Pregnancy Changed My Body — Rebuilding My Core Changed My Life

For a long time after having babies, I was constantly aware of my stomach.

Like all day, every day.

I noticed it in the mirror. I noticed it when I got dressed. I noticed it when I exercised. I kept wondering if the “mom pouch” would ever go away or if I just needed to work harder to get my body back.

I truly believed that my pre-baby body was never coming back.

After my first few kids, I focused almost entirely on how my body looked. I thought core strength meant tighter abs and more crunches. I believed that if my stomach looked flat, it meant I was strong and healthy.

Then I got pregnant with twins — and everything changed.

Pregnancy Changed Everything

I was 41 when I was pregnant with my twins, and the pregnancy was unlike anything I had experienced before. I gained upwards of 75–80 pounds, and the physical weight of carrying two full-term babies was incredibly taxing. By the last trimester, every movement felt heavy. My body felt stretched in ways I didn’t know were possible, and the strain touched nearly every part of me — physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Their birth required a C-section, and most likely from carrying them full term, I developed diastasis recti — a separation of the abdominal muscles that completely changed how my body functioned.

Recovery wasn’t just about rest or losing baby weight. I was healing from major surgery while trying to repair abdominal muscles that had been stretched beyond what I ever imagined possible. I knew that if I didn’t rebuild them properly, I could be facing additional surgery in the future.

There were moments that felt overwhelming — physically, mentally, and emotionally. I didn’t recognize my body. Movements that once felt automatic suddenly required intention and care. And somewhere in that slow, often frustrating process, I realized something I hadn’t been prepared for: my body had fundamentally changed.

That realization didn’t break me — but it did force me to let go of everything I thought I knew about strength. The path forward wasn’t about getting my old body back. It was about learning how to rebuild strength in a completely different way than I ever had before.

Learning What My Core Actually Was

That’s when I learned about my core. My real core. And I was shocked to learn that it wasn’t flat abs or a skinny waist.

Your core is an entire support system — diaphragm, pelvic floor, deep abdominal muscles, and back muscles — that stabilizes your spine, supports daily movement, and protects your body.

Without core strength, your body struggles to support the life you’re living — from carrying kids and groceries to chasing after them at the park — and everything starts to feel heavier than it should. Over time, that lack of support can lead to back pain, pelvic floor issues, and movement problems that affect not just exercise, but everyday life.

Crunches alone won’t rebuild that system.

I remember feeling equal parts defeated and determined — like I was starting over in a body I didn’t fully understand yet. But that moment became the beginning of something much bigger than I expected.

Rebuilding From the Inside Out

I had to change my entire mindset and approach to strengthening my core after the twins. I focused less on the exterior and solely on the interior. I became consistent, diligent — even a bit vigilant — about rebuilding my core strength.

And it didn’t happen quickly.

It happened one breath, one exercise, one moment at a time.

There were days in which progress felt invisible. There were moments when I wondered if I was doing enough or doing it right. I had to learn patience in a way I never had before. I had to learn how to listen to my body instead of pushing it.

Slowly, something shifted.

I started noticing small wins. Movements felt more stable. I felt stronger carrying my kids. Everyday tasks became easier. I began trusting my body again.

I’ll never forget the first time I lifted one of my boys without bracing myself for pain. It was such a small, ordinary moment — but it felt monumental. For the first time in a long time, my body felt like it was working with me instead of against me.

Over time, rebuilding my core changed more than my strength. It changed my confidence. It changed how I defined fitness. It changed how I understood resilience.

Now, ten years later, in my 50s, I feel like my core is stronger than it ever was when I had my first child in my late 20s.

Strength Looks Different Now

What I learned through that journey is something I wish more parents were taught:

Strength isn’t about getting your body back.

It’s about building a body that supports the life you’re living now.