I feel a little weird about pregnant tummy shots that show skin.
I’m not really sure why this is, but much of the pregnant/birthing process makes me squirm, blush and get all uncomfortable.
Yeah, I know.
This coming from the woman who can write in horrifying detail about getting her girlie bits slathered and ripped to death with hot wax turns slightly pink at the thought of showing her pregnant tummy. What can I say? I have issues, people. And I know it. (She says, pointing up to that awesome banner that holds the title of this blog.)
Catherine of Her Bad Mother, is about 9.5 months postpartum. (She has THE most adorable baby. I saw him in this darling, brown striped onesie at BlogHer and KNEW I wanted another baby.) She posted a tummy baring photo on her blog and wrote about the struggle lots of us have with our bodies. We love them (or should) but are we ever really satisfied with them? Most of us yo-yo from love to dissatisfaction and back. And there we are; even though we’re always in motion bouncing from one to the other we are still STUCK.
It sucks a duck, yo.
She asked those of us that were insane brave and that were total lemmings wanted to to participate in posting “honest” photos of our tummies and to write about what we thought of our bodies. (There is a more private Flickr group you can post to as well. But, I’m just going to do this here because ya know…it’s ME and I seem to love doing things that freak me out.)
So, here you are:
Me at 27 weeks
I do struggle with body issues, but I am slightly different. I used to weigh 300 freaking pounds. I had a gastric bypass and my gallbladder removed in 1995, when I was 20. It was back when they were rarely done and laser surgery was not common, so I have a HUGE scar that runs from my sternum to my belly button.
In case you are wondering? IT HURTS LIKE A MO FO WHEN I AM IN MY LAST TRIMESTER. It gets horribly stretched and tight and throbs a lot.
Attractive, huh? I am fairly confident that this will be quite the cold shower for those who think I’m hot. (You can still love me for my personality and mind, though. Hee.)
Also, I am pretty much built like a boy. I have no hips, no butt, no waist definition and the biggest ribcage on earth. So, I wish I could blame the lack of waist definition on the fact that I am gestating a fetus, but alas, it’s not the case. It’s why when I had my Magical Boobies surgically reclaimed I told the doctor that I didn’t really care so much about size, but I wanted them to be big enough to give my waist SOME definition.
See those white stretch marks on my hips? That is not from pregnancy. That is from being fat. I have had them as long as I can remember. They don’t get red or purple when I’m pregnant because my skin was already stretched out from being heavy. And my stretch marks are only on my hips an very bottom of my abdomen-there aren’t any in the middle, which is usually the case when you have a baby. (The marks you see there aren’t stretch marks, they are from my pajama waist band. Actually, MY HUSBAND’S PAJAMAS. I am too globe like to fit into most things that I own and can’t face shopping at the moment.)
So, I’m ok with my skin actually. It just doesn’t bug me because it looks better than it used to.
I was young when I had the surgery and my body rebounded extraordinarily well. My non-pregnant tummy really isn’t too bad all things considered. I do have the muscle tone of headcheese, but that is due to genetics. (Being a totally lazy slug that HATES working out doesn’t help.)
So honestly, while I may bitch and moan sometimes and REALLY wish I could build muscle without herculean effort, I am pretty damn happy with how I look.
How about you? Feel brave? Want to participate in the Truthiness and Tummies or whatever-you-call-it-thingy-Catherine-came-up-with? Post a tummy baring photo on your blog and throw a comment on THIS POST.
P.S. Because I’m sure someone doesn’t know and will wonder-that is a tattoo of a ladybug on my tummy. I never thought I would have a tattoo, but I got it in honor of the baby we had that passed away. Matthew, my Little Bug. I had the same design etched on his headstone.
P.P.S. While I am fairly happy with my body I feel the need to add that I am fairly mortified my bathroom mirror is so dirty.
P.P.P.S. And that my outfit is so stellarly hideous. I am not sure I could have picked a worse color clash if I tried.
P.P.P.S. I guess I just have to be satisfied with what I am wearing and be grateful I am not wearing this. Right?
P.P.P.P.S. And I’m having a pretty good, non-barfy day, so the lame outfit and dirty mirror? Can really just freaking bite me. :)
Stumble it!
Filed under: 
I think you look lovely.
there is the teeniest stripe of blue that sorta looks like the top matches the bottoms.
Glad to hear you are feeling better.
I will probably post this tonight. I think I smell a haiku coming on.
First, I think it took a lot of guts to post this – not because you look anythign less than fantastic, but because you were confronting something that you don’t like. Second, quite simply, you look beautiful. I think every body tells a story and your post just shows what a long fabulous story you have!
Dearie,
You really didn’t need that looooooong, drawn-out description, hilarious or not. Just show that gorgeous belly, embrace all that comes with it and call it good!
I think you look beautiful. I didn’t even notice the scar till you pointed it out.
Girl, I was twice that size at 27 weeks and had stretch marks that made me look like a snail.
headcheese…. still chuckling about that.
What I should say: you’re pretty inside and out.
What I’m GOING to say: I’d totally bang you. Twice.
ACK – just click on the wedding dress linke. I’m BLIND!
You have a beautiful tummy! Flaunt it!
I am not brave enough to show my belly to anyone but my husband. It looks like a butterfingered Freddy Kruger tried to give me a C-Section the stretch marks are so bad.
You’re gorgeous, no word of a lie. The belly? All the more so. (And, slightly off-topic, but the photo made me think of it, so: your comment on Twitter the other day that you were happy that this baby would stretch out your tattoo, which honors your lost baby? SO BEAUTIFUL. Your belly is a living memorial, and that makes its beauty IMMEASURABLE.)
xoxo
You’re lovely.
I’ve seen it in person, and it’s impressive.
[...] do this: Jump to Comments But I’m doing it anyway, to show solidarity with the other amazing women out there, (even those that have only the vaguest idea of who I am.) Women who are baring [...]
Concerning Catherine’s truth and tummies thing? In a word: NEVER NEVER NO WAY EVER!!! But thanks for asking… :)
I have to agree with HBM about the tattoo comment the other day. And you are beautiful and brave.
It’s official.
I’d do you.
But then you already knew that.
heh.
Well, I can’t play along because I think posting a picture of a tummy that hasn’t been stretched out for twelve years would only get me hate mail. I am just not in the mood for hate mail.
I do think my tummy looks like shit though so maybe I could play along and pretend that my 5 month old baby actually came out of my tummy.
You, on the other hand, look absolutely dreamy! I love pregnant women. Keep on being pregnant girl, it works for you.
I must say, I’m enjoying the belly shots. But I’m sure the world wouldn’t say that about any I might post.
Although they might provide a useful cautionary tool. People could learn that it’s probably not a great idea to weigh 180 pounds and then get pregnant.
But then … most people have already figured that out. Heh.
I think your outfit and belly ROCK!!
Unfortunately my tummy is MUCH bigger normally than your pregnant tummy. I am positive a tummy pic isn’t something I can do!
You are brave and awesome.
Pregnant chicks are Hawt…plus you’re nominated as Hot Mama at Hotdads…nuff said.
pssh, you look awesome. I hope I look like that when I’m pregnant in 8-10 years.
also, I got a Brazilian and I didn’t think it hurt much. Kind of like ripping off a bandaid. I may have a vagina made of steel. Or maybe I’m a mutant?
But I was laying on the table going “please don’t let it hurt as much as loralee’s post said it would”
Also my place, they totally put a mirror down there after. and you admire your vagina. and it’s all awkward.
Thank you for been real.
Some women in the blogging world give us such unrealistic images of what’s normal, okay, and to be expected.
Half the time, I feel worse about myself after reading other mommmy bloggers. I even wrote about that today on my blog.
But this post? This was redemption for blogging women. This was a pleasure to read that someone as beautiful as you can show us your flaws.
Your imperfection is perfection.
I had no idea you had gastric by-pass surgery. Have you written much about that? You should.
And your belly looks adorable BTW.
Rock on, sistah! You look awesome.
I have too shared photos and even video of my pregnant naked belly via blogging.
Nobody likes their body, period. I am a freaking dance teacher and I have body issues too girl! We all do.
Bravo to anyone who is willing to love and accept what they’ve got (even if they aren’t jazzed about it). Nobody is perfect.
I am starting to think I should post one, but I am skeered.
that…my dear …is a beautiful bundle of joy…any way you look at it. You have a great baby belly.
Just wanted to drop by in support! I did it too-every day I want to take the pics down but I am trying to suck it up.
I would NEVER scar my readers with a photo of my belly. Your scar is freakin’ beautiful compared to my mangled belly button and all the skin around it. My skin does NOT stretch well.
I think you’re gorgeous – in mind AND body. But then, I am also the guy who thinks that that was the BEST WEDDING DRESS EVER!!!
The little drummer boy is rockin’ Bug’s tatoo. Love it!
Suck a duck?
Yes, we do love you for your mind (body isn’t too bad either). Thanks for the post.
I would actually totally do this, but I do worry that there would be negative backlash to it. People don’t take kindly to chubby people showing there tummies. (I do believe I saw Beth Ditto in a bikini on the cover of Star for people to gawk at.)
I love that you did it though and you look lovely.
Thank you for posting this. Although I’m not a mom, your post gave me the courage to finally post about my once-hated, now-love scar on my stomach. Woot!
yay!! not only do you look cute when preggers, you have freckles on your tummy too!! i always was self conscious b/c i had freckles in weird places, my stomach being one of them. other weird places – the palm side of my left index finger, my upper lip (literally on my lip right next to my cupid’s bow), and my boobs.
so yay for women with freckles.
Boo Hoo. Where are all your stretch marks? Unsightly dark line of hair? Yes, and I’m positive when your 9 months pregnant you’ll weigh less then when I was not pregnant at all.
You will not see a bare pregnant belly picture over at Melarky. No one wants to see that. And no one will except my husband and of course Dr. H.
I shall trade you 2 cups of my boobs for your hips. What say you, devil woman?
It appears that I also own a pair of Christopher’s pajamas. Who woulda thunk it??
How is this for truthiness. I dated a man who at one point had been very fat and had the stretch marks after the weight loss. His stretch marks were the thing I loved best about him. I used to rub them every night to put me to sleep. To me they represented his commitment to being a better person, that he had flaws, wasn’t perfect. I hope that doesn’t skeeve you out, I just wanted to share that stretch marks are loveable.
Hmmmm……..
Lately, I’ve been wishing for my belly to look like that again.
And sorry, you DO NOT have the biggest ribcage ever.
I totally claimed that prize like a million years ago.
I think the sexiest a woman looks is when she is ample with child. Now I am the last one to get all religious (see Facebook status…details in ‘the best piece), but our bodies were meant to bring forth life. All animals created are. And to see a body holding the miracle of life within it, is enough to make this old cancer survivor long for her uterus, her ovaries and the endless possibilities that were denied me when at 32, I had my first affair with cancer.
My scars are different. They don’t tell a story of my forever want for Gastric Bypass surgery. They tell of two bouts with cancer, a near death fight with a perforated ulcer and they show the stretch marks that brought forth two lives to term and one life stillborn. I would not take a picture of it, but tonight when I see the round shape of it as I pass the mirror and step into the warmth of my shower, I will be grateful for it’s lines, lumps and bumps because just as life grows within you….life and being alive…that is me.
Thank you for posting and posing. You have humbled me with your strength, honesty and the glorification of a woman’s body
XXOO
That belly looks awesome. Plain and simple. Truly. I get what you’re saying about all of this body stuff – oh hell, most normal women have some degree of body unhappiness or self-consciousness or whatever. I sure do, but I’m getting older and more relaxed about it because I have to save up my energy for other things….
So…you’re growing a baby – right on.
:-)
I think you look beautiful. Seriously do.
I found a bunch of photos of me when I was PG with Himself. They’re awesome! I had the best boobs then! However they’re all rated R and I can’t post them. Fun to look at tho.
I think you look gorgeous! Doesn’t everyone expect their body to change when pregnant? its part of the whole package. I love pregnant bodies. My sister is pg with her first and I’m going to do a photo session with her spotlighting the belly of it all – Can’t wait!
OMFG I finally went to the wedding dress link. WTF?!
My husband is rolling on the floor over that pic.
LOVE your belly :)
I have little freckles all over mine too. We could be twinderbellies :)
I think your belly looks terrific. And I’m guessing the rest of you does, too.
I came here to read your “Hey Jealousy” post yet again, as I do whenever I find myself moping over the fact that nobody is offering me free shit or putting me in Blog Nosh or whatever. But I digress.
I am grateful to have seen this post and been pointed to Her Bad Mothers. After three kids my belly is a road map of scars and I just can’t get it together to lose the extra 20 lbs I’m sporting around. I’ve spent the last hour reading all of your comments and feeling not so alone in my imperfections and flaws. So, thank you for that. And for the original genius post that brought me here in the first place.
And, finally, you look great! You have an BEAUTIFUL baby belly. Truly.
@Scary Mommy
Jealousy happens to everyone. EVERYONE. I’m sure even Dooce has it, but more in that “Why can’t all the psycho people leave me alone, dammit!” sort of way. Heeh.
I was just bitching and moaning YESTERDAY on Twitter about many of my bloggity friends are being flown to this conference or that conference to bestow their bloggity wisdom on coorporations.
I do not attract those kind of offers and with everyone talking about it all at once it made me feel lame and slighted and JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH for a good hour or so.
Then? I remembered how much I do have, that I was happy for my friends, that I am sick as a dog and couldn’t go anyway and that I do JACK to promote myself and this blog(thus no way can I bitch and moan) and then…I got over it.
The point is that it flares up in EVERYONE and that is pretty normal. It means you’re human.
If you can’t be happy for a friend that gets opportunity, Houston might “Have a problem”. If it isn’t just a flare up and you stay bitter and angry and hateful that would not be so normal, either.
But unless it’s happening constantly or like the above, I wouldn’t overly worry about. Talk it out, give yourself a reality check and realize that you are in fabulous company with 90% of the blogging world! :)
No pregnant belly or belly that has ever carried a child or a good meal eaten with loved ones is an ugly tummy.
But I’m still not posting mine.
Oh, Loralee, you are just fabulous. Thank you. :)
And, yes, I’m over it. I alternate between wanting to take over the blog world and just shutting down and starting a private one. I’m manic like that. But it’s good to know that we all have our moments!
tummy looks awesome! agree with moosh in indy–baby belly ain’t ugly!
[...] my friend Loralee did post showing her belly. Loralee had her gall bladder removed and also had gastric bypass surgery. She has a scar that runs [...]
http://lenaenglish.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-recovery.html
I may get some flack for this picture. (My friends all gave me a had time for having a “nice” stomach) I recently had my gallbladder out and I am a little obsessed with my scars. They are considerably smaller than yours, but I still wory about what will happen wnen I get pregnant.
I love the belly shots, and I hope you keep doing them!
pfft! I was that big before the baby began. curiously, he snuggled in & I didn’t get that much bigger. just more solid. fat is squishy, babies are not.
still, I avoided any pics at all, much less bare skin shots.
though I didn’t have that excuse with my first two, when I also avoided pictures, in those cases, b/c I’d been so slim to begin with & was freaked out by the weight gain.
Now my ‘goal’ weight is just about the weight I was when I gave birth to my first.
LIFE is twisty that way.