Can you learn to love your body again?

While I was pregnant with the girls I kept going back and forth in my mind about how I felt about a C-section vs. vaginal birth. I really wanted to have a vaginal birth. Really really. I thought it would be an easier recovery and easier to lose the baby weight (which was 74 LBS!!!) after the babies were born. When the time came though, I wasn't really given the option....pre-eclampsia was in full swing and while they could "try" inducing me, there were absolutely no guarantees that it would work and I could very likely end up with a C-section anyway. So...I opted for the C-section. Good thing I did. When the OB was in there (taking the babies out) he told me there was no way I would have been able to deliver Miss Olivia vaginally, so I would have been forced into a C-section anyhow.

So what's my point with this rant?

Well...I have had a difficult time accepting my post baby body. After being on pelvic rest and a no exercise restriction for the last 6 months of my pregnancy, I felt fat and unhappy. Sexy was by far a thing of the past. Post C-section my tummy was anything but toned (more like deflated balloon!). I am sure many many of you share my sentiment. So, once I was given the okay, I started trying to tone my body again in my "free" time (HA). Unfortunately I continued to weigh the same from 3 months post birth to 8 months post birth. It was very disheartening. Then for the last 4 months I decided to change things up. I have been doing 75 sit ups every day, speed-walking a mile, and done other miscellaneous toning exercises (and a smidge of yoga) along with watching what I eat.

The results?

As of the girlies 1 year birthday, I am only 3.1 lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight!!! Can you believe that?! Now of course my body is never going to actually be the same as it was pre baby girls, but I can go and buy (relatively form fitting) clothes and feel comfortable in my skin again! 71 lbs...that is just crazy!!! It took me a FULL YEAR to get there....I'm just glad I kept working on it!

Now here's to hoping that once I stop breastfeeding I don't gain any of it back! Fingers crossed! And then of course I still have 20 lbs to go before I hit my pre-IVF weight....I'm not holding my breath...

So for full disclosure....

Here's me 6 weeks pregnant with the girls (documentation picture of what size I was going into it - lol)

Before giving birth to my two princesses:

Now, 1 year post babies (no spankx or any other suck me in's involved!):

Sure, my body is totally different, and I still have the extra "deflated balloon" skin, but I'm okay with it =). My OB said if/when he delivers our next/final child (via C-Section) that he will go ahead and do a tummy tuck free of charge....sweet....

So, where are you in your post baby weight loss journey? Is it something you are having to constantly work on? What has helped you lose the weight that you have lost so far? If you have lost all of your baby weight, have you been able to keep it off?

Oh, and a breastfeeding update since I just brought it up....I am in the process of weaning. I am pumping 3 x a day now, and Bri has stopped nursing entirely, even in the mornings. My supply has dropped significantly in the last 3 weeks, so I suspect in another week or two I will be able to stop pumping all together. Bittersweet! The girls don't need it anymore though, so I'm okay with it =)

Okay, that's all for now!
Have a great weekend ladies!

Megan

The 3/24/10 OB visit update

Okay, so I realized I am majorly slacking.

The point at which you have to put the date of the actual update in the title is a sad day!

So, as you can tell by the title, we had a visit with our OB on Wednesday (3/24). He did an ultrasound and both little monkeys are still doing great! One was measuring 7w2d and the other was measuring 7w1d (which is what I actually was on Wednesday). He said our official "40 week" due date would be Novmeber 8th, but that most twin mommies go on their own by 37 weeks, so we are looking more like mid-Octoberish (or maybe a smidge earlier) for these babies to arrive.

We got to HEAR the heartbeats at this visit and it was SO amazing! I just melted. I was instantly at ease and I knew my babies were okay. Si recorded one of the heartbeats on his phone and figured out how to turn it into an MP3 file (so Windows Media Player can play it). If I can figure out how to attach it or upload it to the blog I will because it is way cool. It sounds like horses running! The heart beats were around 180 beats per minute.

Otherwise what is going on? Well, my OB gave me a script for Zofran (an anti-nausea med) that will actually dissolve on my tongue. Pretty cool eh? I have lost 10 lbs in the last 2 weeks already. Crazy! You totally can't tell. I just look like I'm expanding (thanks babies!!). The zofran helps some, but it definitely doesn't solve the problem. So, I will probably lose more weight before I gain any. That's okay though - less weight to loose after the babies are born, right?? LOL.

So that's all I have for now I think. We go back to see the RE on Monday for our 8 week checkup. Fingers crossed that both babies will still be alive and well=). Have a great weekend everyone!!