What does your belly look like?

Okay, so I want to know why no one posts postpardum belly pics!

Seriously, what does your belly look like now that you've had twins? Did it continue to improve in appearance after the 3 month mark? It doesn't seem like mine has improved any in the last month....

So here's my story, please share yours:
I delivered via csection at 37 weeks. I had gained 35 pounds and had a svelte 44 inch waist! I was back to my PP weight in just under 2 weeks and all my clothes fit. BUT, from the navel down my belly skin looks like it belongs on an elephant! It is loose (although not "hanging" like it used to), wrinkley, and covered in brown/flesh colored stretch marks. (Have I painted a lovely picture!) It is reasonably flat, I definately don't look pregnant. So, I know I shouldn't complain too much--but I just wonder if it will get any better or is this as good as it gets! I guess I want to know if I should just get used to it, or keep hoping for improvement.

So tell me about your PP belly and the progression of its improvement. Oh, if you're really brave share a picture!

Jen

 

Oh I am SO not brave enough to share a picture! :lol:

I was "fluffy" before getting pregnant with the twins, so my tummy was already not so great. It's not too different three weeks post-op. I can fit into pre-pregnancy clothes, but they're a little tight in the belly. I'm figuring in another few weeks they'll fit just fine.

Can't say much else, but mine pretty much looks like your's. Your description is perfect! :lol: After my first c-section, it took a good year before I was completely normal. This time it's going more quickly, but not fast enough for me!

 

Hmmm..... I don't know what's worse. I don't have the skin thing going - but only because my belly still looks about 3 mos pregnant! yep. it's a bummer. I could fit into my regular clothes about 1 week after birth and only gained about 30 lbs - AND not one stretch mark. but after the initial "deflation" it's not budging. granted I haven't been diligent on sit ups - and my eating habits haven't been that great - but c'mon! I was in pretty good shape before! Maybe when I deflate I'll have the skin thing. NOW lets talk boobs - my what a transformation those took after pregnancy - I really miss my old boobs. B)

 

Honestly mine looks pretty good. It's gotten better and better as time has gone by. The stretch marks have really faded and it's not wrinkly like it was. Plus it's almost flat. I weight much less then I did when I got pregnant. I 100% attribute that to the breastfeeding. I expect my weight to go back up after I wean!

I delivered vaginally at 36 weeks and had gained 40 lbs exactly. I weighed 146 PrePreg, 186 when I delivered and 125 now.

Oh, but my boobs...look terrible! I hate them! So flat and saggy and totally stretch mark covered. YUCK!

 

Same here. I was 5'8 135 lbs pre-pregnancy. I got up to 210 lbs with a 52" waistline. My uterus didn't contract fully until about 3 months postpartum. Not to mention that I had a severe hernia from the pregnancy. I'll never have a six-pack again because my abdomen muscles are permanently seperated, but I guess I didn't expect that I would after carrying twins 38wks + 1d. Today, I'm only down to about 150 lbs. I still have a ton to lose and look a little pregnant. I have droopy skin that folds over and tucks into my underwear. DH thinks it's HOT (j/k). I don't know that it'll ever get better, but at least I have 2 beauties that keep me smiling every day.

My OB told me to lay off the McDonald's and get out and exercise. I haven't tried that yet, but it might work!

 

My belly is not that bad but my shape is ugh to me... i was about 165 and almost 6 foot when i started and now i am about 180 so i have like 15 pounds i need to loose. My few stretchmarks i can barely see and i know with some help i could have a flat stomach again because i have no skin hanging like i thought i might. I hope that one day i can fit inot my old clothes, right now i am trying not to dwell too much on it. It saddens me at times. Boobs, they look teh same and i did not BF so no saggyness at all.. Matter of fact they probably look better since there is some extra weight there... my muffin top is the worse part on me... oh and i delivered at 35 weeks 4 days via c-section and i think that i weighed like 215!!!! EEK!

go to www.shapeofamother.com and see some great pics, they actually make you feel totally not alone.

 

I have the sagging skin too, with a nice "ditch" effect going on with my scar. :icon_biggrin:

 

Mine sounds very similar to what you describe. Skin's not hanging, but it's loose and I still have that yucky brown decoration (will that linea niagra EVER disappear!?!? ) The stretch marks have faded, and at 6 mo PP- I'm back down to less than what I weighed originally, but that's got to be due to the BFing- we'll see what happens now that we're weaning. Oh- and another weird thing- my BUTT got flat?!?!? What's up with that?!?! :blink: Anyways, I guess the kiddos are worth it-- but I do miss my cute little belly button! :lol:

 

Yours sounds better than mine. I STILL can't fit in most of my pre-prenancy pants. It's very depressing. I purposely gained a ton of weight after losing our other girls to TTTS. I wanted to make sure they were getting lots of protein. I gained 55 pounds at least! I still have about 13 to 15 pounds "extra." Oh, I also gained extra weight in hopes of that helping with the whole nursing thing since I had some problems with just ONE baby before. It didn't seem to help, although we ARE nursing/pumping 1/2 of their feedings. One side of my belly got stretched a lot more than the other and I have old granny saggy skin on that side, especially from about the midpoint between my navel and pubic area down to that area. I even have stretch marks way down there!

 

I think I look pretty much the same as I did pre-pregnancy. I gained about 30lbs. with the babies and am about 5 feet 4 inches and 125-130. I lost my pregnancy weight within about 2 wks. of delivering but had to quit BFing after about 4 weeks because I could not nutritionally keep up. I have no idea why my stomach went back to being the exact same as it was - no stretch marks or extra skin at all. I did walk every day of my pregnancy up to the very morning of my scheduled c-section at 38 weeks 4 days. If I keep eating oreos when my babies are stressing me out then I am not going to have my old belly for very long.
When the odd person may comment that I look good after having the babies my first thought is that I would much rather have gained a few pounds and have some time to actually sit down and enjoy a nice meal rather that stuffing an apple in my mouth while I am changing a diaper and forgetting to eat lunch because everyone is fighting their naps...
I do have a very large, lopsided scar though...not that I am complaining.
Amy

 

I really can't complain. I had a flat, 4-pack stomach pre-pg. My stomach is now pretty flat again, but not toned - if that makes any sense. I've been wearing all my old clothes since the boys were about 9-10 weeks old. No stretch marks (yay!) but, like a pp, I still have some weird discoloration (like from that line down the middle and then in other spots too). i hope that goes away but i figure, at least I can keep that discoloration hidden!

Oh, i gained 40+ lbs while pregnant, have lost it all and then some, and delivered via csection at 34w1d.

 

QUOTE(MrsBQ02 @ Oct 10 2007, 04:28 PM) [snapback]444527[/snapback]
Mine sounds very similar to what you describe. Skin's not hanging, but it's loose and I still have that yucky brown decoration (will that linea niagra EVER disappear!?!? ) The stretch marks have faded, and at 6 mo PP- I'm back down to less than what I weighed originally, but that's got to be due to the BFing- we'll see what happens now that we're weaning. Oh- and another weird thing- my BUTT got flat?!?!? What's up with that?!?! :blink: Anyways, I guess the kiddos are worth it-- but I do miss my cute little belly button! :lol:


I have the nasty loose skin too... my belly button is never going to be the same and my BUTT GOT FLAT too! i never expected that one! stomach, ok - i realized there would be changes... but my butt!?!? i'm still BFing so i have what my sister likes to call stripper boobs... we'll see what happens when i wean!

 

Mine still looks so bad that I ordered some pregnancy tests today in the mail, seriously! I would be too embarassed to actually buy them at a store with 8 month old twins in tow! And I did IVF to get pregnant in the first place! I weigh all of 109 lbs, same as before, and I swear I still look pregnant, not enough that anyone would ask, but seriously, it's not going anywhere. I can fit into all my clothes fine, it's just the big pooch that's not budging! I have the nasty twisted bellybutton, deep, dark stretch marks, and skin in the front that is bunched together like an accordian...does that paint a lovely picture!??!!? I gained 42 lbs, and had not problem losing the weight, but this belly has GOT to go!

 

So you mean I'm not alone? I lost a ton of weight after birth but kept the skin and stretch marks. I look great in clothes but it will be a long time before I strut in a bikini again. After one year, it doesn't look much better. If I pull my skin to the side, it looks great!

We breastfeed for about 10 months and now my boobs look like crap. They are smaller and the skin around my nipples have stretched. I hate them so much!!! I hope to get a boob job sometime next year (if my savings allows me) I feel like I deserve it since I sacrificed so much for my babies; it doesn't feel like I'm doing it for attention or vanity.

The stretch marks don't bother me too much because I feel like they are my baby tatoos. Everything else sucks!!!!!

 

I still have the 'loose' skin, to look at it while I'm flexing, it doesn't look to bad but if I grab it, a ton of skin and loose fat pulls away. It could be worse so I can't complain but it's a culture shock, my waist has always been my best body asset.

 

QUOTE(littletwinmom @ Oct 10 2007, 09:11 PM) [snapback]444610[/snapback]
Mine still looks so bad that I ordered some pregnancy tests today in the mail, seriously! I would be too embarassed to actually buy them at a store with 8 month old twins in tow! And I did IVF to get pregnant in the first place! I weigh all of 109 lbs, same as before, and I swear I still look pregnant, not enough that anyone would ask, but seriously, it's not going anywhere. I can fit into all my clothes fine, it's just the big pooch that's not budging! I have the nasty twisted bellybutton, deep, dark stretch marks, and skin in the front that is bunched together like an accordian...does that paint a lovely picture!??!!? I gained 42 lbs, and had not problem losing the weight, but this belly has GOT to go!


I'm right there with you...on my way to CVS for a test! I mean seriously! I feel like I'm melting everywhere else and it only exaggerates the gigantic pooch in front. You know what...I think I'm going to post a picture! When I was in the expecting forum, I asked if anyone from 1st year would post a pic of their PP belly like it was nothing...the NERVE of me! I'm going to punish my previous self by posting my own picture now...I'm so scared. Here I go!

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t160/la...no/IMG_0366.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t160/la...no/IMG_0367.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t160/la...no/IMG_0369.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t160/la...no/IMG_0370.jpg

Wow. That was much harder and not nearly as liberating as I thought it would be . That is NAUSEATING! And what the flip is up with my navel?! It looks like I just stuck it on with a thumbtack or something! I was an INNIE!!!! Okay, you girls had better join me :angry: I'm not going to be the only sucker who posted a picture. Please please someone make me feel better BTW, the last picture is my desperate attempt to "suck it in"

 

haha my tummy is gross, hangy and covered with strech marks, its actually still pretty sensitive too, feels weird to touch it. i fit into my pre pregnancy clothes, lost my 35 lbs i gained and weigh the same as i did before i was preg. -5lbs, but my tummy i dont think will ever be the same

 

I could have written this post.... I describe my belly like a wrinkly grandma belly... (no offence ment) I delivered at 38 +3 vag. My belly last time i measured was 47 inches.... I also lost all my preg weight in 2 weeks and i do fit into my clothes but has not changed since.. I hope it does soon!!

 

If you want to see pictures, go to http://www.theshapeofamother.com/ There's a link all the way at the bottom for "twins."

My belly looks pretty much the same as before I got pregnant, just a little poochier (and that's only since I stopped breastfeeding but kind of kept up eating - doh!). But I delivered at 29 weeks and was "only" measuring about 38 weeks, so not much different than a singleton mom.

ETA: I don't have pictures on that site - I re-read my comment and it sounded sort of ambiguous. But it is fascinating to look at and see how differently pregnancy has affected women's bodies.

 

QUOTE(serranoboys @ Oct 11 2007, 03:44 AM) [snapback]445087[/snapback]
I'm right there with you...on my way to CVS for a test! I mean seriously! I feel like I'm melting everywhere else and it only exaggerates the gigantic pooch in front. You know what...I think I'm going to post a picture! When I was in the expecting forum, I asked if anyone from 1st year would post a pic of their PP belly like it was nothing...the NERVE of me! I'm going to punish my previous self by posting my own picture now...I'm so scared. Here I go!

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t160/la...no/IMG_0366.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t160/la...no/IMG_0367.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t160/la...no/IMG_0369.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t160/la...no/IMG_0370.jpg

Wow. That was much harder and not nearly as liberating as I thought it would be . That is NAUSEATING! And what the flip is up with my navel?! It looks like I just stuck it on with a thumbtack or something! I was an INNIE!!!! Okay, you girls had better join me :angry: I'm not going to be the only sucker who posted a picture. Please please someone make me feel better BTW, the last picture is my desperate attempt to "suck it in"


You're so brave! But I can't view the pics for some reason, so check it out. I will post one with you (after I see yours of course! HA!).

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's belly is not what it used to be. Thanks for everyone's honesty in the evaluation of their bellies!

 

I can't believe I have to do this AGAIN! I immediately erased the pics from photobucket as well as my memory card. Here we go again....


'stbmo4'...I'll be looking for you

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t160/la...no/IMG_0428.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t160/la...no/IMG_0424.jpg

 

I gained 37 pounds and delivered via c-section at 36 weeks. I was back in my pre-preggo clothes one week later. I pumped every 2 hours for that first week, so maybe that's why??? I am back to my pre-preggo weight too...about 130 and I'm 5'7". My belly is not as taut as it used to be, but that dark line finally went away and I have no stretch marks. If I actually went to the gym more and really worked at it, I think I'd get the tone back. I am lllooonnnngggg waisted (it's in the genes) which is why I think my pregnant belly never got that bullet shape...it stuck out, but was kind of flat in the front. I actually put my belly ring back in a couple months ago and I never thought I would be able to do that. I do have that ditch that someone else mentioned where my incision is and I really hate it. Now my boobs have all the stretch marks, but I went from a big B to a big C...but they are definitely not as perky.

 

QUOTE(serranoboys @ Oct 11 2007, 05:45 PM) [snapback]445810[/snapback]
I can't believe I have to do this AGAIN! I immediately erased the pics from photobucket as well as my memory card. Here we go again....
'stbmo4'...I'll be looking for you

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t160/la...no/IMG_0428.jpg
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t160/la...no/IMG_0424.jpg


I don't mean to torture you but they're still not here!!! I'm not showing you mine until you show me yours!

Oh and that website previously mentioned was great! I'm taking a different perspective on my belly!

 

okay, it's not meant to be. I even checked it that second time and it came up just fine! I don't know why it's doing that. Maybe I'll post on that website <_<

 

Jen you are too funny! Mine I have to say for gaining 90 (yes nine zero) doesn't look too terrible. I was a very petite size 4 pre-preg and I am now getting into size 6, I haven't weighed myself in a while I won't keep a scale in the house. Other than my boobs I would say I am almost back to normal. Well, not exactly I had my C/S at 37 weeks and I was a whale, I think I was 210lbs and I am 5'3 it took my tummy a LONG time to resemble anything non-pregnant. I had this flap of skin that hung over my scar up until about two weeks ago but my stomach is finally getting flat enough that I am losing that. The skin is kind of loose and when I try to suck it in I have this weird pooch that makes my tummy look like it has a butt crack. The few stretch marks that I had are starting to fade, but my backside looks like someone took a rake to it! :lol: I am hoping things will continue to get better I am finally starting to get rid of the spare tire look and I really attribute all of this weight loss to b/f because I am a terrible eater and I haven't seen the inside of a gym since I was about 6 weeks pregnant.