Mummy Tums but not as you know

Emily Archer - 19 Dec 17

Not a few extra pounds and stretch marks that show.

Not a oversized top to hide your belly,
To stop it wiggling and moving like jelly.

“It housed your baby, you should be proud”.
I know that feeling, that huge dark cloud.

Stereotypically we talk about the above,
Mummy curves and finding self love.

But my belly wasn’t big – it wasn’t round.
I didn’t want to loose a couple of pound.

I was quite the opposite when my son arrived.
I looked very skinny and extremely deprived.

I’d suffered for nine month with HG.
My belly in pregnancy felt like the sea.

I wasn’t able to eat or drink a sip.
My health deteriorated like a land slip.

I lost 3 stone and become underweight,
I wasn’t gaining no matter what I ate.

I looked very poorly with pale white skin,
I was loosing my hair and getting extremely thin.

My boobs however they grew and grew,
Forever I was buying bigger bras all new.

Like a pin-up model in a glamour costume.
I wasn’t as happy as you may assume.

I probably looked better a stone or two less,
But I wasn’t enjoying it and felt like a mess.

It wasn’t me, I liked my curves.
Being pale and skinny effected my nerves.

I didn’t like the attention or comments it brang.
I liked my wobbly belly and slight overhang.

I didn’t want to have this desirable frame.
I just wanted my body to be the same.

I wanted my belly and bingo wings.
I wanted more energy to do nice things.

I wanted to feel confident in my own skin.
I actually wanted to have my double chin.

My mummy tummy I still kept hidden in clothes,
Oversized dresses and baggy jumpers I chose.

I wanted to be confident in my own skin,
To love my post baby body no matter how thin.

I wasn’t happy, I was the lowest I could be,
Emotionally and the reflection in the mirror i’d see.

Just because I didn’t have excess weight,
Didn’t mean I was happy and always felt great.

My post baby body wasn’t striped or scarred,
I wasn’t carrying pounds but I still found it hard.

So please don’t assume those stick thin mums;
Are happy, confident and love their tums.

My body grew my child and I know that’s cool.
I was being hard on myself, a little too cruel.

But body confidence isn’t just accepting rolls,
It’s accepting the changes and being kind to our souls.

Embrace the changes and celebrate your tummies, They are amazing and made you all mummies!

Emily Archer

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