** THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED **
Ed. note: This post was sponsored by Navel. The compensation received in exchange for placement on Wit & Delight is used to purchase props, hire a photographer and videographer, write/edit the blog post and support the larger team behind Wit & Delight.
While compensation was received in exchange for coverage, all thoughts and opinions are always my own. Sponsored posts like these allow for development of additional dynamic content to be produced, unsponsored. Thank you for supporting our partners!
It’s 7am on Wednesday morning and I’m trying to get out the door for my second week of work. August is clinging to the neck of my sweater and Winnie is licking my feet. Everybody needs food (including me) and we were up at midnight, 2am, and 4am. I want nothing more than to roll into the office in my pajamas.
These weeks and months following pregnancy require grace and kindness, for yourself, for your baby, for your spouse. In addition to the sleep deprivation, the demands of a newborn, and looming deadlines, a gal needs comfort, confidence, and support more than ever.
You see, no one warned me about what happens to your body after the baby.
That your emergency c-section may result in a permanent pooch. That your smooth, pregnant belly can give way to stretch marks after delivery. That you will swell up so much that people will not recognize you in the hallway. For all intents and purposes, pregnancy and delivery requires a woman to lose herself completely, and there is no guarantee you’ll come back the same.
This is where I am today. I am in the middle of it all. Of recovery, of motherhood, of marriage, of getting to know this new figure I’ve inherited postpartum. 9 weeks after my emergency c-section it is clear that I’ll battle some significant scar tissue and the aftermath one can expect when indulging in nightly pints of Ben & Jerry’s. While the majority of the 50+ lbs I gained during those 10 months has melted away, what remains is unfamiliar. Softer, rounder, and in transition. I’m ashamed to admit that with all I have to be thankful for, I have shed many a tears at the tired woman staring back at me each morning.
But those little rolls and folds and scars brought me this:
My new best little buddy, August Joseph.
Once I got the clear to work out, I was at Blooma the very same day. I found Blooma around the 3rd month of pregnancy, and in addition to the physical benefits of stretching and cleansing breaths, it was in my Blooma classes that I found support from other women who were willing to be vulnerable enough to share their journeys. I was hoping I would find a safe space here for August and me, where we could fuss and cry and laugh and feed and be a crazy little duo without the judgement of the general public. Turns out this guy loves to Namaste and watch other wiggly babies squeal and coo. We have found our safe space at Blooma!
So when Blooma’s founder Sarah Longacre invited me to get to know her brand new “baby,” I was quick to say yes. Sarah is a powerhouse. She’s delivered over 600 babies as a doula and has created a safe haven for thousands of mamas to find their center and each other at Blooma. After building a business catering to mothers, Sarah became one herself. Yet with all that experience and knowledge of pregnancy and birth, she wasn’t prepared for what it would do to her body. With all the maternity clothes that cater to a pregnant figure, it is in the postpartum stage that getting dressed becomes a challenge. Sarah decided that needed to change. And Navel was born.
So, about the pants.
These have become my wear-them-everywhere pant. Sarah designed them that way.
After nine months of researching, designing, and prototypes, the Navel Pant arrived. It is the perfect pant designed with our bodies in mind to give just a little extra support (and a little extra sexy) so we can feel good and can get on to conquering the day. The pant comes with a snap-in belly band so you have both high and low waist options. I love how smooth and comfortable the belly band is. It’s the only pant I feel comfortable wearing while breastfeeding. In fact, I’m wearing them right now!
So, in honor of the journey that is motherhood, I’m excited to offer one lucky reader a pair of Navel pants. To enter, please visit lovenavel.com to learn more about the pant. Leave a comment below sharing how this journey has inspired positive change in your life. One reader will be selected at random next Monday, October 17th 2016 at 12noon CST. Giveaway open to continental U.S. residents only.
The Navel yoga pant will retail for $70 when it launches on the Navel website and in Blooma in December. Sign up here for information regarding the launch of Navel. You can also follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
Photography by 2ndTruth
Links: Navel Pant, Hatch Sweater, Winter Session Backpack, Rebecca Atwood Blanket, Case Study Planter, Glerups Felt Slippers
Ed. note: This post was sponsored by Navel. The compensation received in exchange for placement on Wit & Delight is used to purchase props, hire a photographer and videographer, write/edit the blog post and support the larger team behind Wit & Delight.
While compensation was received in exchange for coverage, all thoughts and opinions are always my own. Sponsored posts like these allow for development of additional dynamic content to be produced, unsponsored. Thank you for supporting our partners!
Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
BY Kate Arends - October 10, 2016
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Thank you for being here. For being open to enjoying life’s simple pleasures and looking inward to understand yourself, your neighbors, and your fellow humans! I’m looking forward to chatting with you.
Hi, I'm Kate. Welcome to my happy place.
Beautiful photos of you and baby 🙂 I, too, am dealing with the after-effects of an emergency c-section and would love to try these pants, as so many others seem to hit just above or at my scar, which is neither flattering nor comfortable! Thanks for the giveaway and product rec!
The transition is so so hard. I too struggle with it daily so much more now with my 3rd than after my first two were born. I’ve discovered a love and need for running and although my midsection is a little softer than I would like, I feel better knowing I’m doing my best to do what I can for myself and my little ones.
I’m actually on the front-end of this transition at 16 weeks pregnant; but, I already find myself worrying quite a bit about my what my new life and my new body will look like when baby comes! I know that I’ll be consumed with motherhood, but I still want to feel like myself. I love that these pants are both attractive and forgiving!
I’m a few weeks shy of being on the other side of this journey, and while I know it will be 100 percent worth it, I am scared of what I’ll be once I come out on the other side of it. These pants sound like a wonderful boost during a challenging time.
I’m writing this from my car as my phone charges waiting for my one week post c-sec follow up appnt. My daughter Stella is sleeping on my chest. She’s not due until next week. Nothing went as it “should have” gone, but isn’t that life. I’m choosing to not look back and move forward through recovery and this 4th trimester with kindness towards myself.
I love how honest and open you are about first weeks of motherhood and that you don’t sugarcoat it! It’s definitely not easy, but I am sure that over the time you will get used to the new routine, new life and the new you!
The transition is so crazy and it is like your body isn’t what you thought it was! These pants look awesome.
My good friend recently gave birth and is beginning this transition. Her birthday is coming up and this would be a lovely gift for her amidst this crazy, wonderful time in her life.
Beautiful pictures of you and August!
XO Helen | http://www.KaleidoscopeSpinning.com
Great post Kate. The postpartum body is a journey of overcoming and a lot of humility there is no doubt. In all honesty, I didn’t even feel close to myself till the last month, but I am still struggling to get back to working out more than jogging or yoga. Many women told me it would take till I stopped bfing completely. Keep doing your thing lady on your terms. PS. You guys doing yoga is so sweet! 🙂
With everything going on, it’s hard to remember to take care of myself–but as I look to my own parents, I realize how much their own health (and their commitment to being and staying healthy) has been a blessing for me.
This put a smile on my face, I love seeing pictures and hearing about your post partum experience. I’m 12 weeks post partum myself, and every day is a reminder of the birthing experience which went down so smoothly but left my body wrecked nonetheless with aches and pains in new places. Wishing you and your little family a wonderful week!
I’ve heard amazing things about Navel. I’m a few weeks out from baby’s arrival don’t know how to begin to prepare for the life ahead of us and what the “new me” will be – in both really beautiful and challenging ways.
Oof. I’m two weeks postpartum and I have no idea what to wear. Things have not settled back where they were before! I had an emergency c section too, and I was completely thrown by th slow(er) recovery. I love the idea of Navel. So much attention is paid to maternity clothes, but we’re kind of on our own once the baby comes.
I am going to enter the postpartum journey any day now. Pregnancy has totally changed how I view myself in every way possible, especially physically! As someone who’s always struggled with weight and body image, somehow I’ve fallen into a very contented acceptance of my body while growing this human. I just feel like a very different person, and it’s been a path to discovery with great times and terrible times. I’ve only attended one Blooma yoga class so far but I have used them as a resource throughout my whole pregnancy from cloth diapering to prenatal massage to doulas.… Read more »
I am in the second trimester of my first pregnancy and am so scared of my changing body. It has been a challenge to find clothes that fit without making me feel awful, and I can’t really discuss it with anyone because everyone just tells me that it’s beautiful because I’m pregnant. And, as excited as I am to be in this situation, I am very nervous about what permanent changes this will mean for me in the near future. Finding clothes like the navel pant that helps women to feel better about themselves is inspiring. Thanks for sharing!
I have a 2 year old and am trying to get pregnant again. I still don’t feel like myself. A year ago I weighed less than I did when I got pregnant. Then I stopped nursing and packed on a few pounds. I’d like to start working out more and take small steps each day.
These look amazing. I am very much with you there mama, nursing my 9 week old bundle of love as I type this. While he is my whole world, I’ve realized lately how important it is to nurture myself and not only my precious babe. I’m taking my first workout class postpartum tomorrow. These pants ups be amazing to wear all day long; to the gym, errands, walks, etc!
I’m four months postpartum and learning to feel centered and strong in this transformed body of mine. This is just a pair of pants, but I really enjoyed reading everyone’s candid comments!
I am three months postpartum and adjusting to life as a mama of two. Just today my two and a half year told told me my pants were too tight as she was watching me get dressed! 🙂 I had to laugh because she was right and I think it’s important to keep a sense of humor through this journey (as well as remain a positive example for her). I’m excited to hear about this brand and woukd love to have the Navel pant as a staple in my wardrobe!
I’ve been following Navel for a few weeks now, counting down until they become available! I’m 11 weeks postpartum and while, like you, I’m almost “back to normal”, there’s still definitely a new normal to get used to and I’m looking for a few quality pieces to comfortably make the most of my wardrobe.
I would love to win these pants for a dear friend of mine. Her reason is not the same as most of the ladies who are mothers. My friend is going through chemo for brain cancer and each cycle her weight fluctuates between the chemo and steroids. Her normal clothes are tight and the naval pants might be a great solution for her.
During my 10 weeks of postpartum, I have learned that nothing in my life will ever be the same with this baby. My social life, my relationship with my friends, my marriage – and the thing that is pulling at my heart strings the most right now – my body. I just started my 4th week of working out & when I stepped on that awful scale and saw I haven’t lost one. single. pound. I actually cried. I cried all the way to the gym. I was still crying on my yoga mat. Why is the weight not coming… Read more »
Thank you for sharing and being so open about your experience! What a crazy ride it is for us new moms. So grateful for all the moms I have been able to connect with after my Theo was born. I have heard so many good things about Blooma and only wish I was close so I could attend!
These pants are exactly what I’ve been looking for. My daughter is six months old and while I’m back to my pre-baby weight, I’ve noticed that things are definitely different and a little more support would be helpful. What a smart design!
These pants look awesome. I’m currently pregnant with #3. I’ve given up on the celebrity “bounce back” to the prior body story. I’d rather not spend hours at the gym trying to get back to my prior body when between work etc. the time I have to spend with my children when they are young enough to actually want to play with me is limited.
My journey of motherhood has just begun, and now I’m the proud mama to a 4-week-old little darling named Eleanor. I too am experiencing a new side of myself, (for which I’m grateful). While I’m getting to know this new body and baby, I’m so excited about the stage in our life together.
I think you look awesome, Kate! You’re seriously gorgeous.
Looking for a pair of pants exactly like this! Giving birth very soon & wondering what the heck I’ll be wearing as I recover from labor and pregnancy. Pregnancy is a strange but incredible journey of giving up your body for the sake of another. And when that little person keeps me up all night, I want to feel comfortable in my postpartum fog. These would be perfect!
I’m starting to feel all the feels. In just 5 short weeks I’ll be going through the same postpartum happiness and sleeplessness. After my last pregnancy I lived in dresses till shorts fit, but since it will be winter I’ve been worried about what I’ll wear to make me feel like me again! Can’t wait to check these out!!
My journey continues- I just welcomed twin girls into our family in August (my 4th and 5th children). Your postpartum tale is incredibly familiar.
The transformation my body made to grow these beautiful babies was incredible. I’ll start physical therapy this month to repair my abdominal gap and strengthen my body again. I want to be strong to be the best active mother to my babies! Finding clothes to be comfortable and confident in has been a challenge. The Navel pants are an inspired idea! Would love to see them made for tall women too.
I was just telling my stroller strides fitness instructor (another wonderful mommy and me class) that I’m at that point where I don’t fit in my pre-hormone treatment clothes but I’m at my pre pregnancy weight. I can’t button my jeans, and they don’t make me feel good. But looking at my body in the mirror only makes me smile bc of all that it has accomplished.
Having my last baby in my forties is meaning a different transition for me. Instead of those last pounds melting off after my little one finished nursing (like they did after my other babies) the hormonal ups and downs of this age I’m in now means I still look postpartum. Nothing fits my body right. I need these pants! Bonus points if they inspire me to find a new exercise routine!
Ugh, I’m in the midst of this transition after my second baby. The extra weight came right off after my first, even if things weren’t quite the same afterward, but it’s been a different story this time around.
It’s teaching me to be kinder to myself and to take the best care of myself that I can and not worrying so much what the numbers on the scale say.
This is such an awesome giveaway! What a great idea.
I love Blooma! And I can’t wait to get a pair of those pants. I only wish I had them right after I delivered last year!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful story. I’m having my second c-section delivery the end of November. Those pants sound like a dream and I would have loved them with my first. Anything to help a Momma feel a little pretty during those hard newborn months. What a wonderful giveaway! You look beautiful!
You look great, Mama and August looks so happy and sweet! I’m a mom to an 18 month old girl, Amelia, who is light and joy personified. She loves me so sweetly and dearly, that it’s really made me realize how important it is for me to project a positive body image. Even on those days when I look in the mirror and feel so bummed about what I see, I remind myself that this body carried a person and that little person is so happy to see me and doesn’t care at all if I’m the perfect weight or… Read more »
I’m 4 weeks postpartum and trying to be gracious with myself and my transitioning body. I squeezed into a pair of pre-pregnancy, high-waisted yoga pants today and I think I won’t try that again for another few weeks.
I am so amazed at this body of mine, which carried twins to 33 weeks and my son to 39, but it’s still hard not to fall into the pressure to “bounce back” quickly/immediately.
I’ve found that motherhood has given me more confidence! Not in my body image but basically in the fact that I’m too busy to second guess myself anymore!
So excited to try these! Becoming at peace with your new body is something I’m still struggling with and as a stay-at-home mom, black stretchies are my go to. It’s like it’s the same body some days and other days I feel like I’m looking at a stranger in the mirror. The biggest motivation for me to work on feeling more comfortable in my body is for my baby girl, in hopes she doesn’t grow up believing her body is anything but perfect. Also, Blooma is amazing, so glad you were able to find your tribe!
Well…I’m 64 & still carry a title extra weight from my 4 pregnancies! These pants are genius! I’d love to try a pair! Thanks!
Holding my not-quite 3 week old during an early morning nursing session and definitely feeling all of what you described! I’m excited to be in the stage of mommyhood but it’s hard to look down and wonder where my 20-something tummy went, or bend over and realize that my pants are rising too low. But every time I see my sweet little baby girl I melt all over again. I realize that this mental battle is part of the process, too, of teaching her how to love her body and be comfortable in her own skin.
I had an emergency C-section with my first born, he was born at 31 weeks exactly and recovery was easier -if only because he was in the NICU for so long and there wasn’t anyone else to chase around. This time, I had twin girls at the end of July and I was just SO EXCITED to have made it to 37 weeks it didn’t matter how much weight I had gained or what I looked like because I did it! I made it and I had two healthy babies, but now – now we’re 9 almost 10 weeks out… Read more »
I’m very pregnant with #2. As I approach my due date, I remember distinctly how hard it was to dress myself postpartum. I too had a c-section and discovered suddenly so much of my wardrobe just didn’t work. I slowly discovered what worked with my new body + nursing — high waisted leggings became a staple. Thanks for giving some new options!!
I’m just beginning this journey as I am pregnant with my first. I’m very, very nervous about the impact of all of this on my body image, as it’s something that already consumed a lot of my thoughts even before pregnancy and was a main hesitation for me when I thought about having a child. I also work fulltime and am nervous about feeling awful/uncomfortable about my appearance at work. It would be a comfort to have one pair of well designed pants to get me through the post partum months ahead!
The journey of motherhood has changed me profoundly. I’m constantly tired and the bags under my eyes are growing by the minute. But I’m more focused on what matters and less afraid to speak my mind and stand up for myself and my family. My body, too, is different. I’m roughly the same weight, but it’s just different – clothes that were comfortable don’t quite fit right, and it’s a struggle to get dressed and leave the house with confidence. I would love to try these pants, especially as I’m starting to think about having another baby (yikes)!
Your story has moved me to tears Kate. Thank you so much for your honesty and vulnerability. I am a yoga teacher here in Minneapolis and will be checking out Blooma very soon. Maybe I will see you there. I would love, love, love a pair of these yoga pants.
I’m currently 16 weeks pregnant with my 2nd baby and, for whatever reason, body image issues are more present with this 2nd pregnancy than with my 1st. I’m hoping to not be too concerned about it through the rest of this pregnancy and after the baby comes. I love your honesty throughout your pregnancy and as a new mother. This giveaway is really great!
The journey toward motherhood has added a positive spin to every aspect of my life. (Learning to be positive about my new shape however, is a work in progress!)
I’ve learned to slow down and take it one day, one hour, or even one minute at a time when I’m overwhelmed. Love those pants and Blooma!!