Better Body by Baby

Welcome to the I Love Me! Carnival!



This post was written for inclusion in the I Love Me! Carnival hosted by Amy at Anktangle. This carnival is all about love of self, challenging you to lift yourself up, just for being you.



Please read to the bottom to find a list of submissions from the other carnival participants.

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I never had a terrible body image. Like most women I complained about my hips, tummy, or thighs every now and then but I’ve done a somewhat decent job over the years taking care of my body. I’ve had my ups and downs; ups when I was intensely into weight lifting and watched my body being sculpted like a piece of clay and downs when I’d fall off the workout wagon and “let myself go” a bit. All-in-all though I’ve been pretty happy with what I’ve got.

I became pregnant for the first time last November and gained about 35 pounds on my then 115 pound frame. I got compliments all the time on how little I looked and on how good I looked pregnant. My ego sucked up every one of these compliments. As the trimesters went by I gained more weight. I began to feel miserable about my looks. I especially had a hard time with my face and the perceived double chins I saw there. My husband was always so sweet and supportive, telling me how beautiful I looked and what an amazing thing my body was doing. My clothes started getting tighter and tighter and I had a harder time feeling pretty when I looked in the mirror. I knew it was important to gain weight for the baby’s sake, but the baby seemed like such an abstract concept at the time. I knew she was in there and I knew I would love her when she came out but I had a hard time wrapping my head around the whole thing sometimes.

Most women that are pregnant experience the overwhelming wish to be done with their pregnancy toward the end. You feel a bit like a beached whale, have heartburn, can’t sleep comfortably and that big belly gets in the way. Even though my husband assured me that I was as gorgeous as ever, I just couldn’t wait to get my body back and be myself again. Then something magical happened: I delivered my baby this July and my whole life (and body image) changed. After nine hours of a natural labor, I had my prize in my arms and that abstract concept became a reality; a very much loved reality that I now can’t believe I’ve ever been without. I remember looking at my body in the mirror a few weeks postpartum. Normally I probably would have been horrified. I mean look at that flabby belly, those swollen, tender breasts, those large thighs and line running down my belly! And don’t forget about those nether bits! They certainly don’t look the same (or feel the same, for that matter). But you know what? That body was strong. It was so very, very strong and not only did it create the little being in my arms that I will love unconditionally with every fiber of my being, but it delivered her into this world the old fashioned way: without medication and with so much pain but such beautiful pain! Those breasts nurture and feed my sweet baby and sustain her life. Such power! That line down my tummy? That’s there because my body is so amazing that it stretched out to hold and form something where there was nothing. The bit of flabbiness and extra weight are worth it and oh-so-beautiful now. I’ve never in my life felt more like a woman and I’ve never loved my body more. It gave me my sweet baby girl and I can’t wait until it can give me more!

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Thank you for reading this post from the I Love Me! Carnival. Please take some time to read the contributions from the
other carnival participants:


(This list will be updated by the afternoon of October 28th with all the carnival links.)

• The Art of Being Thoughtful – Becky at Old New Legacy likes that she is mostly thoughtful but wants to become more thoughtful. She shares a story that demonstrates that giving gifts doesn't have to be expensive.
• I love me (and running)! – Sheryl of Little Snowflakes writes about her new love of running and how it has helped her learn to love herself!
• For the Love of Moe – Valerie at Momma in Progress shares her thoughts on a body forever changed, but forever loved.
• Where I Find My Worth – Sarah at Parenting God's Children shares how finding her worth in worldly things always falls short.
• Oh Yeah, I'm Cool – Tree at Mom Grooves shares her very favorite gift and the thing she most wants to pass on to her daughter.
• Loving – Rosemary at Rosmarinus Officinalis talks about some of the things she loves about herself - some easily, and some by choice for the sake of healing.
• Baby Strikes A Pose – Emma from Your Fonder Heart writes about her family's decision not to let their 7 month old model, and uses the opportunity to think more deeply about girls (young and old) and how they determine their self-worth.
• I Love Me! - A Rampage of Appreciation! – Terri at Child of the Nature Isle stops waiting for anyone else to tell her she is wonderful and goes on a rampage of appreciation for herself!
• Raising Healthy Daughters – In a guest post at Natural Parents Network, Kate Wicker offers tips to pass on a healthy self-image to the young ladies in our care.
• Unexpected Benefits of a Healthy Pregnancy – How does it feel to have a healthy pregnancy? Dionna at Code Name: Mama discovers that making positive choices can be empowering.
• Filling Up Our Watering Cans – Nada at miniMOMist believes that practicing Sabbath is the same as being a gardener who lovingly tends to the flowers in her garden. She needs to fill up her watering can first.
• Better Body by Baby – Jess from Mama 'Roo and Family Too! shares how having her first baby makes her feel even more beautiful and confident about her body than ever before.
• These Breasts Were Made for Nursing – Becoming a mother helped Mandy from Living Peacefully with Children to embrace her womanhood and improve her self image.
• Yeah, I'm Pretty Cool – Amanda at Let's Take the Metro writes about her own self love and how she hopes to foster the same self-respect in her children.
• Who I've Become – The future is bright with That Mama Gretchen who shares her past and present perspective on body image and how she hopes to become a change agent with her daughter.
• Ever-Evolving Me – Joella at Fine and Fair writes to her daughter about her innate drive to continue learning, growing, and evolving.
• I love you for your mind – Lauren at Hobo Mama turns a dubious phrase on its head with a little self-loving slam poetry.
• Stop Think of Love with Your Body – Amy of Peace 4 Parents shares an exercise to gradually transition from hating to loving your body - stretch marks, sags, imperfections, and all.
• I Love Me! – Jenny @ I'm a full-time mummy shares the things that she loves about herself!
• caught in a landslide – jaqbuncad of wakey wakey, eggs and bakey! shares a list of reasons why zie loves hir body.
• Love Your Tree – How do you picture the ways your body and mind change? Amy at Anktangle writes about how trees help her have perspective about her own growth over time.
• Pumpkin Butt – Zoie at TouchstoneZ writes about how birth and pumpkins are the way to accepting her body
• I do love me – Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes talks about the lessons about loving herself she wants to pass along to her daughter.
• Appreciating Who I Am – Linni at An Unschooling Adventure describes the things she likes about herself and the way she appreciates who she is as a person.
• I love me! : A journey – Christine at African Babies Don't Cry shares her journey on arriving at the point where she can say: I love me!
• My Daughter Doesn't Care So Why Should I? – Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama calls herself on the carpet for the image of self love and beauty she portrays in front of her toddler.
• Finding out who I am – Melissa at Vibrant Wanderings shares an exercise that helped her identify positive qualities she possesses, and how that has helped her learn to love herself.