14 Young Moms That Had to Deal With Certain Body Changes, and Learned to Love Them

Having a child turns your world upside-down. And it’s not only about having to take care of the baby 24/7. The body of the mother, which went through such a miracle, also changes. Some people go through these changes easily, and others have to endure real challenges. In such situations, you need the support of the people who are close to you.

We at CHEERY couldn’t stop reading the stories of women that went through such changes, and now we have another piece of proof that all mothers are true heroes.

• I’m 3 months postpartum and have been struggling a lot lately with my body knowing that I have to go back to work soon. For the past month, I’ve been counting calories (not breastfeeding) and started lifting again, trying to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. But suddenly it hit me. That isn’t my body anymore. That body didn’t get that way by growing a human, carrying her, feeding her. This body did, and this body is amazing — it has been through one of the most amazing things the human body can do! So I keep telling myself, “Only when you stop mourning your old body will you be able to celebrate your new one.” And so far I’m feeling pretty good about that challenge. © heathaleatha / Reddit

• I love it. I used to be pretty self-conscious. I’ve always been thin, but never really in shape since after high school. Just thin. Now? Sure, I have a bit of loose skin on my belly and my boobs are much less perky, but I feel so damn powerful and confident in my body now. © Mysterious-Ant-5985 / Reddit
• After I gave birth, I thought that my belly would get back to normal size immediately. But I was wrong — my belly looked like I was still pregnant. To be precise, It looked like I was 6 months pregnant. My legs got swollen a day after the surgery and became numb because I sat on a chair for more than an hour. The doctor said that I should walk and move my legs to get rid of the swelling. My hubby had to massage my legs often to make me feel better. It was really painful to walk after the C-section. All these things don’t matter while looking at the baby’s smile and the way she tries to move her tiny legs and hands. © Lakshi Mundargi / Quora

• I truly didn’t love my body the way it deserved until after carrying a child and birthing. It pushed me into being wary of what I was ingesting, portion sizes, and running (especially). I became more aware of myself and what my body was capable of doing. Honoring it was the best thing I could do to give back, and I am in the best shape of my life post-baby. © Unknown author / Reddit
• My body has changed somewhat with pregnancy. My hips, rib cage, and waist are a bit wider; I have a softer belly; just a few stretch marks, and my breasts are not as perky/firm but also much bigger. My hair has also changed, becoming darker, thicker, and shinier. My husband always says it’s amazing, and he’s impressed that my body grew our darling son! © Margaret MacDougall / Quora

• When I got pregnant, I loved my body and didn’t worry about it overly much. So pre-pregnancy I was 5’6’’ and weighed 234 lbs. By the time I went into labor I was 254 lbs. I did get the stretch marks. And my boobs did go up a couple of cup sizes. But those, in my opinion, are badges of honor. So, when I went into a 2-week postpartum check-up I was shocked to find out I lost all the baby weight that I’d gained during labor, and the two weeks after, I’d also lost an additional 22 pounds of pre-pregnancy weight. I honestly don’t feel different, and I don’t think I look much different (other than the boobs, those are so much bigger!), but people do comment that I look a lot better. © Cara Allen / Quora
• Growing up, I always had to wear a belt with all my jeans/trousers, which sucked because it made them fit funny. I’ve just managed to get in one of my pre-baby pairs of jeans, and they fit without a belt because of my mummy tummy! It actually makes me feel better about my body now than I did before! © Little_Numbers / Reddit

• I think it’s a myth that your body looks worse after pregnancy than before. It certainly isn’t true for all people. I actually like my body more now that I’m a mother. First, I’m skinnier than before I got pregnant (I think I probably weigh about 10-15 pounds less than my pre-pregnancy weight). I’ve had to buy new pants because my old ones were too big! Second, my body produced another human being, which is mind-boggling and amazing! Third, I am now nourishing this little human with my breasts and watching her grow at an amazing pace. © Tatiana Reznichenko / Quora
• I’ve had two kids, and I’m damned hot. To be honest, I was thin before I got pregnant, and actually for a long time even after my second was born. I had the stretch marks, and the belly pooch, but the rest of me looked pretty much the same after birth. Since my 35th birthday I’ve managed to put on 15 pounds and I look and feel better than I have since I was pregnant. I still have the belly pooch, but that’s not fat, it’s just the shape of my uterus after growing two humans inside it. © Kitty Bound / Quora

• Almost no women get through pregnancy and delivery without some type of change. Your hips might be forever a little wider, or your waist a little thicker. You may or may not develop stretch marks, your breasts won’t be as perky after pregnancy and breastfeeding. Pregnancy seems to forever change the metabolism of most women, and it’s possible you might never again weigh what you did prior to the condition (even if it’s just the last 10 lbs that won’t come off, no matter how much you seem to exercise or diet). You may be one of the rare women without much change at all. But, it’s all part of becoming a mother, and most would say it’s worth any superficial changes. © Lynnie Page / Quora

• I was 5’9″ and weighed 143 lbs when I first got pregnant. I was 207 lbs when I delivered. Even the bridge of my nose got wider. With the last push, my baby came completely out, and, at the moment the doctor made the slippery catch, my stomach fell like a soufflé. It looked like a rubber balloon on a cold day. It took about 4 months to get back into my almost skinny pants, and another 3 to lose the last 10 pounds. I got a few faint stretch marks across my stomach, and they never completely went away, but I shrunk the pouch. It took 38 weeks to gain all that, so a grace period of equal time to lose it is only fair. © Cristen Musch / Quora
• In my humble experience, your body may go through changes and shifts in the months to come. It will distribute things here and there as it pleases. Your pre-pregnancy clothes may not fit soon. So don’t upset yourself trying. You’re a working mama, and you need all the positivity possible in your life. Buy yourself a few cute clothing items so you feel pretty and confident. It will help your self-esteem and motivate you to keep going! © NoWomanNoFry / Reddit

• I respect my body and I am grateful for all it did for me and my kid, but I am working to improve it. I am not looking to go back to my body before, but I think I can have a version of myself that I like. I already lost 75% of what I gained, and I am working to have more muscle and to be strong (I have a baby to carry around, so I need strength), and I am enjoying it. I know that I am way stronger than I thought I was, so working out for a body I feel comfortable and confident is not something overwhelming. © Rude_Ostrich_503 / Reddit
• I struggled with my body image and did during almost my entire pregnancy. I hated not fitting into my old clothes. Once I accepted it and bought some cute new pants, I finally love my new body. I love my new curves, and I feel that I look better than I did when I was a size 0/2. It took me about 6 months to get to this point, and now 8 months after I’m sitting here looking at bikinis despite my flab and stretch marks. © hashtag_nerdalert / Reddit

How has your life changed after pregnancy?