost no control over how slowly I was healing and the limited activity I could do (plus pnd) really distorted my perception of myself. I am however now fitter and slimmer than before. Just need to get the last bits of belly fat off! So the 9mth on/9mth off thing didn't work for me...every time I set a goal for weight loss I missed it and it got me down. Just as long as you are making progress that's fine. And you can start making progress when you are ready - whether that's 6weeks post natal or 9 mth or 20mths!

I feel the same. Two children and several other pregnancies in quick succession and I'm now a good two stone over my ideal weight. I've started working out, former gym bunny, but it's not yet doing much. I'm eating ok, not 100% well due to tiredness and Breastfeeding but I find the latter really makes me hold on to fat on my stomach and thighs. It's depressing. I remember getting back down to a size 10 last time after about 9 months (am currently a 14, 3 months post cs) but I worry I can't do it again. I guess I will do but like you I also feel weak and get aches and pains and it makes it all the harder.