fat and covered in acne

i feel so fat and disgusting right now. i am wearing my 'fat' clothes (1-2 sizes bigger than before pg) and i am covered in acne.

does anyone else feel like this post birth? i know i shouldnt whinge, and i know it will take time, but i really feel lousy at the moment, to the point that i dont want to see anyone because i am embarrassed about how i look. i enjoyed my 'bump' when pg, now i just feel like i have a flabby belly and huge bum.

maybe i should have posted this in the boo hoo room. just needed to let out how yuk i feel atm :-({|=

Oh Linda, you poor babe. I kow it is hard, but I pretty much guarantee that you don't look anything like you feel........I'll bet everyone else thinks you look great considering you have just had a baby.

But I know that doesn't help much. All I can suggest is that you make sure you are looking after yourself, grabbing as many naps as you can, drinking loads of water, and eating as healthily as you can.......

It does pass, I promise.

thanks lucy, i hope it does pass, just doesnt feel like it now...

:hug: Linda. How about treating yourself to a nice facial, it not only will make you feel good but might help with the acne too.

Awww Linda. You poor thing.

The acne is probably just a temporary thing and due to all the changes in hormones that are going on right now......and as for the tummy, that will get better too. I'm not saying it will happen quickly or that it will look 100% like it used to LOL.......but I do know it's pretty depressing in the early days when you look at yourself in the mirror.......you're sleep deprived and things feel like a bit of a blur!

As Lucy said, I'm sure you look wonderful considering you've just had a beautiful baby girl!!

Here's a tip that someone gave me about the tummy (particularly something for post c/s) - get yourself some of those 'Nanna knickers' as I affectionately call them - you know those full brief type of things? I know they're not very sexy LOL, but I found they were much more comfortable post-c/s and really did help with my tummy.........

Melinda - thank you so much, that really helps....about the nanna knickers - i havent worn anything else since the birth - i sent DH out to get as i call them "grandma undies". thanks - you made me laugh.

Tegan -i would love a facial, maybe i'll try (my skin is pretty sore though - they really are whoppers all over it)

thanks again girls, you have really helped

Glad I could help Linda.....sometimes a bit of a chuckle can make a world of difference can't it?!

Linda - Hugs to you :hug: believe me it does get better, like you I was so proud of my Matthew bump but afterwards ewwwwww I felt so down at times mainly becuase I couldn`t fit into anything except for my maternity clothes for a good 8 weeks post birth, once I went out and brought some new 'normal' clothes I felt so much better, I still got a bit down at times with my stomach as I`ve never had one before but not at 5.5 months post birth my tummy is almost gone and all I`ve done is breastfeed and feed my face LOL

Give it time and you`ll get there :D

Awww Linda sweetie, big *hugs*!
I can sooo sympathise... I remember crying in front of the mirror numerous times after Aidyn was born, because my belly was so bloated and horrible looking... and I would almost be ashamed to go out in public, because I didnt have my nice pg belly to hide behind..

Please hang in there, cause it does get better... trust me!! I wish I had some other words of advice, but all I can offer is my comfort and understanding...
Just give it time sweetie... :hug:

Thanks so much everyone. i dont know what i would do without BB!! i still feel horrible, but it is nice to know you all have felt like this too and it will pass (hopefully soon)......im off for a walk now to help things along....

thanks shannon, i really appreciate your kind words.

Jillian, i didnt know that about vitamin c. i am drinking loads of water, but will make more effort with the vit c.

Linda...
I totally hear your pain...
I have had major breakouts & can only really fit into my maternity jeans, admittedly they are on their smallest notch, but my usual jeans cant get up over my damned hips & thighs!!!
I feel like my gut is soft, mushy & ugly!!!!
My skin is horrid & I feel kinda miserable that it's summer & I am all gross!
I have been drinking heaps of OJ...... Hope it helps soon!!!

Thanks for understanding Barley! It is so hard isnt it? I have found that my hips and thighs are the problem too, not just the tummy. My acne is still really bad too, still driving me nuts.... #-o i hope the OJ helps for you soon too.

I'm right there with you. Nine weeks after having Max, and I loved my pregnant belly when he was in it and hate it now. It's bloated and soft and pouchy and I look like a dumpling. I went and bought some new clothes just so I can feel a bit nice going out and about, and had to buy floaty clothes that don't show my figure.
It's a bit of a tough adjustment, I had a size 12 waist and 14 bust before having children, now I'm a 16 waist and 18 bust, and hippy as anything! Boohoo thread indeed!

The thing I don't get is that everyone tells me how well I look - even on the days when I've only managed a few hours sleep. Is it de rigeur to compliment new Mums on their looks no matter what they look like?

Ah well, I've been through this before, I know the weight will come off... it just feels like it takes forever to go!

Kerrie

oh Kerrie - your post could have been written by me!! i too have gone and bought size 16 'floaty' clothes to cover up, and it depresses me. and as for people telling you you look great, well, it really makes me mad!! :-s maybe it is me being oversensitive, but i just think stop lying to me!!! i would much rather they say nothing, but like i said, maybe im just being oversensitive...

but you are right....the weight will come off, and when it comes down to it, it is so worth it....but we're still allowed to whinge!!

Ha, My Mum comes out & tells me...
Your still carrying plenty of weight! ](*,)
Only Mum can say it without me slapping her!
I haven't bough anything yet, as I am trying to pretend I will one day fit back into my OLD clothes!!!
With Maddy I weighed 55kgs when I feel preg & was 48kgs in 5wks after her birth...
With Indah i weighed about 62kgs & still weigh about 68kgs now! She is 7wks old, so it's taking way longer!!!!!
I wanna get back down to about 57-58kgs... I doubt it'll ever happen... #-o
I look at Indah & know it's all worth it, obviously...
But AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH @ my skin & tummy & thighs!!!!

OMG Barley - i cant believe your mum said that!! :-s My mum wouldnt be game!! in fact she says 'you look fine' when i know it isnt true - i guess she is seeing me through a mothers eyes too!!!

I'm really glad I found this thread - it makes me feel a bit more normal! I have been feeling flabby and hating it since Tamsin was born, and also mad at myself for feeling that way (because I know it's totally normal that I've still got a bit of extra weight from the pregnancy). I am just trying to get some exercise, eat healthy food and drink plenty of water, since I don't want to diet while I'm breastfeeding 8-[

I am breastfeeding too, so if I can use that as my 'say no to diet' response, maybe I'll breastfeed forever!!! hee hee!
Funny thing is with DD#1 I bottle fed & my weight disappeared!!!
Now breastfeeding it's not shifting!!!!??? :-s

Barley, I have been told that can happen, because of the hormones, and I think your body tries to hold onto the fat stores to keep making milk if you dont eat enough....makes sense (unfortunately #-o ). I statred weight watchers last week and have lost 2kg - so hopefully my body realises it doesnt need that much in storage LOL

If I had lost 2kgs this past week, I'd be over the moon, better get my old WW books out!!!!

Yeah, I love WW Barley!! (when i follow it properly 8-[ )

Oh you poor girls! This is bringing back memories for me and I know what you mean regarding hips and thighs. I went out and spent a fortune on nice floaty clothes that don't fit me anymore! It took me about 6months but I lost the extra weight and now I wish I'd "made do" with my maternity clothes for a little longer. I didn't diet or anything to lose the weight (I've never dieted) but just ate reasonably well and my body adjusted back to it's normal 58-60kg. I guess I'm here to remind myself in these early days of my 3rd pg to keep eating well and not be tempted by KFC cravings! It's really good advice about drinking lots of water to flush out those hormones too! Humble water is so easily underestimated! :)

](*,) ](*,) ](*,) ](*,) ](*,) #-o #-o #-o #-o
To my KFC & Chomp cravings in early preg!!!!!

Thanks Brookey - thats so nice of you to say (mind you I get rid of the acne in the piccis on the computer :-s so I cheated a bit LOL)

LOL!! Dobbed myself in then didnt I?? Thank you!! :D Still feels like such a long way to go though....

HI Linda

Just wondering how your acne is now? I've only just seen this thread, and our babes were born at around the same age ... my face still looks like a pizza, so I was wondering how yours is!

My dr said it was all about the hormones, esp due to bf. She put me on a light 'Eryacne' gel that did nothing (had to be light because of bf), so I am seeing a dermatologist on Friday cos it's got to the stage where I don;t want my photo taken with my baby which is sad.

Maybe I have to learn some photography tricks like you!

Anyway would love to hear how you're going.

Pearl

Hi Pearl,

It is still really bad! Probably even worse than earlier. I am so frustrated by it. Please let me know how you go at the dermatologist, I would love to hear what they tell you.

I am lucky with the photos that I can go and 'fix' them later. You should email me a couple of piccis and I will do some work if you want - seriously!! - because you dont want to avoid having photos with your bub, although I know how you feel!

That's very sweet of you! Thank you, I might just do that with the photos! xox on;y if you have time though...

My appt at the dermatologist went well, she is putting me on some oral antibiotics (erythromicin) which are apparently 'very rare' to interfere with bf (though I'm still suspicious), but the best thing is I'm going to start Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) which is the blue light therapy you might have heard of. It's very expensive $450 a pop but she said I should only need 2 goes, and the results are fairly long term so hopefully should last till we finish bf and then my hormones might settle down on their own anyway. I think it will be worth it if it works.

A couple of tips she gave me, use Neutrogena oil free cleanser, and try not to use creamy moisturisers. I was using sorbolene (thinking I was keeping it nice and simple) but apparently this is the worst thing for acne. Doh . She sold me some gel stuff instead.

I'll let you know how the PDT goes. First appt is next thursday.

Meantime we are heading down to the Mornington Peninsula today so I will get a snap or two taken of me & my boy and e-mail to you. thanks again :hug:

Pearl xxx

Thats great - I really hope the PDT works for you - keep me posted about it! Does it take long? I have stopped using moisturiser at all now.

Good luck Thursday - & feel free to send me the piccis - I'm more than happy to have a play with them!

Well, I had my first PDT treatment yesterday.

First they did microdermabrasion all over my face, it was quite painful esp where the acne is worst, they really attacked it! Then applied some stuff which I cant remember the name of, all's I know is it stung like hell, anyway that stayed on for 30 minutes, and then I sat under the blue lights with special goggles on for 8 minutes. All up it took about an hour.

I'm very red and raw today. I have to wear sunscreen for the next 48 hours and not allowed to go out in the sun for very long.

So hopefully in a week or so I might be able to see some improvement. I have another appt in 3 weeks to do it all again!

Linda, I've e-mailed you some pics. :p

Love Pearl

Ooh - sounds full on Pearl!! I hope the results are good! I cant wait to hear how it goes once it settles!

I got your email, will take a look at them soon! :)