Motherhood: Postpartum What?

When I found out I was pregnant, I was very happy & very curious to see how my body would change as my little bean grew.  It was quite the adventure and I truly loved being pregnant.  I mean, there were moments when I cried for no reason, couldn't sleep because my belly was in the way and cursed the heavens when I couldn't find anything in my closet to wear.  But seriously, loved it!  I did tons of research and reading so I would be prepared for both the birth and what goes on afterwards.  But, no matter how much reading you do, nothing really prepares you for your unique birthing experience & the challenges you will face afterward-I mean, the postpartum challenges.

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Don't get me wrong, it's not all bad.  It's good because your body is healing.  But there are some things that occur after birth that you must wipe from your memory or you won't make more babies!  And even though you have had a baby, it's not over...the gift of pregnancy just keeps on giving, months & months after birth.  

So, when my hair started falling out around 4 months after Maverick was born I realized just how transformative pregnancy & birth are.  And, my body has never ached as much as it does now!  My midwife told me this would happen, telling me that in a couple of months your body will feel aches in muscles you never knew you had.  Check.  And my skin is as dry as a crocodile, although this may be because I didn't use lotion for like 5 months!  Oops!  How about postpartum memory loss?  Check!  Depression?  Of course!  Luckily, not severe, but it hits you out of nowhere.  Passion and desire in the bedroom?  I'm still looking for mine.  

What has this taught me?  Well, first of all, my body will never be the same.  This is not such a bad thing because I will forever be reminded of the amazingly brave and strong act of childbirth.  I also have to relearn to love my body again and am slowly gaining confidence in my overall appearance.  Feeling comfortable in your skin is always challenging, especially when your body and soul have undergone such a huge change.  I know it will take time, but my goal is to have a healthy body image, respecting the bones & muscles that helped me birth my babe.  I'm trying to appreciate the process of healing, letting my mind and body do its thing slow and steady.  

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A wise mama told me, "things get easier and harder in different ways."  I am beginning to see this as so very true.  Parts of me heal and other parts show un-mended wounds from childbirth.  Parts of mothering get easier as Mav grows and other parts get more challenging (like, him becoming mobile-good & bad!).  I am just learning to not expect miracles & just let go of the worries I have of future postpartum surprises.  Becoming a mother is a beautiful and everlasting process.  The immensity of it can't be fully understood until you are a mom.  Just hoping my hair stops falling out soon. 

Whimsical Mama Style

Ok Mama's out there, this one is for you.  Especially if you insist on remaining true to your style roots even while pregnant, with a growing belly (among other growing things) and all.  When I blogged for Love Fox Vintage (my previous vintage shop's little blog), I began weekly style posts on styling non-maternity clothing during pregnancy.  You can check out a few of those posts here and here.  

It was a fun challenge to see what I could come up with without spending money on maternity clothes that I would only wear for a couple of months.  Well, I'm still pregnant and still the same old Benicia who loves fashion and way too many accessories!  And if you are also pregnant and love to look stylish, chic, on trend or simply cute-I have some tips for you & a fun look to inspire your bulging belly dress up days!  Hooray!  

Who said you have to wear maternity clothes while you are pregnant?!  Not I!  First of all, they can get quite pricey & you won't wear them forever-something about that combination drives my recycling/frugal self crazy!  The solution?  First, look in your closet-you may be surprised to find some forgiving shapes & fabrics that can accommodate your growing bump for a while.  I found vintage shift dresses, empire waisted dresses & tunics, stretchy maxi dresses and anything flowy & hippie especially fitting.  Second, hit up the thrift stores and look for larger sizes (this one is fun too because you still get to shop but at way less the price tag).  I found lots of comfy, basic tees and dresses for a few dollars here and there.  Finally, do invest (moderately, of course) in a few great pairs of stretchy, trusty yoga pants and leggings-they will be your best friends!  And, if a rad friend gives you a couple pairs of those funky maternity jeans-take them!  Because lord knows, sometimes you just want to wear a pair of jeans, even if they are pull-up style.

This tip comes in handy when all you wanna do is wear the same comfy leggings everyday!  All you gotta do to take that "everyday" outfit to new heights, is accessorize!  This tip is true for all of life's fashion challenges, pregnant or not.  Adding a brightly printed scarf, a pair of leather & metal earrings, a bold statement necklace, chunky knee-high socks or a great pair of beat-up leather boots will bump your bump up so many levels!  Plus, it's cheaper to invest in on-trend accessories than the whole outfit-so you can still look foxy all 9 months.  I also tried my hand at fun hair styles, pretty lipstick and hats.

Here's my look, incorporating most of the little tips (minus the maternity jeans-yep, I am wearing a pair) above and going for a 70s vibe.  I had this pretty lace top already (a gift from my mom) and it's the perfect length to cover up my bum while wearing leggings & it just looks lovely peeking out.  The floral 1970s wrap top is one of my favorite pieces that I bought right before I knew I was pregnant, so I didn't get to wear it all that much.  Well, I decided to wear it anyway, tying it in the front since it won't wrap around my expanded waistline!  I love the sleeves on the blouse & the layers of pretty florals & lace.  And, I wore my hair in milk-braids with pieces of leather here and there-so cute!  A dangly pair of boho earrings and my moccasins and I am set!  All pieces found in my closet already-hooray for mama style!

Little Baby Bump: 38 Weeks♥

Wow, I am 38 weeks today!  I can't believe how close I am to meeting this little one!  My days have been mighty slow as I await his arrival, not knowing exactly when he will come.  I am trying my hardest to relax, take it easy and enjoy these last couple of days/weeks with the Hub, doing fun things.  I am doing some more reading on labor, mostly personal birth stories, which help me see the truly unique nature that is birth.  I am just hoping I can surrender myself to this whole experience and I am trying to reach deep within myself to find my inherent power & strength (that all women have) that will assist me with accepting the labor pain as an intrinsic part of welcoming my son into this world.  The pain is good & it is needed.  So I welcome these long days as preparation for my body, heart and soul.  When he is ready, I will be ready (as much as I possibly can).  I can't stop dreaming about how he will feel in my arms-wow!!

Whimsical Mama Wardrobe:

Jersey knit dress-Target (on clearance for $14)

Silver Bells Necklace-handmade by Faith

...and, I cut my own bangs because I couldn't stand them-hope they don't look too bad!