stripes of pahala
June 24, 2013I was hyperventilating earlier in the shower because I saw myself in the mirror. The stretchmarks have not only spread below my tummy but also was forming faint lines in some other areas. I’m pretty sure I immediately grabbed the stretchmark oil bottle and poured the remains onto them. Rub it in, rub it in, no mercy… I told myself.
Sigh… Pregnancy is an amazing thing, people tell me all the time. But it sure does change your body in ways you just don’t have control over. Don’t worry, I won’t show you pictures of my stretchmarks. I’d only torture my family members in that way. Oh and my confinement lady who told me she can help me remove these stretchmarks after birth. She is obviously my new best friend.
Dean keeps telling me he doesn’t mind them because they remind him that I am carrying his child. And apparently, I’m the only one who cares. Well obviously, it’s my body! I’m pretty sure he’d have a high-pitched squeal if he found even one stretchmark forming below his tummy.
“We can never go on romantic beach holidays anymore, you and I. I can’t wear a 2-piece, heck, I can’t even wear a 1-piece in front of you anymore!! I’ll be too embarrassed you’ll see these marks,” I wailed to Dean.
“Well, then we’ll just have to find you a 3-piece then…” Dean smiled, ruffling my hair playfully.
Is this dude even real?!
Asma’ totally gets me on this because she’s terrified of stretchmarks too! But she said something that changed it all.
“But on the bright side, you know those are stripes of pahala right? You’re giving birth to a real life. That’s huge!”
Wow… when she put it that way, all my worldly worries just melted.
“Hmm… stripes of pahala… I like that. That sounds chic.”
And so I counted them…
One…. Two…. Three…. Eleven…. Twenty….
May Allah swt give all pregnant women strength to endure whatever comes our way.
*flex biceps*
that was very nice of asma. Yes, pregnancy changes EVERYTHING. But look at the bright side. there’s so many woman in this world who would give anything to be in your shoes. keep the mood on, vivy! ^_^
somehow i feel that you’re gonna be a cool mama 🙂
Yeahh..u can kiss that 2 piece goodbye
You should compile your pregnancy blogs and distribute it to schools. It’ll probably scare off enough kids and knock a few hundred preteen pregnancies off the statistics. And you could earn royalty!
Btw duck those black rubber slippers are unforgivable. Pop down to Sanuk (I think they have a spot at the Curve) and get yourself a super comfy and v pretty pair instead!
Pregnant myself, I’ve spent hundreds to minimize stretch mark (Clarins Body Treatment Oil and Clarins Stretch Mark Control). Call me vain of whatever but I suppose we, ladies are very concerned of our vanity. I guess at some point we can really have no control over it. The weight gain, extra puffiness etc. I got pretty down about it at first but my cousin, Ezyana (who just gave birth) told me to wear my stripes out proud like a tigress because I’ll be giving birth soon. The gift of life pays off when she looks at her son. 🙂 Asma’s stripes of pahala sounds pretty awesome too. LOL! Still there’s no harm in keeping the stretchmarks and water retention minimal, right?
Currently pregnant with my third, thankfully i’m one of those women who are blessed to be pregnant without stretchmarks. And the secret? I think it was because I put on weight before this. During my first year as a med student, I was studying in a different country. Not knowing how to cook, I always ate at my friends’ house who can cook, and ended up putting on about 10kg (gradually). I immediately lost everything the next year because I pindah rumah jauh sikit, so had to cook on my own. I realized even though the weight is gone, my tummy was always easy to expand and flatten. Macam belon pulak. After I eat, I can mimic a 7 month pregnant woman, and next day my perut can be flat again. And still, no stretch mark in sight. No doctor has ever said this is guaranteed to work, but of course, I think having an easily expanding tummy can actually make sure the stretchmarks never happen. Try it. Haha
Yeah!!! Stripes of pahala!! U go girl! Worry no more! MasyaAllah, Asma’ is such an angel to remind us of these hidden but meaningful things!!! I love u Asma’!!! And u too V!!!
Good luck!!
We all pray for a smooth and safe delivery and may baby D screams out his tops off when he’s out to see the world =D
xoxo
Just found your blog, it’s really nice, congratulations, and for the baby too, soon! About stretchmarks – maybe in the beginning you don’t like them, but I am sure they are not so bad – we tend to be too critical at ourselves!
vivy,
those stretch marks can be used as a tool / psychology kind of thing, when u’re teaching your kids someday about why kids should obey, respect, love their mum .
I like that, stripes of pahala
I had 2 c-sections n I tell my girls every time they ask, that’s where they came out from… Hehe
vivy, i came across this quote from mufti menk
“Brothers when your wife gives birth do not look at the stretch marks on her stomach and be dissatisfied with what you see because her body has changed, bend down and kiss those marks and be grateful that your wife has contributed to the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam).”
—Mufti Menk
hopefully, it’s beneficial. 🙂
may Allah ease you on your delivery.
Love this post! Im 20weeks along, and my Plum Havis = my best friend! All the best xoxo
asma, u made my day today!! i cudnt get rid of my stretchmark even after 10mnths giving birth to my 2nd one.. goshhhhhhhh… im thinking of doing a laser treatment or what ahh?? ggrr… sorry i didnt mean to scare you vivy… lol
btw all those stretchmark oil are penipu besar!! arghhhh….!!
Wish u best of luck with the labour Vivy..hope everything goes smoothly. Ur entry really put a smile on my face today. Worried sick about the same thing and im scheduled for an elective csection tomorrow so will be seeing my “real tummy” with all the lovely “marks of valor” tomorrow after the baby’s out, haha! Do update us on ur confinement lady’s secrets pls on how to eliminate those marks!! xx
stripes of pahala..touch deep down inside my soul..meaningful, thanks vivy for sharing this =)
Vivyyyyyy, shida dah delivered…hehe. Cakap mcm kenal kan tp nk buat mcm mana coz due date kita hampir sama n shida pun baby boy jugak. Have safe n speedy delivery vivy
Oh my Vivy, you are hilarious! Praying for your smooth delivery =)
My stretchmarks came after delivery..yikes..as I was losing belly fat & water retention during confinement period..but have been using vit e oil on em and they work wonders!
Good luck!!! You will love love motherhood..i still can’t get over it 😉