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Let me just start this post with full disclosure: I suffered from anorexia from age 17 through age 19, and I didn't really make a full recovery until around age 28. I have Issues With Food. I have Issues With Body Image. And pregnancy (and its accompanying forced, out-of-control body changes and weight gain) was extremely difficult for me to take emotionally. I can still remember sitting on my parents' couch when I was about three months' pregnant and seeing my legs beginning to swell in the evenings and realizing it was not going to get any better for a very, very long time.
To boot, some women's bodies gain a lot of weight with pregnancy, and some stay stick perfect with skinny arms, legs, and face, and a cute little bowling ball under the shirt. I mean, sure, if you eat a pint of ice cream every day, you're going to gain more weight, but some women can eat perfectly healthily and exercise regularly and still gain 45 pounds with a pregnancy. And that can be rough on the old self-esteem, even if it's for a good cause.
For all of those reasons, I really identified with Rebecca from Girl's Gone Child:
I realize the probability of this pregnancy is that I will put on some weight because (duh!) that's what happens when you're pregnant. And, yes, I have come to terms with the fact that my nose will likely swell and my chin will become plural. And I keep reminding myself that that's okay. That's part of what it means to be pregnant. And of course I'm willing to gain the weight. (Of course!) But that doesn't change the fact that a tipping scale is something I am unable to celebrate, even if it means a growing baby, a healthy pregnancy.
So! Everyone hates the thought of losing the extra inevitable weight after pregnancy, but it's hardest for those of us with extreme body issues. If you don't have extreme body issues, this losing-the-baby-weight thing may be a complete nonissue for you. I applaud anyone who doesn't have body issues. I can't imagine what your life is like, but I'm picturing butterflies and fuzzy bunnies featuring prominently. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
If you are struggling with the thought of holding that extra weight for even one day, I'm here to tell you that you NEED to respect your doctor's orders about waiting six weeks to begin exercise. I don't care that Heidi Klum started working out after four weeks. I don't care that Halle Barry started back up again immediately. I care about your ability to hold your pee until you hit the toilet for the rest of your life. Seriously. From our neighbors down under:
It is important to remember that no matter how fit you are on the outside, it is your pelvic floor and back that you are trying to protect. By going back to sport or exercise before these areas have recovered back to normal after the birth, you can cause problems to develop either now or later in life. These could include prolapse, leakage of urine or back pain.
Read the rest of that page if you want to scare yourself into waiting that six weeks. WAIT THE SIX WEEKS. You'll still have time to lose the weight, and you won't make the mistake I did from just walking up a big hill too soon. Trust me on this one.
The best thing you can do, really, in that first six to eight weeks post-partum is DO YOUR KEGELS, buy yourself some clothes that fit and look reasonably attractive, shower every day and wear lipstick. I am so not kidding about this.
From Kathryn:
Finally, you feel pretty gross for awhile. Even if you take the baby for a walk or even eventually make it to the gym later in the day, getting up and showering first thing wakes you up and makes you feel like a real person. Then, you put on your new clothes and you feel pretty good! Anyway, for what it’s worth, here’s my post-baby uniform (a variation of which I’m still wearing!)
For the rest of the list, click here.
