Life and looks post-baby

[AnneJones]

Hi ladies - I'm new in these parts and also new to the whole idea of babies. We're thinking about ttc. Be gentle with me!!

Could I ask a personal question? Among the many, many things terrifying me about having a baby, one is the thought of my body changing beyond all recognition and that it will never be the same again.

Is this universally true? Does it matter once you have a family to look after? Am I being ridiculously naive?

All comments gratefully received!

Anne

thanks for clarifying that anniemac!!. so the weight was all baby. think i was 11 stone ish just before birth

i only know imperial weights! anyway you lost it very quickly. is 4 kilos tiny?!

Thanks for your honesty Finecheese! And thanks to everyone else; it's really interesting to hear different experiences. I've never struggled with my weight and it's always been really stable - I have never been able to get into the gym-routines and it worries me that if I do gain it really will just sit there. I hate exercise that feels like exercise but I do love walking - but I suppose that's quite a baby-friendly activity?

Anyone tried pregnancy yoga?

(Gingermonkey - I'm a huge clarins fan too - isn't it great stuff?)

I lost 2stone in the first trimester then all the weight gain after that was baby and gravy iyswim, small bump. I woke up from my emergency general anaesthetic with a baby next to me and a flatter stomach than I ever remembered!
2nd baby was bigger but bump just as neat so less gravy obviously.

I walked loads when ds was young (am lazier now ). The buggy was one of those with a carseat that fitted in it when he was tiny, so it was pretty heavy - walking for an hour or so with that was a workout!

A Wilkinet carrier makes for a good walking workout too.

V interesting convo. Despite saying you are not really into gym type exercise, you may find (like me ) that you develop a passion for it when baby is a little older- I started running when DD was around 9 months to see if it would help with PND and am completely hooked 2 years later. As well as being a fantastic way to ringfence half an hour on your own a few times a week, it sorted out my post-baby wobbly bits and I'm now back to pre-baby weight and figure (or would be if not 9 weeks pregnant with the next!)

Pre kids i was a 14. post 2 kids i'm a 12 veering on 10.. have a squashier tum, but thinner due to less time spent in the pub and curry houses !

Ooh interesting point, Pendulum. I hope so - I like the idea of enjoying running and my body definitely likes the exercise...I just find it so dull! But I might get to like to grabbed bit of peace and quiet I guess.

This has been a really interesting thread - thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences.