Getting your confidence back and how to dress your new body postpartum

[ThisGoldTiger]

I don't really have a question as such, more of a vent.

I'm nearly 9 months postpartum and feel so rubbish about my body, I don't even recognise myself anymore. We had a rough start with both little one and me being poorly. When we started to get out of the rough patches a couple of months ago, I started actively making healthier choices - walking/moving my body everyday, eating smaller portions, cutting out unnecessary snacks and sugar etc etc.

With this hot weather arriving, I decided to treat myself to some summer dresses. Admittedly I'm not the best at fashion but I'm finding it even harder to dress my new body now. I've gone up 2 dress sizes since pre pregnancy and my body shape is completely different too. I wanted something flowy to skim over my tummy but everything I try on makes me look like I'm wearing a sack and I've completely lost my confidence. It's got to the point where I almost dread the warm days.

How long did it take you to feel more like yourself again and for the weight to slowly come off postpartum? I know everyone is different and has different experiences.

I think I underestimated how much this stage would impact me. Social media is full of people encouraging you to embrace your new body but I'm at the stage now where I'm finding that really hard. I guess I'm just looking for a bit of solidarity from people who have gone through similar or advice from people who are now out the other side!

I’m sorry you’re struggling OP! I have a 2 year old and a 7 month old so I’ve been pregnant/postpartum for basically the last 3 years and my advice would be, if you can, go to some
shops in person and pick up a load of different styles- try them all on and see what works and what doesn’t! I weigh less now than I did before either of my pregnancies but my body still doesn’t look the same as it did pre-babies and that is so so normal, my body grew 2 babies, it is never going to look like it did before and I’m totally okay with that, you just have to figure out your new style and what you are comfortable in!

Shopping online is your enemy here (in my experience) because you don’t see many postpartum bodies there and so things look amazing on a model and totally different on you, I’ve found going into shops so helpful just to get a feel of what styles suit you now and then once you have an idea of what that is you can look online with more confidence again if you want to!

Part of it is definitely finding the new you, rather than chasing the you that you were pre-kids. It’s a beautiful thing but it can be a hard thing, give yourself the grace you would give a friend in the same situation, you will get there x

Thank you for your kind message!

I generally don't enjoy shopping in person but it's a good way of finding out quickly what works and what doesn't compared to waiting for an online delivery. I can't stand looking in the overly bright unflattering changing rooms but I need to get past that.

You're absolutely right about how you'd treat a friend in a similar position. I'd feel sad if one of my friends came to me and said this and tell them your body has just gone through a monumental and incredible journey, of course it's going to look different.

I think it's going to be a marathon not a sprint sort of situation here.

Thank you x

Thank you for your kind message!

I generally don't enjoy shopping in person but it's a good way of finding out quickly what works and what doesn't compared to waiting for an online delivery. I can't stand looking in the overly bright unflattering changing rooms but I need to get past that.

You're absolutely right about how you'd treat a friend in a similar position. I'd feel sad if one of my friends came to me and said this and tell them your body has just gone through a monumental and incredible journey, of course it's going to look different.

I think it's going to be a marathon not a sprint sort of situation here.

Thank you x