Proud of My Twin Skin

I was on an online forum recently in which a mom of 10-month-old twins was questioning whether she would ever shed her “twin skin.” For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term, it’s the saggy skin left on a woman’s belly after she’s been pregnant with twins. Unfortunately, most of the respondents had bad news for this mom. Once the skin has been stretched to such extremes, it’s not going to totally reverse itself without plastic surgery!

BT (Before Twins), I always prided myself on my flat stomach, even after two singleton pregnancies. And then I got pregnant with twins. I was stunned at the ability of the human body to accommodate such a huge “intrusion”! I started my pregnancy at 120 pounds and ballooned to 190 at its peak. The doctor quit measuring my midsection because he ran out of tape! (That had never happened to him before.) My legs swelled to the size of redwood trees. Miraculously, I was still up and waddling around when my twins were born at 39 weeks weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces and 6 pounds, 9 ounces—hefty weights for the average twins. Needless to say, my tummy (and my thighs) will never be the same! My bikini days are officially over.

Of course, this bothers me when I look in the mirror. I’ve gone back to my pre-pregnancy weight and look fine when I’m fully clothed, but I indulge in a little pity party when I see that extra skin under my clothes. Nevertheless, I was sickened when I saw entertainment host Dayna Devon undergo plastic surgery to eliminate a minuscule bit of skin she had around her middle after two singleton pregnancies. She had no idea how lucky she was to have such minimal evidence of her pregnancies (and to be married to a plastic surgeon). I wanted to tell her to get a grip on reality! Most women would give anything for that tiny bit of belly fat she had.

So, I’ve decided not to go down that route. I wear my “twin skin” like a badge of honor! I’m proud to be the mother of twins, to have nurtured them in my body and carried them until they were ready to make their way into the world. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m going to flaunt my twin skin at the beach, but it does mean that I can accept myself just as I am, flabby belly and all. I’m perfect in the eyes of my twins, and that’s all that matters to me.

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About Susan Heim

Susan M. Heim is an author and editor, specializing in multiples, parenting, women’s and Christian issues. Her books include "Boosting Your Baby's Brain Power"; "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Twins and More"; "It’s Twins! Parent-to-Parent Advice from Infancy Through Adolescence"; "Twice the Love: Stories of Inspiration for Families with Twins, Multiples and Singletons"; and, "Oh, Baby! 7 Ways a Baby Will Change Your Life the First Year." Upcoming books include "Chicken Soup for the Soul: All in the Family," "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Women," and "Moms of Multiples' Devotions to Go." Susan's articles and essays have appeared in many books, magazines and Web sites. She is a member of the National Association of Women Writers and the Southeastern Writers Association, and has a degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University. Susan lives with her husband and four sons (two teenagers and twin grade-schoolers) in Florida.


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Comments

  1. Robert Neil says:

    Don’t worry about the extra skin – it shows you have lived a full and happy life. We shouldn’t try to hide these things – they make you a better person!
    Kind Regards,
    Robert