Marks I Love the Most

by - 11:45 AM

“Ako na mismo ang magsasabi sa’yo, maganda ka.” (Let me be the one to tell you, you’re beautiful)



This was my reply to a mummy-friend who was worried about how her husband would think of her with all the dark lines on her tummy.



No man, in his right mind, would ever think of his wife unattractive just because there are now stretchmarks on a previously flawless belly.



I had been advocating on helping out mums ever since the third trimester of my pregnancy, and I read about ugly moments all the time. Mums want to know how to prevent the lines from coming. They want to know if it can be removed and what products they can use to do so. They want to know if not scratching when it itches like crazy will help.



Just like other mums, I tried. My husband bought Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion when I was four months pregnant. I never scratched my tummy. Five, six, seven months went by and nothing. I thought I was spared, but on the eighth month, voila! They came ever so slowly, one by one, until they were higher than my bellybutton. They were dark, dark red lines screaming on my skin. I even have them on my right breast!



But I loved them.



I wore my pre-pregnancy shirts at home, so my tummy was out, most of the time. Whenever I get visitors, and they keep asking why they’re so dark, and my girl friends seem to be on the verge of considering staying childless.



But I loved them.



I conceived Khale on the 26th of September 2014, and he grew and grew and the lines appeared.



And he grew some more inside until he was eight pounds. He came out via caesarean section on the 7th of July 2015. The vertical cut across my tummy became another permanent line.



But I love them.



See, whenever I see those dark lines on my belly, I think about how Khale used to be there. It was his first home, and the reason why I had those lines was because I nourished a life inside of me that needed an embrace and the warmth that only my belly can provide.



I am happy because it meant he grew.



This post is for the women who have these marks, whether they are dark red or have turned light already. Remember that for nine months, behind them was life; and that life is now or will soon be a baby that you hold in your arms and in your heart. Remember that you’re a mother and you will always be beautiful.



Khale is turning seven months, soon. Sometimes, I lie down on the mat with him sitting beside me, pulling my shirt up to feed. He would look at my tummy, and I tell him, “This used to be your home”.



And he would smile at me, and place his head on my tummy.



And I loved that.

You May Also Like

20 comments

  1. Awwww this post is LOVE! I, too, am not at all embarrassed about my stretch marks. They're part of my motherhood journey, and I am proud of them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Let's not allow anyone to tell us otherwise. :)

      Delete
  2. And I love that as well.

    Got stretchmarks. too. Was not tempted to use any lotion to lighten the marks. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yung lotion na natira from pregnancy ginamit ko pa rin after because hmm... smells like chocolate. :)

      Delete
  3. I got mine too! My partner is never bothered by it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I cannot imagine why some are. They're such beautiful lines. ♡

      Delete
  4. I love my stretchmarks! When i was 3 kilos lighter than my weight now and i was able to maintain my ab workout i still wear two-piece on the beach! and i really don't care if some women were looking at me with all those stretchmarks on my tummy, i was chasing my kids... i'm proud of those permanent lines and my husband finds me sexy and more beautiful! :-D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Will make this one of my life goals. :) still planning to wear a two piece on the next trip to the beach.

      Delete
  5. Yep. They're battle scars that will forever remind us that from us came wonderful creatures.

    Cris Ruffolo
    www.readingruffolos.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for this post! I've always been more worried about my marks than my hubby. But he keeps telling me that they only remind him of how strong I am. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Such is our strength to carry life and push out or get sliced. We should always be proud. You are strong. :)

      Delete
  7. These scars of mine may look ugly, but I don't care. These are wonderful reminders of mommyhood and I am proud to have them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was our children's first home and it's beautiful.

      Delete
  8. I got a lot of stretchmarks too on my tummy and everytime I see it I always look back to the days when I was still pregnant. Women in any size, color and height are all beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  9. awww our battle scars! Stretch marks never really bothers me.. eh kase mas bothered ako sa bilbil ko eh hahaha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mas iniisip ko baby pouch kesa stretchmarks. Lol. But I'm cool with them.

      Delete
  10. stretch marks never bothers me nor my husband. I have no plan to wear two piece kaya okay lang :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ako rin sobrang di bothered. :) pero may plan pa ko. Lol. Hello high waist! Lakas ng loob. Haha.

      Delete