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Yelena, I will pray for you and I ask you also pray for me in this realm. My body has gone through so many ups and downs. I highly recommend the books by one of my conference speakers Heidi Schauster. I wish I could tag her substack here

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Thank you friend! and yes, you are in my prayers regularly <3 I will google Heidi and track down her writing. Thanks for your recommendations! Another mama also recommended me jessa connolly's book on body shame so that's on my reading list too.

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THANK YOU so much for your honesty and vulnerability. I imagine this post may have been written through tears. You're doing a wonderful job juggling everything, keep it up.

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Thank you! Yes, took awhile to write, on and off, trying not to get too emotional or too open, but also to be honest and transparent. It's a fine balance!

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Thank you for sharing this! I'm expecting my second baby in September and am struggling with insecurity around weight gain and just looking tired. I've been feeling guilty about it because I know putting so much energy and thought into my appearance means my heart is more fixated on that than on God. I'm definitely going to think more on the verses you've shared when I feel sucked into the lies the devil is telling me about appearance.

I really enjoy the author Jennifer L. Scott's YouTube channel. She talks about having a ten item wadrobe so that you have clothes that are appropriate for the things you need to do in your daily life. That has been helpful for this maternity season because I have a small wardrobe of things that fit and are appropriate for my life. It helps me to have a limit to know when it's time to stop looking for new clothes.

Also I second what your family said! I saw your sweet photos from June of you and your family and thought you looked beautiful and wanted to know where you got your dresses! So I think we're definitely harder on ourselves than anyone else. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on motherhood! It's very been very helpful to know I'm not alone in the things I struggle with, and I've been encouraged by you to seek wisdom from God about how to navigate motherhood

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Gaining weight in pregnancy is so hard. I feel you, friend 🧡 as my husband always tells me: you’re growing a human. It won’t always be like this. You have the rest of your life to focus on fitness and losing weight but for now, do what you need to do stay healthy for yourself and for the baby.

I love Jennifer’s channel! So calming and helpful. I’ve inadvertently ended up with a capsule wardrobe since so many of my clothes don’t fit right now and it does make life easier in many ways.

Thank you for the kind words - you’re right, we are the most critical of ourselves, in ways that we’d never be of our sisters or friends or other women. Idk why that is, but it’s so true.

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I relate to a lot of this! I have cried at scales and stretch-marks a few times. Three pregnancies in five years hit me pretty hard. We also had an incredibly busy season when my last baby was born: we sold all our things and moved internationally when she was four months old. I like how you processed your emotions honestly and then took the time to work through them biblically. And then made a plan for new habits and greater health! That’s admirable.

The point that immodesty can mean thinking about your appearance too much, even negatively, is a good one.

Keeping everything in perspective and making small goals to move forward is surely a good strategy. For me it’s starting the day with water and supplements, pre-coffee; getting out in the morning on a double-stroller walk, and reading instead of social media. Over time I know these things will bear fruit.

I am bookmarking that workout plan and those supplements!

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Glad we’re not the only ones who made big life moves with tiny babies! Even though the changes are good, it does take a toll on our bodies, especially when you add in the postpartum body changes! What country did y’all move to?

I agree with all of your small steps and am working on those too. I try to chug a ton of water before drinking coffee and definitely need to spend less time on my phone and more time reading (or reading ebooks on my phone instead of scrolling).

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