Happy Friday, friends! Please help me to welcome today’s guest blogger, Carmen, of The Blue Swallow. She is here to talk about postpartum style and I’m so happy to share this after receiving so much feedback on my post about postpartum hair loss. Sometimes it’s nice to stand arm in arm and skip down the street together, doesn’t it?
Ever put on a maternity shirt after you finally start “showing” and
think you look great? Ever put that same maternity shirt on after baby
and think “this still fits?” Yeah me neither…okay I’m lying. I wasn’t
always into fashion or style, until I met my hubby (who is a walking GQ
poster…seriously). Before I was pregnant though, I gained a sense of
what I felt cute and comfortable in. Prior to then I used to wear men
shorts and t-shirts or baggy pants, with the occasional skirt or dress
depending on what holiday it was. Please understand though that I am
5’4” and quite petite, so those clothes really weren’t the best fit for
my body. However, after enjoying my abrupt introduction into fashion
from hubs and our own version of “What Not to Wear,” I learned how to
dress my body and even more so enjoyed dressing myself while expecting!
From umpire waist dresses and skirts to maternity cigarette pants with
wedges, I was quite the fashionista! It was AFTER pregnancy I
encountered the problem. Maybe you can relate.
Before – During – After
I
ended up having an emergency c-section with our son, Kai, and though I
healed quickly and my stomach seemed to creep back to normal slowly but
surely, I couldn’t fit into normal jeans or pants anymore. My c-section
incision caused all my pants to feel uncomfortable, so I wore maternity
pants for some time. This is quite normal when transitioning back into
your pre-prego size (so don’t feel too bad first time mom). But, I felt
so frumpy wearing my maternity pants 6 even 7 months later (none of
those clothes fit me in the last picture… I tried). I’m not a huge
advocate of keeping the same size clothes as motivation for getting back
to that size. I’ve always fluctuated in weight, so I have a wide range
of clothes from 8 – 12/14 in my closet (I’ve never seen a size 2 or 4
and I’m okay with that). Looking at that last picture though caused me
to realize the drastic change in not only my clothes, but my body. As
much as I had hoped, I didn’t bounce back like I wanted to and this
small pouch doesn’t help either. My body had and has completely
repositioned itself. My chest is larger from nursing, my hips are wider,
but my butt is flatter (how that happened I don’t know). Lastly, my
tummy is now a small pouch of fat/skin that only can be covered with
loose fitting shirts or high-waist pants. How do you work with that?
ended up having an emergency c-section with our son, Kai, and though I
healed quickly and my stomach seemed to creep back to normal slowly but
surely, I couldn’t fit into normal jeans or pants anymore. My c-section
incision caused all my pants to feel uncomfortable, so I wore maternity
pants for some time. This is quite normal when transitioning back into
your pre-prego size (so don’t feel too bad first time mom). But, I felt
so frumpy wearing my maternity pants 6 even 7 months later (none of
those clothes fit me in the last picture… I tried). I’m not a huge
advocate of keeping the same size clothes as motivation for getting back
to that size. I’ve always fluctuated in weight, so I have a wide range
of clothes from 8 – 12/14 in my closet (I’ve never seen a size 2 or 4
and I’m okay with that). Looking at that last picture though caused me
to realize the drastic change in not only my clothes, but my body. As
much as I had hoped, I didn’t bounce back like I wanted to and this
small pouch doesn’t help either. My body had and has completely
repositioned itself. My chest is larger from nursing, my hips are wider,
but my butt is flatter (how that happened I don’t know). Lastly, my
tummy is now a small pouch of fat/skin that only can be covered with
loose fitting shirts or high-waist pants. How do you work with that?
Well with some intervention and many days waking up before work and crying because I couldn’t find anything to wear,
I realized several things. For some it is easier than others to recover
from having a baby, but for those that may be like me here are a few
things that have helped me through this transition:
I realized several things. For some it is easier than others to recover
from having a baby, but for those that may be like me here are a few
things that have helped me through this transition:
1. ACCEPTANCE:
Sure it’s easier said than done, but the truth is your body has
changed! Whether you’re able to get back into your skinny jeans or had
to move up a size or two, your body is not the same. Accepting that
takes time. Our son is going on 13 months and I’m just getting to a
place of being okay with my incision and extra flab of skin. With any
transition, acceptance is key and will help you dress yourself better
and with a style you love!
Sure it’s easier said than done, but the truth is your body has
changed! Whether you’re able to get back into your skinny jeans or had
to move up a size or two, your body is not the same. Accepting that
takes time. Our son is going on 13 months and I’m just getting to a
place of being okay with my incision and extra flab of skin. With any
transition, acceptance is key and will help you dress yourself better
and with a style you love!
2. BE HEALTHY: When
I entered into the world of nursing
I ate ridiculously for the sake of nursing. Then my body adjusted and I
realized that I couldn’t continue eating like a starving animal and I
had to step into healthier habits and even exercise (say what?). Though I
accepted the things I could not change like stretch marks and saggy
skin, I knew that I would easily be 10-15lbs heavier if I didn’t take
care of this new body of mine. Even if you’re taking a hike with baby
strapped to your chest or a stroll around the neighborhood; once you’re
able to…get active. Enjoy your snacks and cheat days, but you only
have ONE BODY, so be good to it.
I entered into the world of nursing
I ate ridiculously for the sake of nursing. Then my body adjusted and I
realized that I couldn’t continue eating like a starving animal and I
had to step into healthier habits and even exercise (say what?). Though I
accepted the things I could not change like stretch marks and saggy
skin, I knew that I would easily be 10-15lbs heavier if I didn’t take
care of this new body of mine. Even if you’re taking a hike with baby
strapped to your chest or a stroll around the neighborhood; once you’re
able to…get active. Enjoy your snacks and cheat days, but you only
have ONE BODY, so be good to it.
3. WEAR WHAT FITS:
My chest from nursing did NOT fit my medium shirts, and there was
absolutely no getting by that. My hips have become much wider, but my
waist is still small so I had that weird gap in the back of my pants. So
in the interim I had to purchase clothes that fit my body. Yes some of
them were my husband’s white t’s, but if this is your temporary size
then find some items on consignment or at thrift stores! Don’t resort
to sweat pants and velor jumpsuits (are those still in?). Also don’t
beat yourself up at the size on the tag! The number on the tag is
between you and the tag. If you can fit into it then wear it! The worst
thing you can do is be uncomfortable AND look uncomfortable.
My chest from nursing did NOT fit my medium shirts, and there was
absolutely no getting by that. My hips have become much wider, but my
waist is still small so I had that weird gap in the back of my pants. So
in the interim I had to purchase clothes that fit my body. Yes some of
them were my husband’s white t’s, but if this is your temporary size
then find some items on consignment or at thrift stores! Don’t resort
to sweat pants and velor jumpsuits (are those still in?). Also don’t
beat yourself up at the size on the tag! The number on the tag is
between you and the tag. If you can fit into it then wear it! The worst
thing you can do is be uncomfortable AND look uncomfortable.
4. BE REALISTIC & LOVE YOU: You
made a baby for Pete sake! That takes a lot of love, blood, sweat, and
tears…literally! Don’t forget that you did this as a labor of love and
no scar, stretch mark, or sag can say otherwise. Even if this was an
unexpected labor of love like our son was, remember your sacrifice was
and will always be worth it. Yes I look at myself and wish my tummy was
back to “pre-baby,” but I wouldn’t trade my sweet boy for any flat abs!
So I say take in to account all change takes time, loving the new you
takes time…so give it the time it needs. I’ve learned to not just love
the body I have, but more so love the person and mother I’ve become.
made a baby for Pete sake! That takes a lot of love, blood, sweat, and
tears…literally! Don’t forget that you did this as a labor of love and
no scar, stretch mark, or sag can say otherwise. Even if this was an
unexpected labor of love like our son was, remember your sacrifice was
and will always be worth it. Yes I look at myself and wish my tummy was
back to “pre-baby,” but I wouldn’t trade my sweet boy for any flat abs!
So I say take in to account all change takes time, loving the new you
takes time…so give it the time it needs. I’ve learned to not just love
the body I have, but more so love the person and mother I’ve become.
Take that new style and wear it proud! Love your new body and it will most certainly love you back.
Carmen
Galeano works in the field of Social Work by day and sows her roots in
the world of crafting later in the evenings…after bedtime of course.
With a deep appreciation for D.I.Y.’s, fabric, felt, and creativity, she
has embarked on her own journey of blogging and starting up her own
small business The Blue Swallow.
Her heart is stolen by two boys, her husband Maycol and their son Makai
(13 months). Between running after her son, partnering with her husband
who is a youth pastor, and making new memories with family and friends,
she is soaking up all that life has to offer.
Galeano works in the field of Social Work by day and sows her roots in
the world of crafting later in the evenings…after bedtime of course.
With a deep appreciation for D.I.Y.’s, fabric, felt, and creativity, she
has embarked on her own journey of blogging and starting up her own
small business The Blue Swallow.
Her heart is stolen by two boys, her husband Maycol and their son Makai
(13 months). Between running after her son, partnering with her husband
who is a youth pastor, and making new memories with family and friends,
she is soaking up all that life has to offer.
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