Physical Recovery

[vivela]

I'm wondering how everyone is feeling these days. I was talking to a coworker the other day who said she didn't feel 100% until a year after she gave birth. It made me feel a little better because I'm still adjusting to the post-birth body!

[vivela]

My TMI share... I've suspected from the beginning that my tear wasn't stitched very well. Because it wasn't stitched neatly, there is excess skin that is easily irritated. I'm hoping it is because something like this takes a long time to heal and is not a permanent issue.
I plan to have more kids so maybe it'll be restitched in the future, but I am not going to assume that. I'm a little frustrated, this is 90% of what the delivery doctor even does and several people checked me the hospital before I left so I feel like someone should have noticed that there was a mismatch between the sides. I certainly noticed the first time I got up the courage to touch the tear and see how it was healing!

[sandandsea]

I feel totally flabby and blobby. My stomach looks awful. It wasn't great before but is much worse now. I'm at my pp weight but feel gross. I'd like to find time to workout but don't see it happening soon with DHs crazy hours and me being back full time. Everything "down there" seems back to normal now.

[packerfan4life]

I think my stomach is getting bigger, not smaller. I kind of stalled out looking about 4 months pregnant. None of my clothes fit.
Not sure where working out fits in around working FT and trying to spend time with my kids. I would like to lose my second chin though.
Overall I'm kind of meh. I don't love how I look but I'm trying to focus on spending time with my girls and enjoying this time when they're small.

[babyzebra]

Nov 20, 2016 11:37:56 GMT -5 packerfan4life said:

I think my stomach is getting bigger, not smaller. I kind of stalled out looking about 4 months pregnant. None of my clothes fit.
Not sure where working out fits in around working FT and trying to spend time with my kids. I would like to lose my second chin though.

This is how I feel. I swear my stomach has been getting bigger and I definitely look about 4 months pregnant. I'm too tired to exercise, but I need to find the energy.

[Kevinmac]

I feel pretty good overall. I'm about 22 pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight, but my stomach is still very flabby and I have a big roll. At least my stretch marks are fading. Those really annoyed me because they didn't show up until after giving birth.

[pbandj714]

Nov 20, 2016 13:34:40 GMT -5 Kevinmac said:

I feel pretty good overall. I'm about 22 pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight, but my stomach is still very flabby and I have a big roll. At least my stretch marks are fading. Those really annoyed me because they didn't show up until after giving birth.

Same here with the stretch mark business. I had none until 4 or 5 days PP. Really frustrating. They have faded significantly though, thankfully.

[pbandj714]

I'm back to pre-preg weight and clothes but it's weird. Some shirts are very unflattering. And I still am not happy naked because my legs and butt are jiggle central. Thanks, bed rest. And my boobs are even smaller than before...wasn't sure that was even possible. I just don't have the time or energy to work out. I barely find enough time every day to feed myself. Someday...

[carolinaheart]

I have been pre-pregnancy weight since around 3 weeks postpartum (thought it was my heaviest weight ever at the time) and I can't seem to get any lower. Everything is much squishier and nothing fits the same.

As far as vag recovery goes, I'm hoping I'm over the hump but I'm still not cleared for sex.

vivela If you feel something isn't right, it is 150% worth going in to have checked.

[bgkc4]

vivela I'm sorry about the tear. If you think it was done improperly you should speak with a doctor about it. They might be able to fix it like carolinaheart was able to get done. I agree with you that more attention to detail should've been paid.

Kevinmac and pbandj714, I also got stretch marks PP. What's up with that?! I thought I was in the clear, but as my body got smaller the marks became more noticeable.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one having belly issues. I was feeling really good about my PP weight loss, but a couple of people have commented on my belly. Yesterday my cousin said "awww you still have a little baby belly." She didn't mean anything by it, but it def bothered me, because it made me wonder how noticeable it is to people in general. It took almost six months, but I finally lost all 65 lbs of my pregnancy weight. I am very proud of it. I can fit about half of my old clothes (the other half was already getting snug before I got pregnant). But I still have a flabby belly. I have small boobs, so the protruding belly is even more prominent than it would be on someone with a larger chest. Still, I was so excited about my weight loss that I didn't mind the stomach. Now I'm a little self-conscious about it. I considered getting a waist trainer (a few friends used one and suggested it), but it's soooo not me. I'm into fashion and style, but I'm also all about comfort. My cousin asked if I've been going to the gym, and I told her that I'm too busy to go to the gym. She then informed me that they have daycare at the gym for babies. I told her that due to our busy work schedules, DD spends about 10 hours a day at her regular daycare. An amount of time I think is waaaay too long. But she has to because - bills! I don't want to pick DD up, only to drop her off at another daycare; even if its only for an hour or two a week.

[pbandj714]

bgkc4, yea the stretch marks were such an unpleasant surprise! I am pretty convinced that mine are from when I started sleeping on my side again so soon...from my flabby belly pulling on my side since there weren't any babies in there resting on the bed. Ah, oh well.

I'm sorry your cousin made that comment...totally uncalled for even if she didn't mean anything by it. Why do people feel the need to comment on our bodies?!

And I'm with you 100% on not wanting to leave your DD at the gym daycare just after picking up from regular daycare. There just aren't enough hours in the day & you want to spend some of them with her!

[nymama917]

bgkc4 - Funny you should mention the comment about the belly.

I was feeling pretty good about myself because I lost all the baby weight pretty quickly (hadn't gained a ton because of GD). I was still a little bigger than I was pre-baby as far as my squishy stomach that sticks out just right in front and my butt and legs felt a little bigger but my clothes all fit so it was mostly loss of muscle tone. We are going to FL this week so I was feeling a bit self conscious because my BIL fiance is like super skinny and fit and wears tiny bikinis (a problem for another day). So I go to get a wax because I don't want to deal with that mess on the trip and I say to the wax lady (not someone I had seen before) I apologize for this mess you are about to see because I have a 5 month old and a toddler and no time to deal with it. She's like ahhh you have a baby I saw the little pouch and thought you must be newly pregnant. What the actual F***!! I was wearing a baggy shirt even (guess it was not flattering). I about cried and it's still bothering me. I have like 1 tankini and it doesn't fit quite right unless my boobs are full of milk otherwise they just look deflated so I planned to wear my 2 piece bathing suits with the thought of being in my cover up the entire time unless I was actually in the water. I tried them all on and showed MH who assured me I looked great and that even if future SIL is skinnier than me I'm way prettier. Hahahaha....I guess I'll take it!

[nymama917]

vivela - If you don't think something is right I would get it checked out. I felt that way with my first and never really said anything and it eventually felt okay. As soon as I started pushing with my second it tore in exactly the same place to the point this doctor asked if I tore or had an episiotomy with my first. My second recovery was terrible and I think it's because of how the first one healed. I mean it's possible that it had nothing to do with the bad stitch job and that always happens but this time it feels so much better now than it did with my first that I really do think it healed better.

[manybellsdown]

Sorry, but no one gets to comment on my body unless I ask for your opinion. These comments matter! We think about them for a long time! I'm sorry nymama917 and bgkc4.

I also have choice words for those who suggest gyms with daycare, as if that is helpful and we don't know they exist already.

Anyway, it took me almost a year post-DD to feel pretty good and normal in my body again. It may just take time. Though I too do wish there were a cure for these stretch marks (also appearing just at the end and pp for me!).

(Edit for tag errors)

[Kevinmac]

bgkc4 and nymama917- why do people say crap like that?!? I'm sorry!

bgkc4- I'm with you on the daycare at the gym too. C is still too young (has to be 6 months), but even when he can go I only plan to bring him on the weekends. I don't want to miss out on the few hours we are together in the evenings during the week.

[bgkc4]

nymama917, agh! I can't believe the waxer said that. So rude! People just don't know when to shut up. I would wear the two piece on vaca as originally planned.

[titania]

bgkc4, nymama917, I'm so so sorry that people felt that it was appropriate to comment on your bodies. That is so shitty! And SO inappropriate.

I am hovering right around my PP weight, but it was my highest weight that I had ever been, so I would like to drop a bit further. I too feel flabby, but mostly I feel like my hips are SO MUCH wider. Like pants I used to fit won't pull up over my hips! Good thing leggings are in right now!

Also maybe TMI, but I am still sore when having sex... it's not painful, but not super comfortable either. And we use a lot of lube. I'm going in for an IUD next week and I was going to ask my Dr about it.

[bighair12]

As of last week I can wear PP pants. My hips have taken forever to shrink back down. I am 5 pounds below when I get pregnant. But that was my all time high. So I have about 5 pounds left to go to get to happy weight. I am trying to exercise regularly. But 5 am comes quick. I am running a few days a week and starts bikini body mommy to help with the flab. I got a form of stress induced psoriasis which is all over my body. But it invaded my c section scar so it is very red and inflamed. Which it is a vertical scar anyway and stood out.

[pbandj714]

titania, when I asked my doc about the dryness issue they said that it's very common while breastfeeding and should get better after weening. I'm 2 months out from weening and can attest to that. Unfortunately that's probably not what you want to hear.

[bighair12]

Nov 21, 2016 11:31:27 GMT -5 pbandj714 said:

titania, when I asked my doc about the dryness issue they said that it's very common while breastfeeding and should get better after weening. I'm 2 months out from weening and can attest to that. Unfortunately that's probably not what you want to hear.

After my first this was my story. Sex was not even worth it prior to weaning.

[titania]

Nov 21, 2016 11:31:27 GMT -5 pbandj714 said:

titania, when I asked my doc about the dryness issue they said that it's very common while breastfeeding and should get better after weening. I'm 2 months out from weening and can attest to that. Unfortunately that's probably not what you want to hear.

Haha no that is not ideal, but I'm just glad it's normal. I was worried it was never going to be the same.

[woodengirl07]

I'm feeling pretty gross in general. I was fat before and fat now, but I'm so loose! Ugh. I need to exercise but I have exactly no time I swear. Oh well.

[vivela]

I am another one who has reached my point weight but still don't fit in my clothes. I'm definitely wider. I lost the weight fairly quickly - great until I get cocky and keep eating like crap and not exercising. My pants have gotten tighter and I know I've gained some back. I'm afraid to weigh myself! I need to put some effort into this now.
Thanks for the advice ladies. I'm going give the healing a little more time and if the soreness doesn't improve, I'll have it looked at. Most of the time it feels fine, but the skin does get easily irritated.

[origamimommy]

Ugh, I am so gross and fat and I hate it. I lost weight, but I am so flabby and my butt is flat now but my stomach isn't. I am tired and moody. Sex is just the worst. I feel bad for H but I literally hate it right now because it is very painful. I didn't have this issue with my first. I need to start running and going to pure barre again, but really who has the time? I would like to take a PTO day just for myself and sleep. OMG I have a PTO day left... I may do that!

To the physical recovery though, my OB suggested the ben wa balls for vaginal discomfort. I bought some recently but haven't received them yet.

[ArgyleEnigma]

Okay.

Okay.

I am RAGING at your cousin, bgkc4. Unless she has a mental disability, she did not mean well and I'm sorry to be the one to tell you your cousin is a flaming asshole. And then to go on about the gym! Fuck me sideways with a chainsaw! No!

Speaking of which, sex is still not back to normal, comfort-wise. Much better though.

[ArgyleEnigma]

Random strangers say things about my body when they know I have a baby and I hate it, complimentary or not. Do not evaluate my body, full stop.