SCARS AND STREtCH MARKS

Ana Maria - posted on 01/27/2009

Amy thanks for giving me the hope that my body will get better.
Rebekah, you can't imagine how much I would love to live in Australia. I grew up in the Caribbean, and guess where I live now??? MINNESOTA, one of the coldest states in the U.S. However, I have seen the bio oil in the pharmacy. Is it one with white and orange packaging??? If so, I will get it today. I was looking for people who have tried but did not believe ion ad statements. How did the bio oil change the look of your marks?

Rebekah - posted on 01/27/2009

Ana maria, I hope you are in Australia or can source this product.  BIO OIL!!!  It is a llfe saver.  It will help considerably with your stretch marks.  I had a C section and have all the other body issues associated with child birth, including massive weight gain, I gained 30 kilos while pregnant and am still carrying about 15 of them.  All I can say, which is what all the other ladies have said, is feel good about yourself, love yourself, your a MUM! The best thing in the world.

Amy - posted on 01/26/2009

My beautiful July baby was my second c-section...so I can tell you the scar gets better! It will get less noticeable and less itchy and uncomfortable over time. My older son was 3 when I got pregnant again and the scar had not bothered me in some time. Incidentally, the second time has been much less uncomfortable. Although the flabby belly and saggy breasts are worse! It seems like such a long time since he was born, but it does really take time to get our bodies back (or as close to back as we can).

Ana Maria - posted on 01/26/2009

thanks ladies for your wonderful words. I am going to take your advice and way to look at things. It is difficult when you have to go back to work and be a professional mom all day and being scrutinized all day long about look, clothes, etc. Bu you gals have made my day every day I look at yur messages.

Megyn - posted on 01/26/2009

Thankfully, I have no c-section scar or stretch marks, but I stomach is definitely not as toned as it used to be! It's weird to have all this extra belly skin, so I'm just trying to do a ton of ab workouts to get the skin back where it should be.

Stella - posted on 01/26/2009

I was "lucky" enough to have stretch marks from being a teenager so when I had my first boy at 28 I had already come to terms with mine and was actually proud to have some that I had something to show for them! I think Courteny hit on something when she says her body is not as attractive as it once was. To come to terms with this problem needs a change in thinking since, although they fade from the red stripes they start out as you're likely to have them for keeps now. Try not to think of your body as less attractive, but differently attractive. A wonderful TV host in Britain (Gok Wan) who does a show called "Do I look good Naked?" proved a point by showing that stretch marks are actaully the norm, not the exception. Nearly all women who have experienced pregnancy will not judge you for have them, your partners could surprise you by either not noticing them or even liking them! As you said Ana, many of your friends are single so may not appreciate that there's not a lot you can do about them, BUT THEIR TIME WILL COME :-) and then you can be a pillar of support by showing them how you overcame your issues with yours and how they hardly notice them any more because they got so used to seeing them. Pregnancy stretch marks just show that you have moved on in life from Maiden to Mother, and we all know there are plenty of yummy mummies out there! Positive thoughts xx

Danielle - posted on 01/26/2009

I still struglle with my battle marks. I love my son like no other. He is my lil angel, but my husband has not seen me (if you know what I mean) in the light since before I got pregnant. I got a haircut, color and done some other things, but I still find myself unattractive and blame it on my husband becuase it makes me feel better. It drives me nuts that I went through the pain mentally and phyiscally and he did nothing and got nothing. So I am a work in progress. I figured I would clean out our work out room and start trying to do something about the saggy skin. Maybe do a little tanning.

Jenny - posted on 01/24/2009

Hi, i had a natural birth but when i had my bub i suffered a hernia and although i am going to see a surgeon to have it fixed, my stomach still looks like im about 6 months preggers and i have lots of stretch marks as well... i have come to accept it as apart of bringing my girls into this world but its depressing when you have to look at it all the time!

Whitney - posted on 01/23/2009

I was in the best shape of my life when I got pregnant so I understand how you feel! The c-section scar does seem to be shrinking, my friend said it will get really small over time, but it does still ache sometimes. I'm just starting to drop some of the baby weight so you're way ahead on that one - congrats! I am very thankful for my son, and wouldn't change a thing, but when you're use to seeing yourself a certain way it can be hard to look in the mirror. I just keep telling myself that I will get back into shape it's just gonna take a lot longer.

Ana Maria - posted on 01/15/2009

Thanks ladies for your wonderful and empowering messages! I have lost all the baby weight and people compliment how my body looks (covered of course!! lol). I did get a lot of water weight and that is why I got stretch marks. I did not have any until my last week. I do exercise as well and try to get healthier every day to enjoy many years with my baby, so I can spoil my grand kids some day.
I just want to wear my two pieces swimsuit because I enjoy throwing pool parties for all our friends. One thing that doesn't help too much is that most of our friends are single and they see life from a different perspective and their comments may be hurtful (I know they do not mean it that way though).
Thank you ladies again, and I wish we all live closer so I can throw a pool party for all of you in our short but delightful Minnesota summers!

Marnae - posted on 01/15/2009

I also have had some big issues with this.  I don't have the scar either, but the stretch marks, the flappy-skin-belly (which I'm still being told will go away) and the saggy breastfeeding boobs....ugh.  So I started working out everyday, just for 30 minutes while my son's taking a nap or when my husband gets home.  I lost the baby weight and a couple extra pounds (so far.)  This has made me feel empowered.  I know I won't ever look the same, but I also know that I'm doing something to make myself look better each day.  I've been trying to eat a little better too.  It's easier to lose the weight right now because of the breastfeeding and because I'm a SAHM so I can find the time.  I was talking to my mother-in-law about it yesterday and she said, do you really WANT to wear a bikini anymore?  You have the man you want and you're old enough now...I thought about that for a while and decided, I want to be ABLE to wear a two-piece and feel comfortable still. I may not always wear one, but I want to feel like I can.  And you are all right, it's totally worth it, but it's still hard sometimes to see yourself in the mirror this way.  I gained 50 lbs just in water weight during my pregnancy due to pre-eclampsia and even more due to the pregnancy.  Each day I look a little more like myself again is another day happier.  The little guy helps that happiness along quite a bit too :)

Sarah - posted on 01/15/2009

I myself do not have a c-sectionn scar, but I do have MANY stretch marks all over along with the saggy skin.  I agree with the other ladies.  Wear them with pride.  Think of your stretch marks as "pregnancy service stripes!"  I am so proud to have my stretch marks if it means having my little girl.  Once I started looking at things in that point of view, my self esteem started to go up again. 

Courtney - posted on 01/15/2009

I have a c-section scar and terrible stretch marks on my breasts and my stomach. The scar is annoying because, like Stephanie said, it itches and it hurts to the touch a lot of times. But, like Jackie said, I am definitely proud of my battle wound. My scar is a constant reminder to me of what I went through to bring my precious boy into the world and I absolutely love it! The stretch marks, on the other hand, I do not love :-P I accept them since I know it is totally worth it, but they do bother me. And I have lost all of my baby weight and feel pretty great, but I still have this stretchy skin on my stomach that I think is disgusting. And I'm breastfeeing so my breasts are saggy, and I could go on and on about the things I don't like about my body... So, in short, I know how you feel! But when I hold my little guy in my arms and I see how amazed his daddy is at everything I went through to bring his boy into the world, I really wouldn't change a thing. The saggy boobs and the extra belly skin just make me more comfortable for my little guy to snuggle :-) I went and got the haircut and I put on my makeup every day and I got new clothes and, even though my naked body is not nearly as attractive as it once was, I think I look better than ever when I'm out in public :-) I suggest finding clothes and swimsuits that cover your stretch marks, but accentuate your figure, people will be amazed that you look so good and have a 6 month old baby!

Ana Maria - posted on 01/15/2009

Thanks Stephanie and Jackie for your messages. I have tried new haircut when from long to short and everybody loved it, and I am taking Latin hip hop dance classes to get to know new moms and friends. You are right, those little changes help. However, I used to have a very athletic body and loved wearing bikinis. I grew up by the the beach, so you can imagine. I love my baby, it has been the best gift and blessing and won't change anything I went thru, but I am depressed about the way my body looks now and will not be able to wear bikinis anymore. My stretch marks are all over my body, especially my belly and need to learn how to cope with looking at myself in the mirror.

Jackie - posted on 01/14/2009

I didn't have a C-section but I do have tons of stretch marks. At first it bothered me, but then I realized that if that's what it takes to have my little boy, then I"m okay with them. I'm going to wear your battle wounds with pride!! Turn it into a positive and hopefully that will help you feel better about them.

Stephanie - posted on 01/14/2009

My scar really annoys me too because it hurts when my cats try to sit on my lap and it itches. I'm just trying to accept it as part of my experience and am hoping that it will get better as time goes on. Try to do something nice for your appearance - maybe a new haircut, new outfit, or even a new hobby. You're definitely not the only one who feels that way.