I love pregnancy, and I love my pregnant belly, but you know what I hate? I hate stretchmarks. Unfortunately, I am covered in them. Although I gained the recommended amount of weight with Luke and used all the creams, I discovered that my skin does not stretch well. At 16 weeks, I'd only lost weight, yet I already had some nasty stretchmarks. By the time I was in labor, my midwife and doula both exclaimed that they'd never seen such bad stretchmarks (they go from my breasts to my calves--fun, right?). And, you know, no one sees naked pregnant ladies more than the two of them, I'm sure.
But the truth is, on some level, I have to love these stretchmarks. They're here because my skin stretched to carry a 9 pound baby. They're here so that this little guy, with the softest baby skin EVER, can be here, too.
The other day, Luke rubbed his hands over my bare stomach and said, "Bumpy, mama." It is. It's bumpy and, really, anything but smooth, especially compared to his soft hands. This is the best and the hardest shot I could come up with for texture, simply because throwing a part of me out there that I don't like is hard--even though I blurred and soft focused and did everything I could to take the attention away from them, but they're still there. Mostly, I'm okay with that because I love his face and his little hand reaching up to take it all in, no matter how bumpy it may be. Love.
Now someone lie to me and tell me I won't get more the second time around.
25 comments:
You have guts! we all know about those bumpy lines...
I got pretty bad stretch marks from my daughter too. However, I just love this post. It really touched my heart. And I love the pic of the little guy with his hand on your belly. :)
Love that you posted this! I love it and it is perfect!
I only gained 7 pounds with my 7 1/2 pound baby and I still got stretchmarks. (I was already a bit overweight when I got pregnant and so needed to gain less anyway, but then vomitting and acid reflux kept my gain that low. Thank goodness the baby got what she needed and was healthy, anyways!) It's just genetics and the make up your skin. I'm convinced there was nothing I could do to prevent the ones I got.
I'm proud of you Erin. You have shown the world what we women are truly made of. Versatile and you are!
I got BAD stretch marks with my first, and really and truly, didn't get more with the next two. I guess I was all stretched out.
Love the texture...that is texture that means somethin.
awe, they are markings of great accomplishments...
Good spin on texture, love the picture~!
This is lovely, you brave woman! Belly shots are the best :)
Awww...that is sweet. Thanks for sharing! Swing by The IE Mommy to see my entry for You Capture.
I had some on my boobs but they got chopped off when I was downsized. Ughh.
I remember how bad you got them just when you went through your growth spurt when younger--you poor, poor thing! You need to beat the crap out of your skin for not giving you room to grow when you need it most!
A lovely photo of a brave woman. Good for you. It's a beautiful picture.
They won't get worse with the second one.
*cough*
Babe, you are super brave but that picture is so beautiful - I'm so impressed, I love it when people just let it out.
Go you! Way to celebrate your "textured" body!
Girl, some women are just predisposed. I have them just like you! And I didn't gain as much with Mia, so I didn't get any new ones, but the ones I had stretched more. I look at it like you do, they're our badges of honor girl!!
I love your capture! Luke is so, so sweet on your belly!
I got stretchmarks on my boobs and butt when I was pregnant with Aubry...I looked like a zebra just in those two areas. Oh...and my left calf? The one place I didn't get stretchmarks was on my stomach...which I thought was really weird.
When I was pregnant with Ashlyn...I didn't get more stretchmarks except for one on each side of my stomach. Now that I'm not pregnant...each one is right at the inside/top of my hip bone. BUT...those are the only two stretchmarks I got during my second pregnancy...and it was towards the end. If it makes you feel better at all. ;)
What an awesome post on texture. I had way too many and some were HUGE. Anyway, The photo is great.
that picture is ADORABLE! i love it. :)
You look terrific!
I have SERIOUS stretch marks on my hips. Oh well...they were worth it!
Now I know that sometimes the best camera shots come with a story. Love yours. And that texture you have will always be a reminder of a beautiful time.
I ADORE your photo. It's so beautiful.
I have stretch marks - got them with my first and none with my 2nd or 3rd (and she was a 10 pounder). And that's not a lie!!
When I complain about them my husband says I should be proud. He calls them soul lines.
You totally rock! Also, honestly - I didn't (get any more the second time around.)
what a great idea for a texture shot!
rosellafan (Paula)
Your photograph is a masterpiece of love, and life, in all of its great textures. A friend of mine calls stretch marks "baby rivers"... they expand and move and sometimes even change direction. But they carry the most precious and priceless gifts... and any woman who has ever had them knows the dreams that these rivers carry.
I can almost touch your baby rivers. Yes, what a miracle of texture!
My doula said the same thing to me! I got AWFUL stretch marks.
Such a sweet photo!
Looks like his arm is coming out of your belly. You get the prize for the best Texture photo. That's a Big baby girl!
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