Pregnancy and Its Effects on the Body

If it's stretch marks and loose skin-the damage is pretty much done!!! You can tighten and tone the loose areas but some things will NEVER be the same!!! I am on baby #3 and my hips have gotten wider by 4 inches. My once perky chest....is not! You try going from a 34b to 36F boobies with each pregnancy and see what happens!!!
Some people can go back to normal and snap back to pre pregnancy shape-not me! I've got a road map of varicose veins complimented by some hail damage on my once perfect body. Don't get me wrong I don't ever want to be 6' and 122lbs again!!!! I like this size much better(so does hubs! wink wink!). Just keep a sense of humor and DON'T place too much stock in looks-like mama said-they will fade! Or sag, or stretch, droop, jiggle....

Ya know age was more of a factor than pregnancies. About the only real difference was with the first. I had him when I was 20 so yeah I wasn't nearly as perky as my friends were. Eventually they had kids, I had four, there is no difference between me and my friends that only had two kids.

I have heard a lot of horror stories but I think they are personal issues not something that effects everyone who has kids.

So far as things will never be the same, yeah that applies to boobs unless you have a boob job and even then they aren't the same cause they are fake. So far as your abs go yes they can be flat again, it takes work but I can tell you my abs a few years ago were flatter than they were when I was 16. God I need to get that tummy back!!

*runs home to work out*

It really just depends on your particular body ... and genetics!

I found that after my second my abdominal area is more lax and just hanging out more. It was a little with the first but not as much. I also agree that it has to do with genetics. I have pretty good genes, I had very minimal stretch marks with each pregnancy and none are visable now unless you really look up close and those are only silvery white. My boobs do seem a tad more deflated after the second:(
My sister is about to give birth to her 4th and she has pretty much been like a rubber band. I have seen a few woman who were sticks before they had babies and then after 2 they are large or thick now. So it just depends on the person and the genetics of course.

I think it's genetics, mostly, that determine the effects that pregnancy has. Being of healthy weight and not gaining too much weight may help, but even then - stretch marks happen or they don't, breasts sag or they don't.

For me and having 2 kids~ the damage had already been done. I was worried some things would get worse or new things would pop up but generally the second pregnancy didnt make anything any worse.

Hi trying-

I am MUCH older than you (52 to be exact)...First a c section...then 4 vbacs...then a c section for preemie twins.

I was in good shape for first birth...and in good shape for each 'next' pregnancy. I went through 'droopy' boobs for a few years after the last pregnancy...BUT during (and post) menopause, my weight seems to have shifted...UP!! I am now a c/d cup..and working to get my mid section back in my 'winter' years.

I LOVE my body...just want to 'tweak' it a bit...and never would have considered NOT having one of my kiddos due to body issues...

Hard to say what you in particular can expect...we are all so different...but I think a LOT has to do with how YOU feel about YOU! (both going INTO a pregnancy...and the rewards of coming through one)

Best Luck!
michele/cat

With each pregnancy my Fibromyalgia became progressively worse. Each pregnancy and then labor and delivery exacerbated the Fibromyalgia and all of the health issues surrounding it that I feel pretty wrecked and I'm only 37. They were tough pregnancies to boot with hyperemesis gravidarium so I lost weight rather than gained during my pregnancies. I didn't gain weight until after I was done having babies and now thanks to the Fibro I'm having trouble losing it.

Nothing became "saggy." Everything became more rounded due to breastfeeding. I had to get a breast reduction, actually. I had small babies with fast descent and deliveries so "other areas" are fine.

each of my pregnancies (full term ending in babies) were so different but my body basically went back into the shape it was previous to pregnancy. I however was never, perky, tight, or fit. So it just went back to pre-pregnancy doughy blob form. Before my 3 successful babies I had many miscarriages and a stillborn son at 25 weeks, even then after the first late stage miscarriage what ever damage was done, was done. Stretch marks gotten, and incontinence, well lets just say M. doesnt sneeze with out first crossing her legs. Mark it up to the scars of momma hood

Every baby stretches out his own set of stretch marks on you.
By the time my aunt was finished having 8 kids (6 singletons and one set of twins), it certainly took it's toll on her.

I have 3 kids and my experience each time was totally different.
With my first I weighed a little more than I should have, nothing major but about a size more. I gained a little more weight with him. After he was born I was a size larger than I was pre-pregnancy. But I was totally able to loose everything and then some and came out of it smaller then I went into the pregnancy and in much better shape and tone. With my second. I was back in my pre-pregnancy pants within the first couple weeks! I was absolutely shocked!! It took no time at all to loose everything and looked the best I had in years. I got pregnant between my second and third but miscarried. I put on about 5 lbs. Doesn't seem like much, but it never went away, but I still fit everything. I got pregnant with my third. I gained the least while pregnant with her, she weighted the least of my 3. But she was sideways for the better part of the third trimester so she stretched out and pulled things the boys never did. It is 3 years later and not only have I not been able to loose any of the weight but I have actually Gained! weight. It's been harder to tone my muscles and it's taking longer. I still look pregnant when I bloat from my menstrual cycle and stuff. I'm not working any less hard then I did. I'm breastfeeding like I did with the others. My breasts haven't shrunk any like they did with my other 2 by this age. I'm wondering if they are permanently going to stay an E cup at this point.
I don't know what is different this time.
There are so many factors.