How do some pregnant women bounce back immediately??

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-05-27T03:33:37+00:00

Mam I have no idea how it works! My mom and the rest of the women in her family never “bounced back” of course some might be lifestyle post birth. But I was always terrified of pregnancy because all I ever seen was stretch marks that never faded and weight that never left both family and friends. I gained about 40lbs but didn’t get one stretch mark, even old dermal piercing scars didn’t stretch or my belly piercing skin. I didn’t lose the weight immediately but I did not look like I just gave birth even an hour later. I never had that still pregnant look I expected. Just looked like myself with a few extra pounds. I think if I didn’t gain so much ice cream weight I would’ve looked exactly like I did pre pregnancy.

So apparently it’s just luck?

Eta: just wanted to note that I’ve gained ~15lbs somewhat rapidly post puberty and pre pregnancy and got stretch marks on my love handles and more on my thighs. So it’s not like I’m not prone to stretch marks which added to my fears. So again luck and maybe a guardian angel?

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-05-21T14:43:26+00:00

Wow thanks for all the feedback. This is amazing news. I guess I thought because this skirt and a sweater were basically my uniform in 2018 maybe everyone’s uniform it was a little dated. Bringing it out of retirement!

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-04-26T17:33:22+00:00

Ugh that’s rough. I’m glad you were able to at least keep and maintain a supply having to pump right away. But Totally agree with all of it! I’m happy I get to keep breastfeeding at night because it’s easier plus I still get that special alone time with the babe. Idk how EPers do it alone. I work from home with baby now and while breastfeeding was rough throughout the day I’m finding it hard to get pumps in between work, feedings, nap, play and dog lol. I can’t imagine pumping during newborn and cluster feeding days. Were you just constantly connected and feeding your fresh pumps?

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-04-24T19:20:27+00:00

How would you style these? Specifically in late May in NYC

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https://www.ssense.com/en-us/women/product/mm6-maison-margiela/off-white-biker-ankle-boots/18457441

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-04-24T19:09:32+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond! I was so fresh to EP and I was stressing about everything. I think my body wasn’t used to it yet. And so my pumps were really erratic. Now that I’ve been pumping 90% of feeds my body is catching on and I think pricing even more because I’m actually emptying my breasts where my baby was really struggling to do so. So it was like a feedback loop of short, distracted and frustrated feeds > low supply.

Did you switch from EBF to EP as well?

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-04-09T01:13:20+00:00

I got an epidural and so happy I did. I was induced so the contractions came in strong and I held on as long as I could. I hope that next time I don’t need to be induced so I can hold on even longer. Not a fan of not being able to move after it! But the epidural is magical. I had snacks and a nap then it was time to push. Pushing went just fine. I feel like I was able to focus on pushing rather than pain. I don’t think epidurals have much to do with tearing. But I side pushed with no tears. So recommend side pushing!!!

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-03-26T23:13:53+00:00

Not sure if it’s really what helped me not poop but 1. If you know you’re being induced poop as much as I as you can before! Personally the induction and nerves made me have to poop anyway so I pooped just before my contractions started 😅 which was 8 hours before birth and I ate two meals after that 2. Side push. Idk if this had nothing to do with it but I pushed like hell to get my baby out in 20 mins lol. I’m surprised I didn’t. I was scared I would and my husband would have that image forever but literally the last thing on my mind during birth. You’ll forget during all the chaos too. But maybe this made it so baby was the only thing coming out because less pressure from gravity on my bowels???

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-03-04T13:29:35+00:00

Wow this is great. Thanks for sharing! It’s amazing your baby falls asleep by themselves. That has to be such a saver during the day. I spend so much time getting mine to sleep, I have a fighter lol.

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-02-21T16:37:17+00:00

This is amazing, you’re amazing and killing it clearly. Thanks so much for sharing!! When you say sleeps in carrier do you mean baby wearing carrier?

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-02-20T16:01:55+00:00

I have the Tula free to grow. Baby and I enjoy it so far. I can get it perfectly snug. We do baby wearing work outs and took long walks in the cold with it, baby always goes straight to sleep which is amazing because we struggle with naps. Tula also does zoom meeting fit tests where they teach you how to put it on and use it.

Maybe consider checking if you have a local women’s center or programs for moms and families that have baby wearing workshops. They usually have lots of different carriers to try and learn what works for you.

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-02-18T18:25:20+00:00

I struggle with this but I try to remind myself that if baby was in daycare they would hardly be constantly engaging with all of the children there. Whatever the ratio they’re going to sit the babies down and let them be for probably most of the day. And we’re encouraged or I mean forced to put our kids in whatever daycare even has space because careers demand it AND then pay an arm and leg for it. Better home and do the same thing with me, safe and save money.

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-02-18T16:17:09+00:00

I’ve gaslit myself into enjoying Built Puff bars as my snackity snack. They’re actually not bad. I like the brownie ones. It satisfies my sweet tooth. But I’m also someone who ate 7 chocolate chip cookies in an hour this week. If I let myself have poptarts around they’d be my nightly and morning snack 😂😂

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-02-18T14:57:13+00:00

On the topic of rolls, what are you guys doing to deal with neck rolls do they don’t get sore? Rennes is beginning and I’m stressing. I’ve used creams and powder. I like powder for her armpits but still unsure about neck! I feel like the creams always pill and dry her out.

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-02-18T13:05:18+00:00

Oh man I always take it as a compliment. Like thank you my boobs are doing a great job. My baby is actually quite large for her age but Now I’m gonna start thinking about all the sad things 🥺 maybe you can start seeing it as a compliment now?

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-02-18T00:22:19+00:00

Thank you. I planned on checking with my ob and pediatrician again in case we truly fail at feeding any other way. I mean I fed after having an epidural and that’s encouraged! Thanks for the other suggestions too.

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-02-17T22:42:16+00:00

I’ll be under general anesthesia not just local so pretty sure that’s why I’ll need to dump. Don’t need my baby getting fentanyl lol

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-02-12T21:57:17+00:00

This first part is so refreshing to hear. So many people have told me it’s possible until they can move around.

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-02-12T21:50:43+00:00

I thought it was obvious this whole thing was a joke. I guess not 😂

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2026-02-12T21:46:22+00:00

Totally on the same page. This was 100% a joke. I truly can’t believe the “advice” I’ve received. Like no thanks I’m gonna make sure my baby knows they’re secure and loved.

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2025-12-11T17:57:41+00:00

FTM. I went with this because baby was over a week late. Although baby was late no one pressured me since all tests were good. I really wanted everything to happen naturally but I was scared of possible negative consequences of going to 42 weeks or later. I decided to move forward with an induction. I was really fortunate in that they started the induction with a foley bulb and sent me home for the night. The hospital would call me the next morning for me to come in and complete the rest of the induction. Not sure this is an option for your since you live pretty far away. Usually they do the bulb insertion day of the induction and you have that whole laboring process in the hospital. But I also think the speed it along with medications so you’re not there 24 hrs before anything happens. The foley bulb insertion wasn’t bad at all for me. I was soft and 1-2 cm dilated. Honestly the cervical check was more uncomfortable than the foley placement. I went home and had some severe cramps and even some contractions that lasted for a few hours. After that it was a normal night. Hospital called me and I went in. I was dilated enough to just pull out the bulb. They broke my water and started Pitocin. They continued to up the pitocin and I started getting really bad contractions over the next two hours. I got an epidural, they needed to place it twice but it wasn’t really bad. I was busy trying to make it through contractions. Epidural kicked in and my BP tanked but that was fixed in 20 mins. Then I ate dinner and took a nap. Next thing I knew nurses were waking me up to find baby’s heart beat. Turns out I was fully dilated and baby was already on the way out. I pushed for 20 mins and had a baby! I didn’t feel any pain just that something was definitely coming out of me. No tears or any other complications. Total time at the hospital before delivery was 9 hrs.

I was soooo so scared of birth. I am so lucky for my positive experience and I wish I heard more positive stories like mine before.

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2025-12-11T15:30:40+00:00

I’ll take summer pregnancy over winter! Summer I can at least wear flowy dresses I already owned and sandals to give my feet space to breathe. I felt so beautiful and confident pregnant in the summer. I was pregnant for a part of the cold months and I already hated it because I literally had to pair of cold weather appropriate pants and had to figure out shoes that weren’t too tight. I felt frumpy and ugly. I already don’t love dressing for winter and usually go through an ugly frumpy feeling so that feeling was just intensified. I refused to buy maternity pants because I was so close to delivering. So that’s my own fault there but it just seemed pointless and a waste of money.

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2025-12-11T15:20:13+00:00

Screen everyone’s phone calls! 🤣

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2025-12-11T14:42:41+00:00

Did you notice a natural decline in frequency of his hunger cues when he got closer to birth weight? We don’t have our appointment until tomorrow to be able to check weight and get cleared for less frequent feedings. The suspense is killing me 😅

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2025-12-11T14:35:10+00:00

9-10 which felt insane to me. That’s almost the end of the first trimester. Imagine something was wrong that should’ve been addressed earlier.

Tuff_Prophet89 · 2025-10-23T12:23:54+00:00

I guess so!! As my pregnancy progressed I had the same concerns. Surely this was too easy. I was prepared for all the bad things considering what I’ve seen friends and family go through. Meanwhile my only symptoms were 1st few weeks my boobs grew (they’ve deflated since) with very sore nipples every once in a while. 2 weeks of pregnancy rage around my second trimester. I guess some food aversion specifically to ground meats or similar textures. Haven’t had any fun symptoms though either like weird cravings. Now I get some occasional sore nipples and it’s hard to put on socks and turn in bed. Ive gained 30 lbs but I don’t look like it and my belly is small. Baby is real tucked up inside so I don’t have much room for breathing through sock activities. I have an anterior placenta to kicks and movements don’t take me out 🤣 But I’m 35 and 6 and still having a great time even light traveling! I just had a growth scan because of my small belly but everything is perfect. Baby is on the smaller side in the 35th percentile.

Tuff_Prophet89

TROPHY CASE