5 Myths About Postpartum Bodies
And How to Ditch Them
The societal culture around postpartum bodies is usually a negative one. As soon as the baby is born, it is expected that new mums try their hardest to get their “body” back as if their bodies have somehow disappeared into thin air.
In the media, childbirth is usually portrayed on a superficial level. We are inundated with images of mothers who “bounced back” immediately after having their babies. Usually she is dressed in white t-shirt and blue jeans, looking down at her sleeping newborn from the comfort of her perfectly put together home. The impression is given that if you don’t fall into this category then you aren’t making enough progress.
Society fails to understand the emotional turmoil new parents usually experience and fails to see beyond the physical. The birth of a child can be an exciting experience for some women, and a traumatic experience for others, both physically and mentally. During the 9-month period, a human was nourished and sheltered by the body. Body parts shifted to make room, muscles stretched to support the human, skin expanded to create a protective shell, and hormones balanced themselves.
Don’t be hard on yourself.
The road you are on may not look the same as someone else’s, but that doesn’t mean it is not worthwhile. To attain a healthy emotional balance, you need to close your ears to societal criticisms.
We must debunk and dispel the myths surrounding postpartum ideals as a society. These five myths need to be thrown into the depths of hell:
Myth 1: The race to pre-pregnancy body begins six weeks after conception
We all heal at different rates, so it is possible that the body isn’t yet ready for exercising. It is important to listen to your body — if it is not ready to start a fitness routine, it is best to wait until you are physically and mentally ready before beginning.
Your health and the health of your baby should take precedence over your physical appearance. There is nothing wrong with setting healthy body goals for yourself, but exploring whether they are based on societal norms or on your own desires should be acknowledged.
Observe, understand, and appreciate how this body has transformed over time. We might never see our pre-pregnancy bodies again, but that’s life — it’s constantly changing.
Every woman’s journey to a healthy body is different. Yours may take longer or look different than others, but that doesn’t diminish its worth and resilience.
Myth 2: The postpartum body is unattractive
Even prior to pregnancy, we are constantly conscious of what our bodies look like to others.
It can be tough to accept the changes to your body after giving birth; you may be dealing with new rolls, extra skin, and stretch marks. We often feel emotional about these changes, and that is where the feelings of being undesirable begin to emerge.
Nevertheless, acceptance starts with “you” and not “others”. The key is to learn to feel comfortable in your own skin again and not be swayed by others’ opinions. It doesn’t matter how many times your partner, family, friends tell you how beautiful and attractive you are. Until you truly believe it, you will not believe it.
Humans are more than their physical shells, which will wither and decay with time. Being able to love ourselves during these transformative stages helps create healthy relationships with our bodies, and finding people who will see from the inside out is the key to enduring relationships.
Myth 3: Breastfeeding will aid in weight loss
The breastfeeding myth suggests that breastfeeding is a magic pill that instantly heals everything. Although nursing can burn up to 500 calories per day, and it also helps in uterine contraction, it does not offer a one-size-fits-all solution for postpartum weight loss.
Diet, exercise routine, restfulness, and mental health are other factors that influence breastfeeding mothers’ ability to lose weight. When all these factors are aligned, it facilitates weight loss, not breastfeeding alone.
Myth 4: Using more oils will prevent stretch marks
During my pregnancy, I used every oil recommended to prevent stretch marks, including coconut oil, almond oil, and bio oil. My clothes suffered as a result, and so did my wallet, but none of it worked. Stretch marks were still present on my body.
A genetic factor may contribute to stretch mark formation. Some people may benefit from oils to avoid or reduce stretch marks. But do not despair if you do not. Life demands that we embrace every aspect of it. Stretch marks are naturally occurring and serve as a reminder of the battle your body has waged.
Myth 5: Mommy pooches must be lost
In my view, ensuring that you purge all evidence of ever being pregnant falls under the fat shaming category. Prior to becoming pregnant, I had an unhealthy relationship with food, under eating and overexercising to conform to society’s beauty standards.
I developed a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy because I prioritized health over appearance. The focus should be on strengthening your core rather than achieving six-pack abs and washboard abs. Your core muscles are your back muscles, hip muscles, and stabilizing muscles. The core muscles play an important role in reducing the backache that a lot of us experience.
You can also suffer from diastasis recti, which is the separation of the abdominal muscles, resulting in your stomach sticking out. It is usually best to avoid ab exercises like crunches, front planks, etc. as these can exacerbate this separation. In most cases, diastasis recti can only be resolved by surgery.
The bottom line is this; You get to paint your body however you want, because it’s your canvas. It is entirely up to you how your body looks.
