The words MOMS need to hear: YOU DON’T NEED TO “GET YOUR BODY BACK”
THERE’S A PERVASIVE CULTURAL MYTH THAT AS A WOMAN, YOU SHOULD TRY TO “GET YOUR BODY BACK” AFTER PREGNANCY.
I was invited to speak on this point at a local mother and baby group. Of course, the wording of "getting their bodies back" wasn't used with any malice or intended harm.
It came like many ideas about women's bodies, unwittingly, from the recesses of our unconscious cultural conditioning.
"RUINED."
"Disgusting."
"Gross."
Those are just some of the words used about women's bodies after they give birth. Whether coming from others or used about themselves.
These words are riddled with ignorance.
A woman's body changes extremely quickly to create and support human life for roughly 9 months. Then they birth the child from INSIDE TO OUTSIDE OF THEIR BODY! This, from a purely physiological standpoint, is completely fascinating and seems almost out of this world.
From a spiritual standpoint, it is ceremonious, awe-inspiring, and a gateway to Source.
Yet from a cultural position, it's another opportunity for people to comment on, judge, and shame women's bodies.
Even the idea that women's bodies are celebrated during pregnancy is a fallacy.
You know about I'm talking about:
the glowing skin,
the shiny hair,
the bump which signals to the tiny human inside.
You would expect that women’s bodies would be celebrated.
The reality is most often they are not.
You become pregnant and realize this.
In fact, you may have never been commented on, judged, and shamed as much in your entire life!
Everyone has an opinion on your body when you're pregnant and they love to voice it.
"I've been pregnancy body-shamed by my mom, sister, and my grandma — but the kicker was when my mom said, 'You'll have to work really hard to lose weight after the baby. You've got rolls in the back of your neck you can't see!'" - woman from article
"I was called selfish during my pregnancy for working out at the gym. People kept saying that I needed to be at home just 'relaxing and eating." - woman from article
Seriously. Some things said to pregnant women are simply shocking.
SO MAMAS, WHEN IT COMES TO "GETTING YOUR BODY BACK," HERE'S THE TRUTH WITH A CAPITAL T!
Your body never left.
It was with you the whole time.
It was able to create and support the growth of an entire human being!! (Maybe even more than one).
During that time, your body was there, doing everything it needed to do to bring your perfect baby into the world.
Even if you had a high-risk pregnancy or had challenges during pregnancy and birth, your body was still doing its absolute best to support both you and your babe.
And in postpartum?
Your body is CONTINUING to do amazing things to support your baby.
Breastfeeding (if you choose to or have the option to) is continuing to give your baby nutrition, comfort, stuff that fights germs and illnesses, and so much more.
Outside of breastfeeding, your body is continuing to offer comfort, safety, and a mother's instinct for YEARS to come.
Your body is the expression of your love made manifest. It is how you be with your child. It is perfect for this reason.
I dream of a day when cultural conditioning informs us to practice patience, gratitude, and acceptance of our bodies.
It is practicing these very things that is part of the cultural shift we need to work on.
And, thankfully, we can each begin to take action on our own.
So start here:
Check out my companion article to learn about:
The Most Overlooked Exercise in Every Post-Partum Program,
5 PERMANENT BODILY CHANGES CAUSED BY PREGNANCY
Plus access to my Graceful Guide to Birth Recovery & Post-Partum Fitness.