Body After Baby (# 2)

After Kay was born I was extremely lucky to pretty much bounce back to my normal size/shape within 5 months of her being born. I only got two teeny teeny tiny stretchmarks near my belly button...I mean so tiny that they weren't noticeable AT ALL. Very small. No saggy skin, no floppy boobs (thanks to implants), and no post partum pooch. I was lucky! But I was also young...21 to be exact. The whole time I was TTC and pregnant with Miss M I often wondered what my body (specifically my stomach) would look like after baby #2. Would it look the same? Would I bounce right back again? Would it be worse because the skin had now been stretched out twice? Would I need a tummy tuck? Would I get more stretch marks, or get luck like the first time? So.many.questions. that no one could answer!

I would often ask other mother's of two or more kids what kind of damage # 2 left behind, or if it was the same as after #1. Many people thought I would still be okay since I got so lucky the first time. A few would say that's it was # 2 that did them in. What would I be like? Only time would tell....

Well here I am almost 12 months post partum with baby # 2 and  I can safely say now I know. It did take a much bigger toll on my physically this time around. I was golden after # 1....perfect.....no saggy skin, no pooch, now not so much. Now I have the typical mommy problems that I managed to escape with Kay. I have much more of a pooch, my stomach skin is saggy and stretched, and I did get more stretch marks on my lower abdomen making the lower part of my stomach a wrinkly mess. I always say that my belly button needs a "lift" because it hovers, and I don't have that cute little innie belly button I once had (although that went away a little after baby # 1, just got worse this time around and I've had 2 previous belly button piercing so I don't think that helps the situation either). I hate it!! Body after baby number 2 is not the same! Number 2 really can wreck havoc on the body. It all been stretched out before, so it doesn't quite bounce back the same like after the first one. It's been harder and slower to loose the weight and your older, which doesn't help.  

So in efforts to keep it real and because I would have loved to see what another woman's stomach looked like after baby # 2, I am going to let my guard down and show what my stomach looks like now. After baby # 2. Here it is....No spray tan, still 10 pounds above my goal weight with my saggy belly button, and standing in a very flattering position....

Now don't get me wrong...I know it could be MUCH WORSE. Thankfully, I don't need a tummy tuck (although I could use a mini one, however so not worth it). And I do exercise 4-6 days per week, but no amount of exercise to take away saggy skin and separated abdominal muscles. None. It really was baby # 2 that ruined me. But I'll take it. But only because she's so darn cute.....

It's all worth it and more!!