This is very superficial but important to most women

[mummy23x]

I am expecting baby number 3.... whilst sorting out clothes, pulled out a very fitted size 8 corset type summer top, used to be one of my favourites, I very stupidly put it up against me and as it is a zip up back each end barely even touched my sides leaving my back completely open!! (Gasps) how on earth am I going to get back to a 10 let alone an 8!! I used to train very hard, i.e boxing, I have now started the gym with some very light cardio and light weights and I hope I have the energy at some point after the baby has arrived to go back to training hard again. I am 9 weeks and already my tummy is protruding... I also have a 6 month old baby too.

Do any of you have any hope, advice to give....Mucho appreciated

You're pregnant.

You've been pregnant before.

This is what happens.

It's because of the baby.

YY v superficial . There's nothing you can or should be doing about it just now - enjoy your pregnancy! Congratulations!

Once you were a sportsperson. Now you are a parent. Very important and fulfilling roles, but with very different impacts on your body.

Be proud that your body can achieve such incredible physical feats :)

You'll do it if you want to, I have twice. Pregnancy isn't forever as you well know by now and there isn't much you can do for the time being. .

It's ok to still care about your body when you are a parent.

of course I am embracing my pregnant body :) I am more concerned about after.. I trained after DS1 but obviously I had more energy, now on the other hand I cant imagine having energy apart from when it concerns the children.

Just really hoped that some mums who have had 3+ children who made a conscious effort to be fit and active.....could tell HOW and WHERE they got their energy from :) need some inspiration

I'm pregnant with dc 4 I did get to fitness after dc3 but not till she was 18 months or so, I've walked a minimum 3 mile daily school run since she was 3 months but to actually do more than that took time. Last summer when she was 18 months I started doing more and was the fittest I've been in years, I now feel like the michelin man! This is my last dc so I will push on for fitness after he/she is born but I see post baby weightloss as a marathon not a sprint.

It is nice to be thin, but you can be fit and pregnant! But you won't be small (I hope!) :)

Don't fret. I did a sprint triathlon after having DS when he was about 14 months, BF for 6 months and ate cake and lost some weight, then trained gently for that for a few months (got me out of the house basically, DH couldn't complain that I had such a noble goal!) and did it and then was in a nice exercise routine. I shall do this again after my next wean is born, and the next, and this is what I think when i am eating for two .

You can't possible know what will happen when this bubs is born but where there is a will there is a way! My ma had three of us and was a single parent and she was always very fit, so there you go.

BTW this is definitely a response about fitness, not thinness which is a sad goal when pregnant. Please don't worry.

You are going to be fat forever.

No, you won't, obviously. But stressing about it now it pointless. Keep fit, don't over eat and you'll be back in shape in no time. I kept up my gym routine (apart from running which I replaced with fast walking on an incline) and watched what I ate and it was easy to get back to normal.

My friend has had 7 and is in amazing shape, with a washboard stomach!

Yes you are being superficial, but it is possible to have several DCs and still have a nice figure.

"DH please stop eyeing up a certain mum of four"

Yes I have some advice for you. I am saying this to you as a size 6 mum-of-two who got back into shape after both pregnancies. Here goes:

You got pregnant again when you had a 4-month-old baby (if I've understood your OP correctly). OF COURSE you won't fit into a size 8 top at the moment - stop reading bloody Grazia/Hello re. how skinny Victoria Beckham et al are only a mere few weeks after giving birth, and start embracing the fact that your body is doing what it's meant to do.

Also, your body usually gets bigger more quickly in second and subsequent pregnancies - because it's already done it before, so your internal muscles are looser etc.

If you got back into shape after your first baby, you will be able to do it again after the second. However, I'm a bit aghast that you seem so surprised about your changing body - I mean, you're having two babies in the space of about a year (!) - what did you think was going to happen to you?!

Once the baby is born, see how your energy levels are and plan your exercise regime accordinly. Also, see what happens to your body naturally. You might be pleasantly surprised!

But don't spend the rest of the pregnancy resenting your lack of a flat stomach or planning when to start "training hard" again. Keep yourself fit during the pregnancy by walking, swimming etc and looking after your existing baby! - that baby will be crawling or toddling once the second baby arrives so I have a feeling that the weight will just drop off you as you rush around after DC1

Sorry, I meant DC2 - I see that you are expecting DC3.

I'm certainly not wanting to be thin whilst pregnant... It wouldn't look right, for some reason I carry heavy babies, my 6 month old weighed a beautiful 10lb 6oz so I'm guessing this is why I get so big. I'm also expecting this next one to be big. I'm just going to have to be strict with my exorcise and be active with this pregnancy...and find some inspiration

Haha if I thought for a moment that I would ever fit into my size 8 top I think I would be quite deluded.....? I lost most of my weight after DS2 and then literally the moment I realised I was pregnant again the moment I started to pile on the pounds which is fine with me...my "worry" for want of a better word is my energy to go back to training 6 or 12 months after this next baby. I prefer country life magazine and fortunately for me there are no stick insect celebs....vogue on the other hand can be covered

I dont have 3 DC, just two but have managed to ping back into shape (well, the same clothes as before anyway, some bits of me are still a bit floppier than before!) This was inadvertant by the way, I wasnt really trying to lose weight and have been scoffing something ridiculous (bf makes me so hungry) So here is my "secret":

a sit and stand pram like this. I dont drive and quickly became house bound in late pregnancy with DC2, as soon as I could I bought this pram and used it to get out and about with both, its a bit hilly where I live and when its loaded up and I am doing the school run/shopping/going to park etc it feels like real workout. The weight has fallen off and i love that I am saving on gym membership.

This is the most lightweight "double" pram you can get by the way (21 pounds) other models will accommodate 3 passengers!

Anyway if you were looking for anecdotal evidence that you can get back into shape after kids, then I am it. So go ahead and tuck into your dinner, you can worry about getting back in shape later

PS I know what you mean about worrying about not having the energy. I never had any energy after DS1 and didnt realise how anemic I was, this time I am taking iron supplements and also a coconut oil supplement and feel so much less tired.

I'm sure hoping it's possible! I'm 40 wks with DC1 and things have not gone at all as I imagined. I was very athletic -- former gymnast and actively doing capoeira when I got pregnant. I was raised on tales of my Mum working until she went into labour and my aunt heading off on a wlderness hike that turned into a race back home when she started to give birth to her twins!

I stopped capoeira because of the dangers of blows and falls, but continued to be active...until I developed SPD at 16 wks. I was using mobility aids by 20 weeks and now can barely move about. It's maddening as my brain is still of the woman who could do handstands and flips, but my body can't take an unaided step. I know my big challenge is going to be to not overdo it trying to get back in shape, but I remain confident it will be possible. At least I've now gotten a good 6 months practice at being patient. :)

Thank you MummyAbroad... coconut oils sounds interesting? I'll investigate that if it helps with energy :)

ardenbird, wow...I'm sorry to hear about your SPD I hope you have lots of helpers around :) Im sure you will spring back after DC1...as you sound very fit and healthy.. just take it easy with your SPD x