Any ladies out there that have had children

[Realgains]

RG- are you sure about the stretched skin issue. I didn't get any stretch marks on my tummy but 3 days after I had my son my tummy sagged very badly, it was down right nasty! But somehow it went back to normal. Since there was no tearing (stretch marks) that may have been what saved me.

Usually the sign that skin has been stretched beyond recovery is the presence of stretch marks. Ones skin can be stretched a fair amount and then return to normal like a rubber band returning to its pre-stretched form but once the skin has been stretched "so far" then it will not recover.

I am not saying that EVERYONE gets the stretched skin and loose fascial wall , however, if ones rectus abdominal fascia and skin is stretched to the point of damage then 100% recover is simply not possible without surgery. Some of this depends on ones age, genetics and the size of the baby and how one holds the baby(like all out in front)

Some are under the false impression that anyone can regain 100% pre gregnancy form if they just diet and train properly. This is not true for many women and gives unrealistic false hope.

 

[vixenbabe]

I've seen tons of women have big bellies when pregnant and it goes completely flat afterwards. How come it does for some and not others?

Genes can play a part in this aspect. If you are lucky to have been blessed with amazing elastic skin that bounces back without being tooooo loose...CONSIDER yourself VERY lucky!

Be glad you did not have a c-section. Harder to get back into shape in the lower ab area. Having those muscles cut into was NOT my idea of fun while trying to get back into shape! It can be done with work..And work it takes!

Work out ladies...work out as much as you can while carrying your babies. Eat healthy too! Garbage" in" means garbage "on" allll the wrong places!

Congrats on the new baby. Nothing like a new baby in the house. Soooo lucky you are!

Hope that you get back into the shape you were before the baby was born! Take your time and don't beat yourself up- It'll happen with hard work.

 

[grlpwrd]

tan27, congrats! You, too, BronzedGoddess..I didn't know you were expecting.

I have 3 kids, aged 11, 7, and 4. It took me a while to get a routine going because as babies it was difficult to take care of them, but if you can make time to brush your teeth and hair every day you can find the time to workout. Just make time. I used to workout when they were asleep or when my hubby took care of them while I was at the gym. It's do-able.

I also agree that 100% recovery is not possible unless you have good genetics..but isn't it all worth it? You've been blessed.

 

[BronzedGoddess]

Thanks everyone! I hope this baby is good to me and my body. But this time I'm not going to gain as much weight as I did with my son.........Hopefully

 

[Friscochick]

TAN27-

O woman woman woman..... It is just the beginning, i SO understand what your feeling especially JUST having your baby... hormones a raging!!!

I had this disease called pre-eclampsia. It is where, your placenta is bad, and usually around the 7-8 month it becomes severe once it does, if they don't get the baby out ASAP, YOU and your BABY or both could have a seisure and die....

My symptoms? SEVERE Hyper tension and SEVERE BLOATING.....

I am a very small woman... 5'2 before i had her i was 5'1 and 125 pounds..... which was ok because... my BF% was 18% and that is good for me i was up to 165 pounds before delivery a month early too!... after i had the WORST and still do.. strech marks, well i call them GASHES... She will be 3 in Jan 7th, and i am down to 115 pounds, but it has been such a struggle... and it took me a good year, and my BF is still high for howw slim i look... i work out 5 sometimes 6 days a week. Lotsa weight training.. and its just me and her so i have limited time also. 1 hour and 10 minutes! LOL......

My advice? The reality of it all is, the strech marks may not go away... How bad are they? If they are skinny and still pink put some mederma lotion on everyday along with some Vitamin E and some retinol cream from ROC. And hey it might work..

As for the skin??? WHEW! woman mine is still sagging there, but then again my strech marks are bad... Just keep going, and if you can stick to a strict diet you just might have a chance.. Don't be discouraged, that is DEAD skin, and might take awhile to tally go down...

just keep on truckin sweetie... keep on truckin..... be greatful that you are smart enough to do something about it. That's the real Deal right there!

And HEY!!! You have a beautiful child!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!

Us mama's are all here!

 

[BlackCherri]

Makedah, no it seriously looks like a landing strip. A lot of broken parallel white lines all over the top of my ass. As Ike Turner would say they're "bold as shit". (now I am trying to be funny). Real Gains I am more concerned with the stretch marks than the loose skin in front, at least right now. Is there some surgery to remove stretch marks? I've become petrified of ever bending over with anyone behind me.

 

[makedah]

Black cherri - I know what you mean. I haven't had a baby and I look like a zebra!!! I think that if I ever get pregnant, I'm just going to burst at the "seams." (On the flip side, my mother had 3 babies with no stretch marks and 20 years later, gained about 75 lbs before she even STARTED to get stretch marks.) But really, I think that stretch marks are SO obvious to the person who has them and less obvious to others.

I don't think that there is surgery to remove stretch marks - other than various body "lifts" (tummy tuck, arm lift, etc.) that happen to remove the stretch marks when they remove the excess skin. But then, you're left with a surgical scar...

Next time, we'll be sure to be born with more elastic skin!

 

[Hannibal]

Thanks everyone! I hope this baby is good to me and my body. But this time I'm not going to gain as much weight as I did with my son.........Hopefully

I know I have posted this on another thread...but its worth repeating. Congratulations BG.

 

[starfish]

Black cherri - I know what you mean. I haven't had a baby and I look like a zebra!!! I think that if I ever get pregnant, I'm just going to burst at the "seams." (On the flip side, my mother had 3 babies with no stretch marks and 20 years later, gained about 75 lbs before she even STARTED to get stretch marks.) But really, I think that stretch marks are SO obvious to the person who has them and less obvious to others.

I don't think that there is surgery to remove stretch marks - other than various body "lifts" (tummy tuck, arm lift, etc.) that happen to remove the stretch marks when they remove the excess skin. But then, you're left with a surgical scar...

Next time, we'll be sure to be born with more elastic skin!

I have seen stretch marks treated with a laser. It's costly though.

 

[flygirl1]

There have already been a lot of responses to this, so I will try and make mind short and sweet. My son was born in 1990. I was 130 lbs pre-pregnancy, and gained 13 pounds -- he was 8 1/2 lbs. I had horrific stretch marks and loose hanging skin that never went back. I think it is odd because my mother had three children with no stretch marks and stomach was totally flat after. Anyway, last May I had a full abdominoplasty. It was the best decision I have made in years. The scar is from hip to hip, but doesn't show even in thongs and skimpy bikinis. Using Maderma, even the scar is fading to a very thin white line. Just thought I would share my experience.