As Swimsuit Season Approaches….

0

If you are looking for advice on diet and exercise to get “swimsuit ready,” or want to know which swimsuit most flatters your body…you’re in the wrong place.

Personally, I think no matter how you design the spandex, it’s spandex; the whole point is that it will cling to your every curve.

Last year at this time I was more than seven months pregnant. Which surprisingly, was a bit freeing at the pool. Though I already had a pregnancy waddle, I was not self-conscious or comparative. I mean, c’mon, I was growing a baby and even though my maternity suit was stretched to the max over my belly, fellow mothers would stop and tell me how cute I looked (loved the complimenting phase of pregnancy).

Me...last summer...rockin' the maternity suit....super pregnant

However, shortly after the birth of my second son, my mother decided to celebrate her 60th birthday on a boat, so I decided to go swimsuit shopping. If you have ever gone swimsuit shopping six weeks postpartum you know where this story is going.

It is nearly impossible to find a flattering suit that hides the stretch marks and postpartum pooch, with a bust that can go from a cup size B to DD or even an E if I haven’t fed my son in awhile. An E! And at that point they are not perky, bouncing breasts, they are hard, leaking milk machines. Anyways, I went to several different stores, and ended up with a very cute, and oversized swimsuit cover-up. Money well spent if you ask me.

coveruppic

It has been a bit of a journey embracing my postpartum body. Well, honestly, it’s just been a journey embracing my body, period.

Right now the clothing in my closet ranges from a size 6 to a size 12 as my body expands for pregnancy and then takes time to retract back to normal. But it never quite goes back to normal. After two nine-pound boys, my belly button is stretched out, I have stretch marks that create something akin to a roadmap across my lower abdomen, my boobs are a bit saggy, my feet are bigger, and my butt has widened – I have no idea how or in what way that helps accommodate for a baby, but my butt expands with pregnancy.

One of my favorite conversations after the birth of my second son was with a good friend who has four children. Like two army vets comparing battle scars, we could point out each stretch mark and attribute them to which baby they belonged.

But beyond all the superficial and ridiculous physical standards I put on myself, pregnancy has actually helped me to appreciate the body I have. My mother said pregnancy was the one time (well four times) that she participated in a miracle with God. After going through two myself, I agree, giving birth is truly miraculous. Also, knowing numerous stories of heart-wrenching infertility and loss, I realize those stretch marks I was just complaining about are a blessing. A HUGE blessing in fact, and one I should never take for granted.

So as swimsuit season approaches I wish I could say that I will be one of those proud women in the bikini, baring all…however, not so sure that’s me. What I will be is thankful. I’ll just be thankful in a one piece.