Body changes after 2nd baby vs. first?

[Anonymous]

After having a second child, did your body go back to what it looked like after having your first child? I'm not one of those women who'll likely ever go back to my pre-pregnancy size/proportions, but I'm at peace with my 8-month postpartum body after having my first baby. As I contemplate a second child, though, I'm wondering if my body will go back to my current postpartum size or go through another transformation and be even bigger/different. Just curious about others' experiences.

[Anonymous]

Everything went back after my second, except my ribcage. He was transverse and my lower ribs are 1+ inch wider than they were before. Interestingly, it makes my waist appear smaller.😂

[Anonymous]

There's really no way to say. I had my second baby at 39 and he was huge compared to my first, yet I lost the weight way faster.

[Anonymous]

Ooh boy. My belly swelled prodigiously during my second pregnancy and now I have wrinkles on my lower belly when I tuck in my abs. When I bend down, I see a pouch of skin and fat that just wiggles out in front

Whereas for my first, who was born prematurely, I left the hospital in my non-pregnant jeans. The nurse who came to check on me the day after the birth said that I didn't look as if I'd just given birth.

Ah well. The second baby is healthy, the first has medical needs due to his prematurity, so I'd rather have the post-partum belly.

[Anonymous]

After my first, my body bounced back completely in 12 weeks (minus some lingering hemorrhoids they lasted a few more months, ugh, but did eventually fully resolve). No real effort from me, but I was very happy/relieved about it. I had been at my pre-pregnancy weight for months when I got pregnant with my second 10 months postpartum.

The second one wrecked me. It turns out, there's a REASON they suggest 18 months between pregnancies. I may have thought I was back but OH BOY. I had major hip pain that made it difficult to walk in my 9th month. I developed terrible PPD. #2 is 1.5 now and I'm still about 20 lbs above my pre-pregnancy weight. I had a horrible low back problem that took months to resolve. Then a neck issue. Getting my core muscles back to where they could support myself was a long (and honestly, ongoing) road.

Bottom line:

1) Being at your pre-pregnancy weight (or even proportions) is NOT a reliable indicator of whether your body has recovered. Weight does not equal health, and that's true X100 postpartum.
2) Make sure you're fully healed, particularly your core muscles - my amazing physical therapist recommends Pilates - before you get pregnant again.
3) You will have so much less time and energy when your second arrives. It's so easy to put your own health on the back burner. Do NOT do this. Exercise, not to lose weight, but to keep your body healthy. If mom's body isn't functioning, the family is struggling.
4) If you get to one year postpartum and your biggest hangover from pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period is some extra weight and stretch marks, you're doing GREAT. The real risk of childbirth isn't a few extra pounds, its the way that it can mess up the way your body functions.

[Anonymous]

My boobs did not recover from breast feeding my second. Completely floppy. Everything else was fine. Would have considered a reduction or something just to get them lifted off the skin but am Unexpectedly pregnant with my third at 44. Now a bit worried about developing occasional urinary incontinence but we’ll see.

[Anonymous]

Had my first at 39. Body did not bounce back until well after 9 months postpartum. Had my second at 42 with a longer delivery (baby's position was weird), bounced back to pre-baby size within a week and recovery was a breeze.

[Anonymous]

Mommy makeover

[Anonymous]

Bounced back after first but the second wrecked me and I’ve never been able to lose the last 10-15 pounds.

[Anonymous]

Had my second at 38.5 and lost the weight by 3 months. Everything went back to normal except I’d say my hips are a bit wider than pre 1st pregnancy. However, once I stopped nursing, I gained 10 lbs.

[Anonymous]

Second pregnancy wrecked me. I’m small, back to pre-pregnancy weight, but my stomach will never look the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Second pregnancy wrecked me. I’m small, back to pre-pregnancy weight, but my stomach will never look the same.

This is basically me. Stomach skin stretched more and won’t be the same. It’s still worth it to me.

[Anonymous]

Mine went back to basically how it was before kids, but it took a few years. At 8 months post partum you are still healing and changing. I’d say my 2nd was probably 3-4 by the time I really started to feel like myself again.

[Anonymous]

My stomach was wrecked after my second pregnancy at 37. I will need surgery to correct it, weight loss and exercise won't get rid of the loose skin and muscle damage.

[Anonymous]

Weight-wise, yes; I got back to my original pre-pregnancy weight after having #2, whereas after #1, I found it much more difficult to lose the weight. I had bad PPA after #1, two bouts of mastitis (including one which landed me in the ER) and was dealing with a parent's health scare at the same time, so that likely prolonged postpartum recovery quite a bit. #2 was a better situation all around.

Other than that, my feet have permanently grown a full size. I've had to replace a lot of shoes from my pre-kid days. Same with my boobs... went up one band size, and two cup sizes for good.