Body After Baby

I wasn't really sure what my body was going to look like after giving birth. I mean, there's really no way of knowing! I didn't give it too much thought though, honestly. Pregnancy made me appreciate my body on such a deeper level that I promised myself I'd hold onto that and treat my body with the respect it deserves. That said, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw my belly sans baby haha Sure it's soft and squishy, adorned with some new stretch marks and of course still bigger (uterus takes a month or so to go back down to size)... but it's not "scary". I don't even think it's ugly which is how it seems women are made to feel about their post baby bodies.  I'm proud of what this body did during the past 10 months and will happily treat it well while it continues to change.  Loving your body doesn't mean you have to feel 100% satisfied with it and not want to make changes!  (something I learned after losing 60lbs years ago)

Having said all that, I thought it could be interesting and perhaps helpful to document the changes here. By no means am I saying women need to whip their bodies back into shape (whatever that means... obviously we are always a shape haha) or feel any sort of pressure- you don't!  Just be healthy.  I'm still eating the same way I have been (extra calories because I'm breastfeeding) and trust me, there will be no "dieting". I'm not for restricting what you eat in that way.  Sure I'm vegan and I enjoy a detox now and then but I still feel it's a healthy, guilt free balance that I enjoy. I am excited to be able to start working out again but I'm only 1 week PP (postpartum) so still have a while until that's really feasible.  My body has been through a lot so of course it needs time to recover!

I'll try to update once a month with a picture, perhaps some meals or recipes I've been enjoying, workouts I've been doing etc.  I want this to be an honest, realistic look at "body after baby". No quick fixes just good ol' treating your body right! I feel like this time in a woman's life isn't really talked about enough. I don't want to wait until I have an "after" picture to show, I'd rather share the entire journey.

Here's a look at my stomach and stats so far.  I'm going to include weight but it's by no means my focus! I'm all about how I feel- do I feel confident? Do I like how my clothes are fitting? That sort of thing.

Pre-pregnancy weight: 158lbs

End of pregnancy weight: 184 lbs (up 26 lbs)

Current weight: 169 lbs (down 15 lbs)  -  note: I was down 11.5 lbs the day after giving birth. That's just the weight of baby, placenta, fluid etc! 

4 weeks pregnant

42 weeks pregnant

1 week postpartum 

Body After Baby: 3 & 4 Months

Previous post pregnancy body post

Oops! Got a little behind. Well, I don't think I've been doing anything too differently these past two months. Sad to say, I did not start jogging more. haha It's mostly because I take my dog (and he's getting old for jogging) and it's been HOT but I know, I know... no excuses! I am doing lots of walking and just staying active overall. I tried a baby wearing barre class and LOVED it! Our place is a chaotic mess since we are moving this month but once we move, I'll have more space to get back into home workouts. Part of me is like, geez Sophie how are you not exercising more by now? And then the other part of me is all um, you're only 4 months postpartum- relax! It's really just that I was so used to working out HARD before becoming pregnant that it feels strange to not be but I have to work my way back up to it.

Month 3 I was feeling good like I was back to my "size" just with some extra tummy skin... and less muscle tone. Month 4 I'm feeling slimmer and my skin is tightening. 

Pre-pregnancy weight: 158 lbs

End of pregnancy weight: 184 lbs 

3 months PP weight: 154 lbs
4 months PP weight: 152 lbs

19 weeks PP

Pregnancy Update: 39 Weeks

I didn't realize the last time I did this I was only 26 weeks! Geez, time flies! I'm in the home stretch now!

39 weeks

cravings:  I do find I'll get very specific cravings now but I honestly ignore them more of the time since it's rarely for something healthy haha I find I'll want, say, cookies really bad but then once I get to the store I end up not buying them. Then again, I ate two pints of ice cream this week...

weight gain: 26lbs.  I know 25-35lbs is generally recommended (if you were at a healthy weight prior to becoming pregnant) so I feel good about where I'm at.  It's been going up and down the past few weeks so I suspect 26lbs is where I will remain.

comments:  More people ask me how much longer I have now and the other day someone asked if I was having a boy (because he has dropped some and I'm now carrying low which people associate with carrying a boy). 

fears:  I actually feel pretty calm about everything. I'm slightly nervous about the pain just not knowing how intense it'll be or how long it'll last overall but obviously since I have planned for a natural birth, I have planned to handle it myself and I truly believe I can.  I had some fears about things going wrong and having to go to the hospital (instead of the birth center) but now I'm more in a place of acceptance. I can only control so much so I just have to go with it. No matter what happens, it is my baby's birth story and I will embrace it.

general mood: So emotional! haha I'm already mourning the loss of my bump and I haven't even had my baby yet! At the same time, I'm so excited for him to finally be here.  I do find myself getting easily annoyed by things/people lately but I try not to speak on it most of the time, knowing that it's just me being hormonal. I'm also feeling a lot less comfortable physically, as expected.

things I was surprised by: I guess I hadn't expected the baby to drop as early as 36 weeks even though I now know that's quite normal.  I didn't realize it could happen weeks before you actually go into labour. I get sharp pains from his head pressing against my cervix and such now. I'm also surprised I don't have to get up to pee more at night. I was averaging once a night and now it's usually twice but I expected it to be more! I pee pretty much every hour during the day haha

things I am most looking forward to:  My parents visit in a couple weeks and I'm very excited to see them and for them to meet the baby (since he has to arrive by 42 weeks which is before they'll be leaving here). I'm also excited to eventually wear regular pants again haha I know weightloss and all that will be a process but as much as I LOVE my bump, part of me is definitely looking forward to not having it I guess.  I look forward to getting back into really working out hard again too (not right away obviously!)!  Of course I am most looking forward to having this baby home and also seeing my husband as a father. We finished up our baby classes and I can tell he's feeling a little more confident now. I've had 10 months of bonding with this baby but I think it's different for the father you know?  I just know he's going to be so over the moon when the baby is here and I can't wait to witness that love.

food aversions:  Still none, really.  I mean sometimes I won't be "in the mood" for a certain food but it varies as far as what it is.

shopping for baby: Pretty much done at this point!!  I mean, you're never DONE shopping for a baby haha but I feel like we have everything we need at this point. I've been buying some postpartum stuff for me lately (still need a nursing cami).  I could be forgetting some things but we'll see!

maternity clothes: I bought some denim shorts at Baby Depot for cheap so it's been nice to have those with the weather warming up. I think everything else has been non maternity. This maxi skirt has been a favourite lately. 

Body After Baby: 5 & 6 Months

“I’m with a man who’s evolved enough to look at my body and see it as more beautiful, because of the journey it has taken and what it has created. He genuinely sees it that way. So I genuinely feel even sexier.” - Angelie Jolie

YES.

I may not be in as good of shape as I was but I love my body more because I've finally learned to love it for what it is capable of and not just what it looks like.

Pregnancy does not ruin your body, it only changes it.  

I am thinner now than I have been in a couple years but my mindset is SO different than it was back then. I refuse to speak negatively about my body because I am so grateful that it helped give me the beautiful baby boy I now have.  I RESPECT my body far more now and that is a lesson I really wished I could have fully grasped earlier.  And yes, I probably sound like a broken record but hey... #truth.

At almost 6 months postpartum, I am 15 lbs below my pre-pregnancy weight and feeling great! Still not in a real workout routine but I do some exercises with Beckett and go for a daily walk. Basically I just make sure to stay active! I can fit into all of my old clothes now which is awesome (some are actually too big which is bitter sweet).  It's forced me to look at my overall lifestyle rather than a workout routine, which is good in its own way.  As far as "diet" goes, I basically eat the same way I have been although I have stopped feeling super hungry like I did during third trimester and when I was first breastfeeding; I am still eating more though.   I still eat a plant based diet with lots of whole, clean foods and limited processed stuff. I have a glass of wine or beer now and then but not on a regular basis (and I  haven't had liquor since before I got pregnant! I'm kinda scared to have it now! hahah). I'll write a post soon on how I have lost the weight but honestly, it's all pretty basic and nothing extreme!

Pre-pregnancy weight: 158 lbs

End of pregnancy weight: 184 lbs 

5 months PP weight: 148 lbs
6 months PP weight: 144 lbs

5 months PP

6 months PP 

(don't mind the moving in chaos in the background!)

My Postpartum Must Haves

Those first few weeks after your new baby arrives are kiiiiind of crazy!  You're filled with SO much love but you're also tired and sore.  Bed rest is very important and I did my best to spend the first week in bed or on the couch (no taking the dog out, cooking etc) and then the next week I did a bit more but still took it very easy.  You have an open wound in your body (where the placenta once was) so give it time to heal!  That Target trip can wait.  ;)

I was glad I prepared for this time and wanted to share some of my must haves with any of you potentially pregnant ladies! Some of these would make great gifts for pregnant mamas too.

Please note that some of this is aimed towards breastfeeding simply because that is what I am doing.

1. Boppy pillow - I don't use this for nursing all that much although at times it was handy in the first few weeks when my arms were really tired! I'd underestimated how tiring it is to hold a baby all day haha But this was SO nice to sit on that first week. Sitting was rough, on the couch or in bed, but this provided great cushion without any added pressure.
2. Peri bottle + witch hazel - You'll want to use this every time you go potty until you're all healed up. I won't go into too much detail but it REALLY does make it feel a lot better. Witch hazel will help with the healing process. 
3. Frozen pads - Another life saver! Make these ahead of time! I thought maybe they'd feel kinda gross or get soggy (haha) but they don't. They feel really nice and as they unfreeze they simply dry out. I can't be the only one who wondered if they got soggy...
4. Robe - Pretty much what I lived in that first week. It's nice to have another layer especially if you have company over but you want easy boob access and nothing restricting.  
5. Nursing cami - It's not recommended to wear a wire bra those first few weeks because it could affect your milk supply so these are great! It's my go to for sleeping these days. 
6. Snacks, frozen meals and meal replacement powder - You are going to be SO HUNGRY. I really underestimated just how hungry breastfeeding makes you. You still need to be eating as much as you were during your third trimester but suddenly you have a baby in your arms so making food is a lot more challenging. Having healthy, easy things on hand is so helpful. That meal replacement is SUPER healthy and could not be easier. I also liked having some bars on hand (Amrita is a favourite). If you froze meals a head of time, good job! I did but then ended up eating them by the time baby came at 42 weeks hahah
7. Tablet - I now prefer my phone or MacAir but in the beginning I used my iPad mini a lot. You just want something that is lightweight and easy to move around because you get stuck in the same position when baby nurses or falls asleep on you. Not saying you should be on an electronic device all the time but obviously now and then it is much welcomed. 
8. Mesh underwear - My midwife provided these and while they are the ugliest things I've ever seen they were incredibly comfortable! Definitely something I recommend and I know hospitals provide them as well.

Body After Baby: 2 Months

See my first post at 1 week pp HERE.

At 8 weeks postpartum, my stomach has changed quite a bit. It has definitely tightened up some and I can feel my strength coming back. I definitely still have a fair bit of loose skin and I know that'll take time to firm up- I accept and am totally fine with that!  I can fit into more of my pants/shorts now and have resisted the urge to buy new ones haha

I'm still being kind to myself, remembering what my body has been through and loving it rather than shaming it.  You often hear moms talk about viewing their body more for what it's truly capable of after having a baby rather than just its appearance and that is true for me too. 

I was at 165lbs for quite a while but dropped a few pounds recently by cleaning up my diet a bit more. Nothing drastic, honestly. I mainly added in some more smoothies/juice and cut back on refined sugar. I'm still not in a regular workout routine. It's tough to find not only your stride again but to find the time and energy while taking care of a newborn! No excuses though. I know I can do it and I will.  I am walking at least a few miles every day with the stroller or babywearing. I get in a quick workout 1-2x a week.  

I bought a Bellefit corset while in my third trimester. I used the size chart to find my size ad was comforted by their good return policy.  Unfortunately, it still doesn't fit comfortably! I'm trying to decide if I should return it or wait. I had emailed customer support after I had my baby and they said as long as it fits any time within the first 6 months that it'd be beneficial but I want something to wear NOW. I'm thinking about just getting a shapewear nursing cami... I know it'll be much more comfortable. It won't have all the benefits of the belly binder but it'd be nice to comfortably fit into more of my pants you know? Any recommendations?

Some goals for this next month are to start jogging with the stroller. I'd also like to do yoga and barre 1-2x a week each.

Pre-pregnancy weight: 158 lbs

End of pregnancy weight: 184 lbs (up 26 lbs)

Current weight: 161 lbs