You guys. How do you feel about your stretch marks? Way into my pregnancy I thought I won the stretch mark lotto. Not a one! Then in the last feew weeks, they just started apeeeeeaaaaring. Every day they got deeper and longer and darker and more intense. Until the days after Henry was born Ben and I marveled at the marks on my abdomen that we thought looked like a tiger had made, swiping mirror claw marks, swooshing across me. They were especially prominent after a hot shower or bath. My mom confirmed it "I (after giving birth at 18) never wore a 2 piece again." I was sure that was my fate.
But here is the thing; I hate wearing a one piece at the beach. Sand all up in everything. I don't like sand being up in everything. I hate having wet cloth on me when I am not in the water. And I go to the beach to actually get in the water. And those tiger claw scars? They have really chilled the f* out. They are there, don't get me wrong. But they are not so intense. The are more skin colored. I don't think under the California everyone in a mile radius of me on the beach would be able to see them.
Also? So much breastfeeding has helped to keep my weight down.* (WIN!) (Don't get me wrong. I DO NOT HAVE ABS OF STEEL. I will leave it at that, mkay?)
So mamas with marks, do you rock that shit in public or keep it covered up? (You know, I tend to keep covered anyways, but you know what I mean. Uncovered long enough to enjoy the water.)
*Related, for the first time ever my jeans are loose instead of getting tighter. Will I regret having them taken in when Henry weans?
portrait by my partner (!) michelle pullman
I totally rock my two-piece speedo at the pool! (Same story with the marks at the bittersweet end.)
ReplyDeletei've got SMs from bubbie growth & shrinkage every month for years. they don't bother me at all- and if i notice them on anyone else its just at a glance, nbd, like a tattoo? my MIL calls hers her "battle scars" from 3 giant babies with her lil frame.
ReplyDeleteyou know what's so funny? just last night i was thinking of writing a post on post c-section belly, which let me tell you, is far worse than stretch marks... even tiger claw stretch marks. i've always been prone to stretch marks (have them on my boobs and hips), so i guess i'm kind of used to them? i'm surprised i didn't get hit with a bad case on my belly considering how large i got. i mean, i do have them, but they are slight.
ReplyDeleteanyway, i say rock the two piece. there are worse things than stretch marks and through the years, they will just keep improving.
I say rock it for sure. I've not been pregnant but I have stretch marks on my boobs, my hips, my thighs, my knees (I grew tall fast) and although I used to be embarrassed of them now I couldn't give a monkeys.
ReplyDeleteI still think most people are so concerned with how they look they won't even notice. And as hk says they're something to be proud of right, you got them because you grew another human being.
Rock it, sister. You have a gorgeous figure and I'm sure you're the only one who notices your stretch marks. You gave birth! I have a whole new appreciation for my body after having preeclampsia at 31 weeks and then having an emergency c-section. It was terrifying and I'm still amazed at how my body has healed and allowed me to breast feed my little love 9 weeks before she was due to arrive. You should be proud mama!!
ReplyDeleteSo what are your thoughts on short shorts? I'm a legs gal - no flaunting of e abs for me - and as a 33 year old mama I think I can still rock 'me. Thoughts???
ReplyDeleteI was super happy with myself when I missed out on the tummy stretch marks carrying my big 9lb-something baby... then I got them on my boobs from breastfeeding =sigh=. And my tummy is now a bit saggy. So you can't win, wear those stripes with pride I say!
ReplyDeleteI didn't get any stretch marks, HOWEVER, my belly is super saggy now. talk about muffin top when I try to squeeze into skinny pre-pregnancy jeans. thank god high waisted jeans are in style!
ReplyDeletehttp://media-cdn.pinterest.com/upload/82120393175144562_6mwfbBjB.jpg
ReplyDelete:)
i think this is how us moms should look at it.
I say go for a two-piece. I think when we hide what naturally happens to a woman's body in her lovesacrifice of having babies, we let the "get plastic surgery to look like you are an 18 year old, even when you are 35" mentality win. My sweet husband calls my marks "love marks." The reality is that everybody's body handles changes differently. And instead of acting like it's so abnormal to have evidence that your body somehow lets your uterus grow 40 x its normal size in order to grow another human, we have to find some way to be proud that our bodies are actually capable of such amazing mysteries.
ReplyDeleteI love this comment.
DeleteI say go for a two-piece. I think when we hide what naturally happens to a woman's body in her lovesacrifice of having babies, we let the "get plastic surgery to look like you are an 18 year old, even when you are 35" mentality win. My sweet husband calls my marks "love marks." The reality is that everybody's body handles changes differently. And instead of acting like it's so abnormal to have evidence that your body somehow lets your uterus grow 40 x its normal size in order to grow another human, we have to find some way to be proud that our bodies are actually capable of such amazing mysteries.
ReplyDelete