My Postpartum Body – Why I’m Grateful

I was dressing into my pajamas the other night when two of my younger kids came into my room. My four year old caught a glimpse of my postpartum body and said, “Mama, what’s that on your tummy?”

“Oh, these,” I said as I pointed to the silvery purple lines that circled my belly button and fanned out almost across my entire belly, “Well, that one is from you, and that one is from your sister, and that one is from your oldest brother. And they are all proof that you and your brothers and sisters once lived inside my tummy.”

How To Be Thankful for your Postpartum Body

He thought that was pretty funny and ran off down the hallway. I haven’t always been proud of my postpartum body. After my first pregnancy I recovered fairly well and “bounced back,” as they say. I did pretty well after my second and third babies, too. It’s when I got pregnant with my fifth beautiful baby before I had a chance to “bounce back” that things really changed. And it was depressing. 

After five babies I officially have the mommy tummy. I’m now six months postpartum, and while I am slowly losing weight and doing well to take care of myself postpartum, I know I’m never going to look like the 20 year old postpartum me that I was after I had my first.

I’m okay with that.

Why I’m Grateful for my Postpartum Body

My body has kept, nourished, and birthed five beautiful, big babies. My body has let go of a tiny, precious set of twins that just were too perfect for this earth.

Even before I had babies, my body carried me though school, and then college where I graduated with honors. My body walked me down the aisle to the love of my life and my body stood in the airport to welcome him home from war. 

Through the years my body has changed, but one thing has remained, and that’s me. I am not defined by my clothing size or the number of stretch marks on my body. Those stretch marks just tell my story. They’re proof of what I’ve done. 

God has blessed me immensely with my babies and my husband. For that, I am truly grateful. 

Do you like the shirt I’m wearing? It’s my new favorite! Pinot is my color. Want to know how you can get it for FREE?

With any $25 order you place with Cents of Style, you can get a Thankful, Grateful, Blessed graphic t-shirt for free. Just use code THANKFUL1 and you’ll get a free t-shirt and free shipping!

Here’s how to snag this cute t-shirt, step-by-step!

1- Find products you love (jewelry, clothes, shoes, whatever you have to have) and add it to your cart.
2- When the cart totals $25, add the Thankful Grateful Blessed shirt from our Fashion Friday page to the cart.
3- Hit Checkout.
4- Put the code THANKFUL1 in the “Gift Card or Discount Code” Box to make your t-shirt FREE!

What are you thankful for today? I’d love to hear it!