Nobody likes stretch marks...

Stretch marks are unfortunately one of those things, most women experience during and after pregnancy. No matter how many creams, lotions and oils you apply for some they are just unavoidable. I know this because a would religiously use bio oil day, night and sometimes in between during the whole of my pregnancy. I was determined not to get them, but i did and now they're apart of me, a constant reminder I grew a little person.

It really is no wonder women are sad and ashamed of these marks, considering how mainstream media like to point it out like it's a flaw when spotted on a celebrity. Most celebs who can afford it do everything in their power to mask and treat stretch marks, where as 'normal' people don't have the time or money to achieve such a thing as a perfect body a week after giving birth. It's a shame that it does effect some women so negatively.

I kept feeling so guilty that I was lucky enough to have a baby and all I could do was complain about how my stomach looked, and effectively what my baby had done to my body!

I now realise some women would welcome stretch marks and saggy skin from head to toe for the chance to have a child.

It took me along time to accept my body had changed, I was never stick thin in the first place, but I was generally happy and comfortable in my skin before pregnancy.

As my belly grew and grew, I was somewhat smug that I didn't have any stretch marks and people would comment on how big I was and found it strange I hadn't got any. In my last month I started to get faint ones on my hips it didn't really bother me, but then a few days after I had Aria as my stomach started to go down they appeared really bad, like bright reddy purple on each side of my belly, they were also horribly itchy too.

I really hated them and got to the point where I couldn't look at my self in the mirror and hoped that one day I'd look and they'd just be gone. They are slowly getting lighter but still very much there, now though although I can't deny I would love to have a slim toned body, I'm proud of them, they make me feel normal and womanly and are scars of my greatest achievement.