Having had my first baby just over 3 months ago I am learning to love my post baby body, and in doing so I have been reflecting on our relationship to-date. I was paired with my body 37 years ago we have had many ups and downs, my body has never let me down, sadly I cannot say the same.
In the beginning it was exciting and magical, everything was fresh and new. My body took me through the prepubescent years running, jumping and climbing trees. As I grew I took on greater challenges including swimming, basketball, and baseball.
As I got older I began to take my body for granted. I stopped playing the sports that I had enjoyed so much. I didn’t appreciate my body and what it had, and could do. I started modeling which lead to comparing and evaluating my body with unreasonable criteria. I objectified it, and I let what other people thought of it slowly change the way I thought of it. I started to resent it and treated it with disrespect. If all of that wasn’t enough I started poisoning my body by smoking.
Naturally this led to a low esteem, which after a series of poor decisions, led me into a relationship with a person that didn’t respect me. In that relationship my mind crumbled as my body healed from bruises and broken bones.
Overtime and with maturity I learned to respect and care for my body again. Caring for my body is also caring for my mind and my spirit.
Over the last year I watched my body expanded to contain a little bundle incubating within. It persevered through nine months of extreme change and exhaustion. It sustained not just my life but my babies.
Over the last 3 months I have been getting to know my post baby body. It’s softer and thicker than it used to be, it feels strange and unfamiliar, much stranger than my pregnant body.
I have less patience for my post baby body. Between the collection of form fitting outfits sitting in my closet, and my persona as a fitness leader, I find myself putting unnecessary pressure on myself to return to my pre-baby body. I constantly have to remind myself that it took 9 months to grow a human life, its only fare to give it at least that amount of time to recover. Plus due to my fall at 37 weeks my body is also recovering from an injury.
Instead of being so hard on myself I am trying to focusing on my bodies humbling abilities:
- it kept my baby safe while it grew for nine months
- it feeds and comforts my baby daily
- it magnificently delivered my perfect baby boy in 4 hours and 48mintues.
After enduring the strain of accommodating a second human, neither myself or my body are the same……neither may go back to the way they once were……..Currently my body is a lush pillow that cradles and rocks my son. My body is my sons childhood home, that deserves my respect, not disapproval and judgment.
Love this post! Nothing can prepare you for the after effects of having a baby!! We see so many images of women in the media who snap back just months after having a baby but fail to realize that that is not the norm. In addition to carrying another person there are also other factors like age, eating habits, sleep habits and mental health that can effect the way our body “recovers” after a baby. I had my second one 3 years ago and I’m still working on getting my pre mommy body back. Will I get there? Maybe maybe not but I have learned to love the body (and thighs) I’m in. It’s the only one I have!! Lol!
It’s truly a like changing experience. I found letting go of the unrealistic expectations allowed me to be present in the moment and focus on what’s really important.
It really is a life changing experience. I found letting go of the unrealistic expectations allowed me to enjoy what was really important.
Beautifully written! I am not a mom, but I have a niece and nephew and have seen second hand how challenging it can be for moms to accept their body through the baby process. You are right, your body was your son’s home, no one could have provided that safe space for your son. Congratulations!
Our bodies are always changing, from baby to child to adulthood and into old age. We can’t control it, we can only embrace the beauty of nature 🙂
So true, beautifully said
this post is so positive. there are time when I live my body as it is now, and there ate those times when the all my errors seem to be amplified right in front of me. it’s a journey
Love your post so much!!! I remember way back ( 21 years) when I had my first baby… no one prepared me for the reality of changes to my body after birth..
Glad you enjoyed thanks for stopping by!
Such an awesome and inspirational post!! Having children will forever change our bodies, but in the end, we remember that we brought new life into this world and that we have a love for them that cannot be unmatched. Thank you for this post ?
Thanks for stopping by thrilled you enjoyed.
I love this post. Especially in this world where body image is such a problem for ypung children. Very positive. If we can teach our children to habe a positive outlook as this post our children will have better tools for their future. As a single mum i constantly habe debates with my sons dad about the words he uses. I caught him asking my son who was fatter. Of course my 3yo starts using the words and i simply explained to him that everyone has fat. It protects our body. It is so important also to mirror what we say. Our kids see and hear everything! Your mindset is great and will be even greater for your little bundle of joy
Yes our kids learn by copying us so it’s important to be worth imitating
I think you look great. It is more important to worry about your baby and yourself. I think your bodies changed after you have a baby.
They say a mother is reborn again after a birth. It is not that easy to keep away with all that fat. Motherhood is a new beginning for a woman. Nice post.
This is such a heart warming post! It must be ought to put yourself out there but I am sure this is going to inspire many! Thanks for sharing ! Love to you and you little one from India 🙂
Thanks for stopping by glad found some inspiration here
Congrats on your little one and let me tell you that you look awesome and pretty. I love the last line of your post. Your child is blessed having you as her mom.
Wo thank you for the kind words glad you enjoyed
Such a wonderful post. Your way of narration is so good that I read the whole post in one go. Very touchy content.
As a mom i can totally relate to this post! great read!