Post Baby Body, Now What?

Back again and today's topic: Learning to Love your Post-Pregnancy Body

I remember when I finally got that little + sign with Baby Fox, it was so exciting, we were going to be a family of 3. And then the numbers on the scale started going up. It's hard, I think, as people we are trained to want the scale number to stay the same or go down, never up. So it was super hard to see that number going up every week. Then you sort of start to wrap your head around, yes we want the number to go up, then you think, we'll the baby is 7 pounds, extra fluid is about 10 pounds, 4 pounds is extra blood pumping around...everything else, just extra fluff. I weighed myself just before going to the hospital...

A few minutes before leaving for the hospital, clean and sweet smelling

 and then I weighed myself when I got home from the hospital...and you know what? That stupid number was EXACTLY the same. Like really, it could have AT LEAST been 6 pounds lighter (how much Baby Fox weighed), but nope, it was the same, I had a long way to go.

Coming home from the hospital

 The weeks after Baby Fox got here were a blur, eventually I came out of the fog and started walking with him every day. Then when I got the clear from the doctor to exercise, I started with a group called Stroller Strides. It was life saving, not a doubt in my mind, it helped me get through those first months after baby. It lead me to a group of women who kept me sane and kept reminding me that I am a good mother no matter my size or shape. My hips were wider, jeans just didn't fit the same. I was a different size. I had to accept that fact and look at my precious baby boy and just work it. I worked out like no other, I worked out 5 days a week with Stroller Strides. I worked hard, really hard. But you know what? It didn't feel like it, I was with other Mom's, some new, some already 2 or 3 other kids. I had a group of woman who answered my newbie mom questions, people to talk to that didn't just stare blankly at me when I talked. But my hard worked paid off, I was back to pre-pregnancy clothes about 4 months after having Baby Fox. People would always say, oh you just bounced right back, and I would say,thanks, I did, but I worked hard for it. I don't let people think that I got to how I was, because I have good genes...nope I worked for this.

Baby Fox is almost 4 months old

 When Mini Fox came I was about 5-10 pounds heavier than I was with Baby Fox.

2.5 hours before Mini Fox arrived

This time I decided to use one of those bamboo belly bandits (I seriously have a problem with the model they are using on that front page, like really? Couldn't they have found a woman who was ACTUALLY postpartum?! Not some super skinny...you know what to make us all feel like we should look like that), and you know what? It freaking works! If you don't know what it is (I didn't until I went to buy some nursing bras at Motherhood Maternity 1 week post baby, and it helps to just suck everything in, helps fight gravity from pulling everything down). Seriously, it felt better when I had it on. I didn't feel the weight of all that extra poundage weighing me down. It was a little uncomfortable, but with time you just get used to it. You're supposed to wear it 24/7 for 6 weeks postpartum. I think I did it for 24/7 for about 4 weeks, and then I wore it while just at home and sleeping for about a week, and then I stopped wearing it the last week. But I think it totally helped, I was back in my per-pregnancy jeans about 6 weeks after giving birth. Not sure why I "bounced" back faster, maybe it was because my hips were already wide, so I didn't have to adjust to that fact or maybe it was my body remembering, oh yea you've done this before, we're going to be okay. I once again joined Stroller Strides full time (I was only going before on my off Fridays), and worked hard.

2.5 months post baby, Mini Fox is sleeping in the stroller off to the side

I have learned that your hips change, the fat get redistributed to different places, but that it takes you 9 months to put on the weight, so it might take you that long to get it off. A reason why I worked so hard is that I knew I was going back to work and didn't want to buy new work clothes, motivation right there! Plus I knew once I went back to work, I needed to be in maintain mode, I knew I wouldn't be able to go/get to the gym as often, maybe 1-2 times a week, if that.

Bottom Line I worked hard for my postpartum body, it didn't just come naturally, but my hard worked paid off, and I didn't have to buy new work clothes either time :) Just remember, your body is your body and it did amazing things to give you the little human you have now. So love it, nurture it and it will be nice back to you.

If you have any questions about the Belly Bandit, just shoot me a message, I was not sponsored by them, just wanted to let you guys know something that worked for ME.
    Have you learned to love your post-pregnancy body?     Check out the other mama's blogs for their stories.  And be sure to link up with us below if you also have a post on this topic.   

  In the difficulty of motherhood, it's so important to find other mamas to relate to.  Toddlers can be a handful and leave you wondering what to do next.  This series is here to help you navigate through toddlerhood while being able to relate to other mamas going through the same thing.  We may not always know what we are doing but we give it our best shot anyway.  Come back each week to check out our new topic and read along with the other hosts of our One Year and Beyond series!  

The Not Quite Military Wife// Like a Morning Cup of Coffee//  Meet the Sullivan's

 From Here to Eternity//  Pig and Dac//   Everyday Love

A Cowboy's Life// Life of Faith//  Foxy's Domestic Side//  My Delicious Adventure

Oct 2:     Toddler Diaper Bag Essentials 

Oct 9:     Learning to love your post-pregnancy body

Oct 16:   Busy Toddler Activities

Oct 23:   Keeping in Shape While Caring for a Toddler

Oct 30:   Sick Day Tips

Nov 6:    How to Not Lose Your Patience with your Toddler

Nov 13:  Favorite Toddler Outings

An InLinkz Link-up