I was in awesome shape before kids (in early 30s). Naturally slim, very toned, fit. I had no idea how good I looked.

Now, I don't even recognize myself. Literally. I avoid photos like the plague and refuse to buy anything that doesn't come from Walmart because I just can't accept that this is my actual body now. I'm in total shock. I have literally no idea what bra size I am, I just wear a shelf bra top. I think my boobs are a bit bigger (I did breastfeed for a long time if that matters) and my rib cage is way bigger. And clothes size... I do know that I used to get size M (or even S) everything and now the best fit is usually XL. I've had 2 kids and I think I weigh as much now as I did when I walked in to give birth.

It's just the sheer exhaustion dealing with little boys, one with demanding SN and both who still don't sleep through the night. DH takes one at night and I take one. He can't take both because he needs to work and would be a total zombie otherwise.

My doc says blood work isn't bad but she can tell that my problem is stress related and not to do with eating. If people eat too much then they're fat everywhere but almost all of my fat is in my stomach. I look 6-7 months pregnant.

I think money would help a lot though, for people with tons of money to throw at things like nanny, food prep help, etc. And for those with money to spend on a night nurse.... I think that's the key, honestly. Sleep makes everything better, and lack of sleep for long periods (especially combined with other stresses in life) makes people fat.

I'm actually pretty much the same after 2 kids, 10 months out from the second. My stomach is a bit looser (but flat!) and my boobs are a bit deflated still, but overall similar. Of course, I was never tiny to begin with - 5'6"ish and a muscular size 10, so that helps.

my shirts are all too short on me. my chest actually got larger and i am not happy about that.

i pee when i run, cough, sneeze or make sudden movements. my thyroid is out of whack (permanently).

those are the things i can’t control outside of medical intervention. i do think the rest can be resolved though diet and exercise, but i am pretty lazy (and tired due to my thyroid).

I am at my prepregnancy weight (finally) and generally look the same, but yes, things are different. Part of it is age and part is childbirth. My ribcage and hips are wider--allthe ligaments relaxed a bit during childbirth. I have a very slight c section shelf. My breasts are less perky. Although I didn't get stretchmarks, I can tell the skin of my upper abdomen/lower ribcage is a little loose--strangely enough not on my lower abdomen, which got much bigger.

that being said, I'm okay with my body.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe this is a silly, obvious question - but how did your body change after having a baby, and was the change "permanent"?

I am a healthy, 31-year old mom of a 19 month old. I've always been active and was a healthy, normal weight before pregnancy. Fast forward to now - I still work out and eat well most of the time. I've lost all but 3 lbs of the "baby weight" but I feel like my body is just different. Is this typical? Does your body (not weight, necessarily) ever go back to the way it was before having kids? Does it happen with time/exercise or not at all?

My ribcage expanded during my first pregnancy and has never gone back to where it started, despite being at a lower weight and fitter than pre-pregnancy. My entire bra size shifted, actually. I went from being a 34B to being a 38C between DD1 and DD2 and now DD2 is 8 months old, I'm a 40C. One thing I was really glad about was that my feet and hands went back to their pre-baby size by 3 months postpartum both times. I was seriously worried I'd have to get all new shoes and get my rings resized.

My boobs are way smaller and I got randomly pretty skinny. I haven't spoken to anyone about this except like two friends and I think a reaction is to be like "oh lucky!" but it doesn't feel so obvious to me to be happy about it. It's weird, it's just a different body, like I used to have a round bottom and breast and now it's like all of me just sort of...shrank. Before I would have been excited but now that my new skinny body is here I am like, ehhhh idk about this....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My small boobs got even smaller.

SAME. Omg they're seriously tiny

SAME. I don't know how they could get smaller, but they did! And on top of that my ribcage spread, so I am left with no boobs and a wider chest.

Ugh. Same here. Seriously NOT my fave

Anonymous wrote:Your lucky husbands.

Your lucky friends.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My small boobs got even smaller.

SAME. Omg they're seriously tiny

SAME. I don't know how they could get smaller, but they did! And on top of that my ribcage spread, so I am left with no boobs and a wider chest.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 5'8". Pre-preg I was around 135, and now I'm around 140.

My ribcage is bigger and I wear a bigger bra than before. I weaned slowly and didn't have big breasts to begin with, so they're slightly larger than before. I don't have diastasis, but my abs are stretched and I need to make a conscious effort to sit up straight to tuck in my abdomen. My posture is different, in that my pelvis still tilts forward and contributes to my belly sticking out. My pelvic floor is weak, to the point I've thought about pelvic floor PT. My already-large feet went from a 9.5/10 to a 10.5/11.

Forrr the record: I also weaned (very) slowly and didn't have big breasts to begin with, and I am in the ITTY bitty titty club now. They're freaking tiny. And I weaned gradually and slowly

It’s not the breastfeeding that make the most changes to your breasts, it’s the being pregnant and those glands getting ready to produce milk.

I weigh less, but everything is saggier. :/

Anonymous wrote:I'm 5'8". Pre-preg I was around 135, and now I'm around 140.

My ribcage is bigger and I wear a bigger bra than before. I weaned slowly and didn't have big breasts to begin with, so they're slightly larger than before. I don't have diastasis, but my abs are stretched and I need to make a conscious effort to sit up straight to tuck in my abdomen. My posture is different, in that my pelvis still tilts forward and contributes to my belly sticking out. My pelvic floor is weak, to the point I've thought about pelvic floor PT. My already-large feet went from a 9.5/10 to a 10.5/11.

Forrr the record: I also weaned (very) slowly and didn't have big breasts to begin with, and I am in the ITTY bitty titty club now. They're freaking tiny. And I weaned gradually and slowly

After 2 kids, my body is definitely different. I'm about the same weight as before, but I lost a lot of muscle and I'm not as toned as before, even though I exercised throughout both pregnancies and continue to exercise. My hips are a tad bigger. My stomach is flabbier and I have a small diastasis that won't close any further, so I have a small pooch. My lower back has never been the same. It's so inflexible and rigid now, but at least it doesn't hurt. My boobs are deflated. I developed a lot of spider veins on my legs and ankles when I was pregnant and they haven't gone away.

My hair has also been a total disaster. I lost a lot of hair after having both kids and then when I finally started to get new growth, it's all over the place and cannot be tamed. The hallows under my eyes have gotten more pronounced.

I feel like I bounced back pretty well after my first kid. It was a different experience after my second. Definitely not as easy. But then again, I was 3 years older so I'm sure that played a role.

My tummy is poochier, and I have a slight c section shelf. Boobs aren’t saggier, but I didn’t bf. Feet are slightly bigger. Rib cage and hips seem about the same.

My previously full breasts became sad, deflated pancakes (sucks! I didn't even breastfeed past 2 months due to thyroid-induced supply issues.) I also always look tired now, thanks to my toddler still being a terrible sleeper - no more of that youthful glow.

Otherwise everything looks about the same - I was back to pre-baby weight in 3 months. We'll see what happens after this second pregnancy...