Moms Talk Network

My pre-pregnancy weight was 124 lbs and the last time I weighed myself was 7 days before I gave birth and I weighed 187 lbs, gaining 63 pounds in total.  I had gained 67 at one point, but my weight fluctuated at the end once the cold weather started to come and I lost some of my water retention.

My whole point is that once Tyler was born, I figured that I would lose weight proportionate to what was coming out of me.  Let’s see, Tyler weighed exactly 9 lbs.  Then you factor in all the amniotic fluid, blood loss, placenta which should amount to at least 10 lbs.  So taking all this in, my expectation was that I would lose at least 19 pounds.   So I gave birth over 2 days ago and as I step on the scale, I saw that I still weigh 180 pounds.  I’m no math genius but I should have lost at least 15, or give me just the 9lbs that was my son’s.  So either my scale is broken or I gained another 15 pounds in one week which I know cannot be possible.

My husband tells me that I went through the same denial the first time around.  I also freaked at the fact that I still look 8 months pregnant.  I heard comments such as, “when are you giving birth to the second baby?…. I think they forgot someone inside.”  Even my son Jeffrey, when he saw me at the hospital asked me why my stomach was still big.  I think that still having a huge belly after giving birth is one of the worst parts of getting pregnant.  Because now that Tyler is out of me, I don’t want to look pregnant.  And believe me, I still look very much pregnant.  Not only pregnant, but I still look like I’m in my final days.

I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself.  I will give my body the time it needs to rest (maybe not the full 6 weeks that the doctor recommends).  However, once I feel confident that I’m all healed down there, it will be an exercise routine for me, I hope.  I felt the same way the first time and never got into the whole exercise routine.  Maybe this time around since I’m committing to it online, it will give me the motivation I need to stick it through.

When I was pregnant the first time and went back to work after my maternity leave (10 months later), I was still getting questions from colleagues asking if I was pregnant again.  I hated those questions.

At least, I don’t want to still look pregnant.  My stomach reminds me of the Simpsons episode when Homer went to the doctor and did a belly test.  Homer’s belly wouldn’t stop jiggling.  My stomach, now that it’s no longer hard, feels like a bowl of jello.

photo credit: meemal