Beauty in Mom's body

by Kristin Darguzas (Subscribe to Kristin Darguzas's posts) Jul 9th 2006 3:04PM

Categories: Just For Moms, Pregnancy & Birth

I vividly remember my ninth month of pregnancy. I spent a lot of my days circling the mall on swollen feet, gazing longingly at skinny jeans and form-fitted sweaters, yearning for the day my feet didn't resemble prickly pink water balloons. I couldn't wait to "get my body back."

I saw the magazines, watched Denise Richards slip into short shorts and a tiny tank top weeks after delivery. I didn't realize that the same thing wouldn't happen to me, that I wouldn't "get my body back.: I was totally unprepared for the changes in my body.

Though I lost my pregnancy weight very easily (and then some, actually), my previously athletic body was never to return. I run at least five kilometers every day, eat healthily, do yoga, carry a gigantic baby everywhere I go. And still I have a jelly-role around my grey c-section scar, my thighs are lumpy where they never were, my hips have spread so that clothes fit me differently. And my old self would have been horrified by the droopiness of my breasts.

So I was extremely interested in this email from Elaine, notifying us of a new website called "The Shape of a Mother" which encourages Moms to send pictures in of their "real" post-pregnancy bodies: their miraculous, beautiful, life-giving bodies. They are not svelte or glossy or airbrushed but they are indeed beautiful and I think this is a fabulous idea.

The masthead reads: "Becoming a mother changes everything in your world - including your body. Here we share images of our bodies during and after pregnancy so we can see what real women look like."

Indeed.

(Edited to add: please note that there is nudity on the linked web pages. It's not vulgar or sexual but it may not be appropriate for at-work viewing as some commenters have noted)

Comments (10)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Missy 7-09-2006 @ 3:23PM

Argh! My eyes!

Lots of nekkid pictures there.

Lea 7-09-2006 @ 3:29PM

I love the idea of showing _real_ bodies. It's true--your body isn't the same, even when you return to your pre-preg weight or less. I've been really fortunate in most respects. No stretch marks, not too much stretchy skin two years later. But then there are those veins in my left leg...and I'm not sure my boobs will be the same after two years of nursing. (Still holding on to hope in that regard.)

Very cool that you find time to run every day. I've found that hard, even though running has always been my thing. It's hard to share MY alone-time with a baby-jogger loaded with 30 pounds of toddler. And while I could go out first thing in the morning, my husband and I relish bringing Baby A to bed when she wakes up for five or ten minutes of tickling and starting the day together.

Which is all a long way of saying, no, your body's not the same, and neither are the motivations or opportunities for exercise.

- L

thordora 7-09-2006 @ 3:36PM

THAT is a FANTASTIC idea. I love it. My friend and I are always disussing "Jello Belly" and how no one ever mentions that before hand.

My hat goes off to them! I don't know if I'm brave enough for that.

Tara 7-09-2006 @ 3:50PM

LOVE IT! Saving it as my favorite blog! Thanks for sharing.

ann adams 7-09-2006 @ 3:58PM

It's about time we considered our stretch marks (and sometimes scars) as badges of honor.

I'm past needing it of course but what a wonderful idea!!

karrie 7-09-2006 @ 4:23PM

Hey! Where did she steal my stomach from? (Ok mine is bigger, but the stretchmarks are the same).

I'll definitely send in a pic. :)

Jenna 7-09-2006 @ 4:50PM

You might want to edit your post to state that the blog is definitely not safe for work.

Rachel Mosteller 7-09-2006 @ 6:22PM

The problem is that you are running kilometers and not miles.

karrie 7-09-2006 @ 8:48PM

Ok, I submitted pics. My white flabby c-sectioned, 100lb gain/loss, gigantic baby, diastis recti,stretchmarked self is juxtaposed with one of the buffest mamas I;ve ever seen.

I feel empowered anyway though. :)

Lotta 7-10-2006 @ 11:54AM

Wow. I feel better. I think.

These are brave brave women!

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