I Hate My Postpartum Body. Do You?

Suddenly you’re pregnant, and your body becomes this machine. This amazing life baring machine, growing another human being, watching your body grow magically, whilst you house your tiny baby. It’s all wonderful and beautiful.

Then you give birth.

You’ve never seen your body in such a state, you’ve never been larger, you’ve never been as wobbly, you’ve never hated the reflection in the mirror so badly. But you’ve got this baby, you should be thankful, yet you’re not. Are you a bad mother for hating the body your baby left you with? No you are not.

Your body is still yours, regardless of whether a baby lived there or not. Which means you have every right to love it or hate it. And if you want to hate it right now that’s absolutely fine and completely plausible. I know I hate my outer shell of a body right now, I don’t look flattering in the clothes I used to. Everything is a different shape and size and everything has sort of gone south. I don’t know if it’s even at all possible to get back to how I was pre-pregnancy. Which is so sad because I had that other body for years, I knew it well, it worked for me and I knew how to care for it and how to dress it. Now this new body is here, and its scarily unfamiliar. I can’t eat the same things without it having an effect, and I certainly can’t wear the same things without looking like a chubby boyish potato.

All I know now, is that it takes time. I know that you cannot get instant gratification. Patience is key. The amount of times I have got upset over my reflection these past four months aren’t even countable. But, ever so slowly I have started to see weight shift, and my tummy to tighten up bit by bit. Even some stretch marks have started to fade away.

That’s when I realised how wonderful the female body can be. If your body can bring life into this world, it can sure as hell do anything else. There is nothing it can’t do. Your body is living proof of a miracle, and even though loving it right now feels far from possible it will become possible.

Remember one day you’ll love yourself. And remember, “I am fierce”.

I purchased this piece of artwork from Eillustration on Etsy or find her on Instagram

14 Comments

  1. ALICE
    May 16, 2018 / 9:36 am

    You’re right the female body is amazing! You should be so proud of your body x

  2. May 16, 2018 / 1:03 pm

    I go through phases of thinking “sod it this is what I look like now it’s all good” to hating every single last change I was left with. I’ve never been as big and wobbly as I am now and it feels weird but my body gave me my babies so there’s that. Without this saggy body I’d not have 2 of the best things in my life Xx

  3. May 16, 2018 / 1:24 pm

    Such a lovely post, I hated my post partum body for such a long time but now I’m so comfortable with it and it feels good! X

  4. May 16, 2018 / 6:46 pm

    I really love this post! I still hate on my body most days for the way that it looks, but I am always brought back up again by remembering what a bloody amazing thing it did! x

  5. May 16, 2018 / 7:39 pm

    Now I have always thought that a woman’s a body is amazing. But being a mama there be good days and bad days.

  6. May 17, 2018 / 9:30 am

    Your body created life, which is the most beautiful thing!

  7. May 17, 2018 / 3:19 pm

    I often really hate my body, I know it made three amazing people but its not how I want it to be and im dealing with other issues too because of my body.. its hard but there are always good days and bad

  8. May 17, 2018 / 6:27 pm

    You should definitely be proud of your body, as it created something so beautiful and special! Xx

  9. May 19, 2018 / 10:52 pm

    You are beautiful and unique. Cause you was able to perform a miracle. Not everybody does that. :*

  10. May 21, 2018 / 9:30 pm

    I genuinely hate my body more now than I ever have done in my life. I’m thankful that it’s summer so I can go on long walks with Imogen and get some cardio in, but I’m struggling. With my stomach problems I’m finding it extremely hard to lose weight more than ever and I admit it. One day I too will be able to say ‘I am fierce’ and be happy and accept it. But not yet, I’m not committing.

  11. May 22, 2018 / 8:12 pm

    Fab post, and I LOVE that print!! I hate my body so much at the moment I struggle constantly and probably change my mind on my daily outfit at least 3 times!! I’m not comfortable in my clothes and very rarely feel confident when I leave the house! It’s hard to accept your new ‘mum bod’ sometimes but like you say it literally created a miracle!! I’m currently in the process of trying to get the weight off – it’s a very slow process at the moment, but hey, i’m getting there slowly! We defiantly need to be kinder to ourselves!!!

  12. May 25, 2018 / 10:30 am

    Love love love this post! And I think I am going to purchase the print for beside my bed! I lost all confidence after having my youngest and I’m now slowly getting it back again xx

  13. Jen - LifeMilk
    June 3, 2018 / 11:34 am

    Such a real post. I dislike my body and actively trying to change it however i will NEVER forget that i carried a human and performed the most amazing miracle. YAAAAASSSSSS Caitlyn girl. xxx

  14. June 3, 2018 / 6:53 pm

    Great post! Even now, 8 months on, some days I feel quite confident and then I catch a glimpse of my little mum tum and it pulls me down a bit!! Then I think, hey, look at what my body did!! And suddenly i’m proud of how I look! Its a constant roller coaster.

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