That’s quite a wide scar. My csection scar was smaller, though I have to admit that it does shrink up quite a bit as time goes on, so maybe mine was that big and I just don’t remember? Eh – see, time heals all wounds My scar felt oddly numb for about a year, but it doesn’t anymore.

I don’t mind scars very much – I like to think of mine as reminders of what I’ve gone through, and of course that I’m still alive.

Some inconnexed thoughts:

That’s a neat linea nigra But I don’t think the scar helps you look mean… how are you supposed to flash your underbelly when you try to intimidate someone?

I absolutely hate when Hollywood moms are not even swollen after their baby is born!!! Puffy eyes? general sagness? They have to have something!!!

My tummy was lopsided with baby inside, and stayed lopsided after she came out (still is, but only slightly). For the couple of months after she was born, when I showered I would stick a finger in my tummy and it was quite sad. I stayed stretchmark free until week 36 or 37, when I got ambushed and crap, got quite a few around my navel and thighs (quite different from the older ones to boot!). No, I don’t love them. Matter of fact, I feel like I’m the only idiot who got pregnancy stretchmarks.

My sister in law, whose 2nd child is only 6 months older than my only one, gave me a bottle of the moisturizer she used and (according to her) helped her stay stretchmark free. I didn’t use it all that much (it’s icky!) and it adds to the idiocy feeling.

It’s interesting what the hippie guy said. Had I been aware of stretchmarks in my childhood, I’m sure I’d find them cool too.

Beautifully written, as always! I think we should start a campaign to get some gorilla articles into mainstream women’s media.

my sister broke out in stretchmarks across her back when she was about 10; but as she told me years later…
‘I didn’t know they were supposed to be something I was ashamed of and I called them my tiger stripes’.

In other news, I cannot believe how NEAT your scar is! Mine is wobbly and wide, like a little winding red river from pubes up to (and around and just above) belly button! Plus when I press on it I can feel the hardness of the scar under the skin. I even have bits of stitch poking out from my skin at either end. Yours looks as if it was glued together!
Major props (as I believe you say in your country) for showing your belly photo. I have to admit that I would not have the guts to do the same on my blog; too many people I know read it….and that’s sad.

I remember when that “hippie boy” told you that and I actually have thought about that several times in the last seven years, wishing more boys thought that way! It’s like Ani DiFranco says: “I’ve got highways for stretchmarks, see where I’ve grown” (“My IQ” on Puddle Dive)–kind of connects to what Jen said.

And to what Julia said–wouldn’t it be hilarious if everyone flashed their bellies when trying to intimidate someone?? How many fights would get dispersed because both sides were giggling too hard? I want to live in that world–where stretchmarks are lauded and belly-flashing giggle fits replace fist fights.

yay for this post! <3

hey lady, i’ve been stopping by every once in a while, LOVE your site! Congrats on the new baby, she is GORGEOUS! Your tummy looks just fine too.

I loved in it Pulp Fiction when Bruce Willis’s character’s French girlfriend referred to it as her ‘sexy pot belly’. I was ‘hell yeah!’. Except my pot belly was not made by beautiful babies. And it is in no way sexy.

Kudos to you Nikki for having the confidence to show off your post-pregnancy belly. I think it looks really cool.

@Jill: I do think surprise and laughter can be quite the weapon! Only thing, I’m not sure I’d have the presence of mind to bring them up.

I don’t know if you’ve heard of this site, but it’s a wonderful project that celebrates women’s bodies: http://theshapeofamother.com/

You look great! I’m totally jealous you were able to keep your belly ring. Don’t be too freaked by the numbness around the scar it decreases with time….lots of time.

Jen: My mom said almost the same thing. Her scar is teeney tiny now, though it might have been about as big as mine back when it was fresh.

Julia: You know, I have to say I don’t really believe that there’s any cream that can keep the stretch marks away if you’re going to get them. Seems to me all those stretch mark cream businesses are just money making rackets.

FVM: I would be all about that. Where to start? Wonder what sort of angle would get a gorilla-ed foot in one of those doors.

have you seen: Oh my god I absolutely love thinking of them as tiger stripes. Hells yeah. And oh! Your scar is vertical then? I was assuming they would have done a similar cut on you. Wonder why they made it so windy. Seems to me that with a planned surgery you should get straight and with an emergency/last minute surgery you should get windy. And it only just occured to me that they came like THIS close to cutting through a tattoo that I have down there. Glad they didn’t, though that would have probably looked kind of amusing, to see it all chopped in half an sewn back together (or horribly mangled and totally no long lined up straight).

Jill: HA. But anyway, I love the idea of giggling replacing fist fights because of belly flashing. Almost makes me want to try to get in one. Though I feel like the tactic would be less effective if I was the one trying to start the fight. Or it would just be even more confusing and ridiculous.

Finn: Yey for you!

Alice: Why thank you.

Paula: Heh. That lady is funny. Sexy pot belly indeed.

RR: Thanks.

greatlakesgirl: Awesome! Should have linked up to that here. But now you have so hurray!

Suzanne: I hope so. It’s such a weird feeling. Sort of borderlining on something like pain, but not at all. Makes me never want to touch my stomach, though I’m getting used to it because Pickles likes to kick me right in the numb bits when we’re laying side by side nursing to sleep sometimes.

This is such an amazing/thoughtfully written post- you are a beautiful and gifted writer!!!

thank you for sharing this inspiring post. there is so much pressure here in the U.S. to have a perfect post baby belly. I’m years away (hopefully) from my first pregnancy and already worried about it.

nikki! this is an awesome post. kudos!

Yep, I too think it’s all crap… but there’s a reasonable doubt. I normally think the whole cosmetic business is all lies, but thing is, it isn’t. There is some truth in their claims, there are amazing products (creams, lotions, soap) and I’ve stumbled upon one or two – Burt’s Bees is one brand consistently awesome.

So… would I have avoided stretchmarks if I had buttered myself up and down three times a day, like a friend did? Or not? How could I know?

[...] Clack Gorilla shares a post on postpartum bellies, and why we should be proud of [...]