Your Body After Pregnancy Is a Different Kind of Beautiful: Why You Should Embrace Your Mom Bod! by Heather Holter

Motherhood Opinion
5 years ago

Your Body After Pregnancy Is a Different Kind of Beautiful: Why You Should Embrace Your Mom Bod!

Here’s a post I wrote four years ago on Facebook:

“I was never a small person 160 pounds, 5 feet, 7 inches, before I had kids. After having five kids in under six years, my youngest now 6, I weigh 154. The number is smaller, but my body is different. Saggy boobs from pregnancy/nursing five kids, tons of stretch marks and extra skin, 'twinskin' as they say. A sweet thing happened while I was lying on the bed helping my 9-year-old daughter with homework that gave me some perspective.

“My shirt came up and she said, 'That is so cool, you have a floppy tummy!' I smiled and said, 'Yep, it got that way from stretching while I was growing all you kids inside my body.' She excitedly asked me when she would get to have a floppy tummy. I told her she probably won't unless she has three or more kids since mine wasn't like that till after I had my third, and got even more floppy after the twins, who were born last. She looked very sad about it and said she only wanted two kids. I hugged her and told her no matter what her body is beautiful always and forever even if it changes.

“I then realized the gift this floppy tummy is. Kids really help you see things you would otherwise never see. BTW: ALL my kids like my floppy tummy, and so do I!!! LOL :)”

Let’s embrace our mom bodies!

Mom-to-be: 6 Ways to Feel Beautiful During Pregnancy (You'll Love No. 3)

Self-Love Is the Best Form of Self-Care: 5 Tips for Your Self-Love Journey

Be Grateful for YOU: Here's How & Why to Write a Self-Love Letter

Love Yourself, Mom, in All Ways: Self-worth Can't be Measured By the Scale!

Donna John
This is beautiful, Heather Holter ! I have stretch marks, cellulite and a C-section "trench," as I like to call it, so can I relate. We should be honored to have those "imperfections," and wear them with pride. Easier said than done, but it's something lots of us moms need to work on. What beautiful kids you have, too!
Elisa Schmitz
This is really wonderful, Heather Holter . So many moms struggle with body image after pregnancy. Thank you for sharing this. We all need to love ourselves as we are! xoxo
Rhiannon Bowden
I have stretch marks and a c-section scar and I'm happy to have them since I have two beautiful children. Some days, when I have trouble finding clothes, I have to remind myself that this is my mom body and I'm happier because of it.

join discussion

Please login to comment.

recommended tips

Happy International Women’s Day: Celebrating Women's Achievement & Driving Gender Equality

Volunteering: Gain Marketable Jobs Skills Through Helping Others!