cheering yourself up in the later stages

Hi girls,

I've been feeling rubbish lately, so I decided to try and make myself feel a bit better. I had really let myself go. I kid you not. I looked - and felt - dreadful. So I locked myself in the bathroom for about an hour and a half, dying my hair, shaving my legs (I was going to go for a wax but I just can't bear it any longer), applying fake tan all over - even painting my toenails - that bit was really difficult! All those little things that I normally do (because I used to go out clubbing ), I have let slip lately. I didn't realise how bad it makes you feel, to stop bothering about your appearance.

I've totally changed my wardrobe lately too. I used this pregnancy as an opportunity to start again. I gave away almost all my pre-pregnancy stuff to charity very early on (I only have a few pairs of jeans and a couple of dresses packed away in the loft) and just left the pregnancy stuff. Lately, I've started getting myself new clothes and shoes for after I have the baby.

It was cheering me up to look at my lovely new clothes and my slinky, high-heeled, knee-high boots etc. all waiting neatly in the wardrobe, ready to be worn, when I foolishly held a pair of jeans against my "waist" (I use that term loosley because I haven't had a waist for quite some time).

I thought I'd been cautious, buying mostly size 8 jeans this time, with a couple of size 10s thrown in, for the early days (you know, just after labour). Given that I was comfortably a 6 before, this seemed sensible.

I don't think I will EVER see even a size 8 again!!! In fact, a size 12-14 might be more appropriate after the birth. Though I just can't imagine getting into any normal clothes ever again.

Well, just thought I'd share the fact that dying my hair/applying fake tan has helped cheer me up and getting myself a new post-pregnancy wardrobe to look forward to was also working (until I imagined actually trying to get into the clothes!). Even the slinky boots are straining at the zip on my newly chunky calves...

Is anyone else fed up? What have you done to cheer yourself up?

Will be ever get our bodies back? And what shape will those bodies be? I want to keep the boobs, some of the bum and fuller face, but want my waist back. I like the hair on my head being this lustrous and thick, but the increased hair on my legs? No thanks.

 

[gems]

I'm feeling pretty fed up too hun. Feeling fat and feeling like I'll never get back to my original size and shape. I have kept all my pre pregnancy clothes in the hope that they might fit me again someday. This evening to make myself feel better I have done my st tropez all over as being tanned always makes me feel better and a bit slimmer for some reason and also covers my new stretch marks a little bit. I always used to be tanned and have nice nails and stuff before I got pregnant but now just don't seem to bother as much. I suppose coz I used to go raving and clubbing loads before the pregnancy so I always made an effort. xxxxxxx

 

[leckershell]

Hiya

I'm not much of a make-up/tanning girl, but I was a lovely size 8 before being pregnant and used to go to gigs regularly.

It's not been 3 weeks yet since I had Ryan, but I have lost so much weight. I put on over 3 stone during pregnancy and now I'm nearly back to how I was before. I'm left with stretch marks (which are fading) and a little baby bump but I'm convinced this gets less and less noticeable everytime I do a breastfeed. OH is amazed how quickly I've lost so much weight.

So don't despair, it's just a sign of being a mommy, and it will go eventually I'm in size 8 maternity jeans now (my hips are bigger now though so I like the stretchy bits!) and though I'm not back in size 8 tops, it's only cos of the inflated boobage

Cheer up guys x

 

[Josephine_Beth]

Is it safe to dye your hair during pregnancy?

I cheered myself up a month ago, my hair was so dry and annoying that I went to the hair dressers, I went all out, with the treatment, indian head massage etc, it cost me an extra 15 pound but 2hrs later, I felt such a good difference.

 

[jacky]

Well to cheer myself up I have had my hair done and my eyebrows shaped. Got daughter to paint toenails (interesting look but then she is only 7) as I cannot reach. Have persevered with shaving legs etc although bump is huge and it is not easy! As for my bikini line I bought some of that stuff you use in the shower as that seems to work and I cannot see my nether regions properly!!
I'm not too stressed about fitting back into all my old clothes. I remember it takes a while!

 

[leckershell]

Is it safe to dye your hair during pregnancy?

Supposedly not unless you use vegetable based dyes (you can get from Holland and Barratt) but I know people who have done and it's not done them or their baby any harm. It's the idea that the chemicals can be soaked through your skin into your blood stream and therefore into the babys blood stream. So if you dye your hair and not your scalp you're probly fine... but I didn't just in case. x

 

[mayday]

I was a size 10/12 before pregnancy, with lots of fit muscle due to all the horse riding/muckingout/lifting heavy stuff I used to do. Now I am a rather wobbly bodied mum. However, it is only 5 weeks since I gave birth and I had a rather complicated caesarian - it took 4 hours and I lost 2 pints of blood so I've been told to take it VERY easy. The first week I lived in maternity PJs. Then my mum took me to New Look and I bought some size 18 jeans. I didn't care what size they were so long as they were comfy and NOT maternity wear. They were lovely - for a week then they were too big. I am currently wearing a pair of size 14 jeans and a size 12 top I had from before.

I haven't started excersising again yet - still feeling a bit too fragile to ride my monster - but in 5 weeks nearly 3 stone has vanished and when I start back up with the horse I reckon the rest will eventually go. I just have one more stone to go - I cheered myself up at the end with 250g bars of Cadbury's Dairy Milk

 

[Robyn_]

heya girlies
Well wendy wandy i hope you cheered yourself up alot with all of that pampering youve done to yourself

All the way through my pregnancy i have had severe problems dealing with how i look, before i was a size 8 and i worked hard to get it, and i was getting close to being a size 6 (but after xmas that when down the pan)
but yeah i was happy with how i looked, and everything, now i look at my self and think eurgh
i was really lucky i was in size 8 jeans till about 5 and half/ 6 months and then i cried cos i couldnt get them on.
tbh i try not to look at myself how i am now.., i just put on my maternity jeans in the morning and a top and get on with it

But i am DETERMINED to get back in my size 8s and i will do whatever it takes, ive done this for nine months and i feel that it will make me feel so much better

Also to make myself feel better, i dye my hair ( i know your not spose to but my hairdresser told me that i cos i dye my hair so much anyways when im not pregnant my body is used to the same dyes or whatever, but i have done it permanant)
ermm look at the baby clothes, and scans, just think of all the good things that are coming

sorry its long.
x )

 

Hi Robyn - you're young and this is your first baby, right? You'll have no trouble getting your figure back! As soon as my first baby had popped out (and I was still lying there, in the delivery room), the midwife said, "Ooh, look at you, back to a size 10 already!" It didn't cheer me up then because that was still a "big" size for me, but I was back in my normal clothes -including my jeans - within a fortnight. With breastfeeding, I got so skinny that I looked skeletal I still shudder when I see the photos of myself back then. I was almost 25.

With my second baby, my shape had definitely changed after the birth. I had a bit extra weight on my thighs and bum afterwards, but my stomach has always been really flat.

I just worry that now, because I'm older, my body won't go back (I'm 35), but I'm most worried about my legs - they're covered in varicose veins and I've got cellulite on my bum!

I think I was having abit of a crisis yesterday. Today, I'm fine again and sure that with running around after a new baby (and esp. with breastfeeding, if you're going to try it?), we'll be like waifs in no time.

In fact, you'll be able to come back here, Robyn, and tell me that you're in your size 8s again (perhaps even before I've had my baby).

Ach, what are we on about - it's not healthy to be a size 6 or 8. A nice, healthy size 10 would do me now. I think I'd like those extra curves!

 

[leckershell]

Ach, what are we on about - it's not healthy to be a size 6 or 8. A nice, healthy size 10 would do me now. I think I'd like those extra curves!

I feel better for the extra weight to be honest

Just think ladies you're doing the most natural thing in the world, having a lovely beautiful baby. Now I've had Ryan, I actually don't care and I really thought I would.

 

P.S.

And I can find no conclusive evidence of hair dye damaging a baby. There has been a lot of scare-mongering about hair dye over the years, but nothing proven. Women dyed their hair in our mothers' day and it hasn't had any adverse effect. I've dyed my hair for years and my 2 kids are fine.

The 'pregnancy police' should leave us alone!

 

[littlepip]

I started thinking about this lately which seems stupid seein as im almost 14 weeks so not even half way yet but ive felt so umcomfortable today because ive gained like a tyre around my waist! and i dont like clingy tops i know im pregnant but noone else does! I want to loose weight cos i feel so uncomfortable. i cant wait to get a proper bump so people know im pregnant and not just fat

 

[fynemum]

sounds like you had a good pamper to yourself Wendy

I feel so frumpy just now... i come home tired from work and change straight into my jammies..... comfy But not very stylish

I do have some lovely maternity wear, but i don't see the point when i am so tired and in 3 hours would be putting on my night clothes anyway....

BUT....

I finish Working on FRIDAY and I plan to put my hardly worn lovely maternity wear to good use... I'll be getting up and dressing myself for the WHOLE DAY....... painting my nails, letting my hair down, wearing ear-rings and enjoying some "ME" time before this baby is born... can't wait.

I had a Fantastic leaving party on Saturday night...Yes i dressed for that and that gave me such a boost too.. I'll miss all the people i work with and most of all the people I have looked after for years. But "me time" now....

Oh yes...... you said Wendy....Quote; (but the increased hair on my legs? No thanks.) Me thinks it's a boy now... I know you know and aint telling... but mmmmmmmmmmm? ? ? is that a clue? ? ? take care Yvonne xx

 

Nice to see you here again, Yvonne, it's been a while

So, if your legs are hairier than usual, it's a boy? That's a good one! Is it also a boy if you feel you also need to shave your belly? I was seriously tempted the other day - I have fuzz all over mine! Luckily, that's blonde hair, but it's still not nice.

I saw a fortune teller at my mum's on my birthday (after my 4D scan) who said I'd have a girl and she'd weigh 6lb 11oz. I told her I'd have to let her know later if she's right. And this was the same night (at 27 weeks + 5 days) that the consultant estimated the wieght as 4lbs back then. All I can say is she'd better pop out any day now if she's going to be 6lb 11oz at birth!

And littlepip - I felt so bi at your stage of pregnancy too. I imagined I had a huge bump. Well, I was recently looking at my holiday photos from around that time and I'm not even noticeably pregnant in any of them! Ah, if only I was that size again (you'll feel the same when you're 30-odd weeks and can barely see your toes).

xxxx

 

[fynemum]

Fuzzy Belly..... YIP... it's a BIG BOY... Oh I can't wait ti find out now.... Glad you didn't shave it..... that would have been a big mistake it would have grown in black..

Anyway... where was this tiny wee girl coming from??? doesn't she read the forums?? they are much better than crystal balls or tea leafs tell her...

I think my bump will be a big girl....9lbs at least haven't had a scan since 14 weeks.....so no idea what am having......keep chickening out of going for the 4d one.....

I am doing very well now and baby is moving and growing all the time... I am just feeling so happy (but frumpy) to be pregnant and care free.....

catch up soon Wendy, Yvonne

 

Well, Yvonne - you're definitely full of the joys of pregnancy these days! Finishing up work must be suiting you. I'm glad to hear that you're a lot happier and more relaxed these days, especially when you'd worked yourself up into quite a tizzy a few months' back.

So, it's a big girl you're having, is it? And mine is a big boy? All I know is that, judging by my 4D scan picture below, I'm going to need a hairbrush for this LO (check out the hair in a side parting, would you believe!), or am I imagining the whole thing? I've had some really weird - long and elborate - dreams.

I'm going to Wishaw Gen on the 18th to see the manager there about my home birth. It's a pity you don't have an appointment there the same day, because we could meet up Did you transfer your care to Glasgow?