Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
I'm about six months pregnant and I miss work. I miss having my own money, getting out of the house, exercising the way only the stage can provide, compliments...all of it.
I'm very worried that after I have my son that my body will be ruined. All the women in my family have terrible stretch marks and never were able to lose the baby weight afterwards. I've been slathering on the Bio-Oil, I don't have any marks yet but I've read that they are genetic and no lotions or potions can stop them.
How long did you wait postpartum to go back to work? Were you able to get your body back or at least be happy with the way it had changed? Any tips for a new momma headed back to the club?
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
From what I've observed, age is a huge factor in this equation. Women who have babies at 18-22 find that their bodies bounce back very quickly (with diet and exercise), and their postpartum bodies look very similar to their pre-baby bodies. It seems that women 25-30 are usually in a similar boat, though the weight comes off more slowly and requires more effort to remove (that is, if you go about it in a healthy way without crash dieting and whatnot). And this group tends to notice more lasting changes from the pregnancy (sagging booty, minor varicose veins in the legs, etc.).
Will you be breastfeeding? If so, for how long? My friend says that she was unable to diet (healthily, but still cutting back on calories) until after she stopped breastfeeding, because her body would stop producing milk if she didn't eat a certain amount of food. Obviously breastfeeding is extremely important, but everyone's situations are different as far as money goes (people with money can afford to breastfeed for longer, stay out of work for longer, etc.). I'm asking not to make this thread about breastfeeding, but because it could affect your options for snapping your body back into shape.
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
when i had my son i just had just turned 20, so my body bounced back within a few months. the last thing to go was the little line that goes down the belly button. but breastfeeding helped me shed the pounds like CRAZY and helped my stomach bounce back. breast feeding is great for helping you lose weight. but i also really watched my weight while pregnant, ate super healthy ( you aren't really "eating for two" like people like to say, you are eating for yourself and a tiny little baby. don't starve yourself, but you don't have to pig out either, and keep it healthy like eggs, fruit, veggies, lean protein, yogurt, etc). also keep up with exercising, it will make your labor easier and keep you in shape.
as for stretch marks, bio oil isn't that great..its loaded with chemicals. i would stick with natural oils and cocobutter. there is a big thread about stretch marks if you run a search, lots of good info!
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
I'll be turning 25 the day before he is due and I plan to breastfeed as long as possible but at least until 2. I've always been thin without diet and exercise...I was 119 (I'm 5'7) pre-pregnancy and have gained 20lbs so far which my midwife says is all baby. I'm just hoping this doesn't tear my body up, I love dancing.
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
You are actually less prone to stretch marks the older you are, your body is less likely to "over react" producing scar tissue. Some of the worst stretch marks I've seen were on women 18-22.
Having said that, you sound like you've really monitored your weight so you should be fine.
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
Yep. Plastic surgeons say that the risk of stretch marks with BA's are virtually eradicated by waiting until after 22.
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
The only drawback about using breastfeeding as a weight loss tool is that if you decide to wean your kid abruptly (like I had to, due to Post Partum Psychosis and PTSD), most of the "baby" weight could come back.
If using breastfeeding as a weight loss tool, the weaning needs to be a very gradual process.
About being worried about "ruined body"; don't worry about that. Also, you can get a fake tan in order to hide all the stretch marks. I did that last year. Also, club lighting hides A LOT!!!! My stretchmarks had blended with my skin for the most part. Still, I do not expose them to sunlight without excessive amounts of sunblock. I fully resumed dancing around 15 weeks. I could had returned a bit sooner, but I was just too attached to my little man. I did awesome with my "new" mommy tits. I always took my pump to the club.
Have you also thought about doing lactation clips or doing lactation shows on cam? I did them when I regained the weight, because that milk was "tainted" with medications and was undrinkable for my son. That didn't last long, though; I completely dried up about six weeks after I abruptly weaned him.
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
I used to cam when my boyfriend and I were broken up (but still lived together) he HATED it or I would totally do it again. I'm hoping to breastfeed (I know everything doesn't always work out the way you plan) exclusively not just for weight loss but that is a great tip! My boyfriend brings in enough to support us so there's no rush to go back but I really miss having my own money to spend however I want and dancing. Thank you girls for being so reassuring, I hope everything turns out ok and I have a happy and healthy little man <3
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
My bff has 5 kids and looks fanfuckingtastic. Me on the other hand had a miscarriage and still can't shed the pooch 5 years later. It's partiality genetics and partially how you take care of yourself. I've seen the "eating for 2" taken to extremes.
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
I just had my baby last year when I was 27. He's now 16 months old and I was able to go back to dancing at a mid-tier club within a year..I was still a little chubby but looked okay enough. During the summer I played with him outside as much as possible and ran every other day with a jogging stroller. I also cut out (most) fast food and SUGAR!
I was only able to breastfeed for a month before my milk dried up. I had to work to get the pounds off, but it's definitely possible. I'm almost down to my pre-pregnancy weight and I'm back into size 4/small clothes. Keep in mind that you're probably going to be exhausted for the first 6 months after he's born so don't put too much pressure on yourself. When you feel ready, hit the gym, put a pole in your house or whatever you want to do to get back in shape. There's no reason you can't dance again. Most of the dancers I work with are moms too and they look great. :)
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
Are there any threads anyone can point me to about pregnancy while working? I did a search but got tons of cam threads lol - What I mean is do girls tend to keep working for any amount of time, and what changes do they have to make? I'll say right now this might sound like the dumbest question on the planet. I've managed to avoid knowing anything about pregnancy for a while but uh-oh tick, tick, tick...
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
^I don't know about other threads. I quit dancing at around 3 months when I was starting to show...and I just couldn't deal with men touching me while I was pregnant. I knew one girl who danced until 7-8 months. She had dresses she would scrunch around her midsection and not take off during stage sets. She still made money but I wouldn't be comfortable dancing at that stage, especially wearing giant stripper shoes. I would worry about falling or drunk guys being too rough and hurting the baby. Guess it depends on the individual though.
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
I've had three kids and honestly I didn't really notice much of a change until after my third. I breastfed all of mine and I'm pretty sure that's what helped me lose the baby weight. I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight after about 2 months with all of them. I did notice a little weight gain after weaning each of them (1 year, 18 mos, and 3 1/2 respectively), but of course then I was able to diet again and drop the 5-10 pounds I gained.
I never did anything during my pregnancy for stretch marks, and I really believe it's genetics, nothing you can really do, but I think having supple skin from the inside is more important than slathering on any lotions - staying well hydrated and having lots of "good fat" in your diet might help more than rubbing on oils or lotions.
Also my mom had pretty rough stretch marks and I was told I'd have them bad too (I had stretch marks at 12 just from puberty and getting hips and thighs), but I ended up having fewer than my mom.
Congrats and best wishes!!
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
I know as much as I'm hating working right now, I'm going to miss it in a few months. I just found out I'm expecting baby #4. I got stretch marks and they bother me quite a bit but I heard if you drink loads of water during pregnancy you have a better chance of not getting them. Don't know if it's true but I've been drinking a ton of water since I found out and I'm going to keep it up to try to prevent getting any new ones. Like others said, watch your diet. Stay away from processed foods (you should avoid them because they're bad for you and baby and they will make you fat), limit your sugars, and make sure you're staying active. You will be just fine.
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Amira702
I know as much as I'm hating working right now, I'm going to miss it in a few months. I just found out I'm expecting baby #4. I got stretch marks and they bother me quite a bit but I heard if you drink loads of water during pregnancy you have a better chance of not getting them. Don't know if it's true but I've been drinking a ton of water since I found out and I'm going to keep it up to try to prevent getting any new ones. Like others said, watch your diet. Stay away from processed foods (you should avoid them because they're bad for you and baby and they will make you fat), limit your sugars, and make sure you're staying active. You will be just fine.
If you have a genetic predisposition, not even drinking all the water in the world will make your skin immune to them. However, in your case you may get very few (or none) your skin had been stretch out before during your previous pregnancies. My mum also had four offsprings, and on the 4th she got like four of them and they were very minuscule.
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jay12
If you have a genetic predisposition, not even drinking all the water in the world will make your skin immune to them. However, in your case you may get very few (or none) your skin had been stretch out before during your previous pregnancies. My mum also had four offsprings, and on the 4th she got like four of them and they were very minuscule.
Yeah, I know that. My mom has three children, two of which are twins and she doesn't have a stretch mark on her body and I got so many from my babies. I'm hoping that all of the damage is already done but drinking loads more water won't hurt so I'm going to try that.
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
I'm pregnant with my first at 28 and my mom never got stretch marks from her pregnancy but I have them all over. I think if you gain weight slowly, keep hydrated, and moisturize you should be safe. They really don't show up in club lighting either way, so I wouldn't be worried about that. I'm worried about how soon I'll get my body back too. I think those belly band/girdle/corsets really help you get back quicker, I know I'll be wearing one the minute this baby gets out of me. Good luck and congrats girl
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
I'm 29 and gained 23 with my 2nd. 40Lbs have just literally fallen off since I had her in August. No exercise or diet yet. I'm going back to dancing this week hopefully. I'm just nervous about the small amount of skin on my tummy :(
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
Stretch marks know no logic. My 105 lb friend had a giant baby & not one damn stretch mark. I have never had a kid & have 6 long stretch marks on my back- they look like sun rays drawn on my lower back. IOW- life is not fair. Rub cocoa butter on your body & Dermablend after the pregnancy.
Re: Missing Work While Pregnant and Worried About Postpartum Body
I swear by the cocoa butter sticks ( not the lotion). I obsessively rubbed the stuff on my tummy several times every day. I neglected my boobs and butt and although I did get stretch marks on my lower abdomen in the 9th month, I got them far worse where I didn't use the cocoa butter. I'm sure bio oil should have the same effect as long as you are using it frequently. And them some! My stretch marks are still there but they're faded and not really bad. I've read a derma roller can help diminish the look of stretch marks and cellulite if that's an issue for you later.
I'm sure you know breastfeeding is best for the baby and helps you lose your baby weight, but I hated my boobs after I finished nursing so I got mine done =)
Dry brushing can help your loose skin.
Also buy a waist cincher. In case you are unhappy with how your belly looks postpartum, this is a great way to disguise your insecurities while looking super sexy and still allows you to get topless when you are at work and will train your waist if you wear it when you're not at work.
Oh yeah, if you are planning to breastfeed till your son is 2 but return to work sooner than that, be prepared to lactate at work....
Good luck with your baby!!