If you have had a baby and you do not like your postpartum body then you are not alone. Most women struggle to accept their postpartum body. But have you ever wondered "why.""
"Why do we dislike our postpartum body?"
Why is it so hard to accept the difference?"
"Why do so many women opt to change it through surgery or other ways that are advertised ?"
Below are some of the top reasons why you hate your postpartum body.
5. Your clothes don't fit the same
After you have a baby, oftentimes your clothes will not fit. Whether you are 6 weeks postpartum or 10 years, your clothing may never fit exactly the same, regardless of how much weight you lose. As a result some women may start to feel like a stranger in their own body. They may not know what clothes will flatter them anymore or how to find new clothes that look great on them. This can lead women to dislike their body.
4. You feel judged by others
It is no secret that we live in an era where snapping back into shape after having a baby is almost always expected. With that expectation in mind, we feel the responsibility to live up to the standard of getting our body back almost instantly. Realistically, this takes time. For some it may take years to lose all of the baby weight, while others may never fully lose the weight. With all of this in mind, no wonder why many women start to feel judged by others and start having a negative outlook about their body.
3. Your hormones are not stable
After a woman has a baby, Estrogen and progesterone decrease, while prolactin and oxytocin increase. This sudden shift of hormones can make you have the postpartum blues. It could take months for a new mother to feel mentally stable again. So during this time frame, a woman may have cloudy vision about her new postpartum body.
WHAT TO EXPECT WITH POSTPARTUM HORMONE CHANGES
2. You have Body Dysmorphia
Body Dysmorphia is a mental disorder in which a person obsesses over a particular body part that they feel is imperfect. Often this flaw is only visible to the individual, but not to others. A person with Body Dysmorphia may go through great lengths to try to alter their appearance in order to feel better about themselves. Body Dysmorphia can happen after a woman has a baby, even if she has had no prior issues.
ALL ABOUT BODY DYSMORPHIA
1. You are comparing yourself to celebrities and/or friends
Every time you view celebrities who have just given birth, their bodies seen to snap back the very next day. They do not appear to have any stretch marks and some are sporting around flat and tone abs. This is very unrealistic. However, if you catch yourself falling into the trap of comparing yourself to celebrities or anyone else who appears glamorous after giving birth, then you could set yourself up for feeling bad about your new body.
How to embrace you new body
without calling a plastic surgeon!
5. Practice positive self talk.
Tell yourself you are beautiful. Whenever a negative word comes to your mind about your body, intercept it and say something positive about yourself. You can also make a list about all of your positive attributes, both inside and out.
4. Remind yourself that you are a warrior and you brought a life in this word.
Having a baby is one of the most stressful events a person can go through. Be kind to yourself. Understand that your body has done something incredible and give yourself a pat on the back.
3. Give yourself a mini make-over.
Go shopping, do your hair and nails or go to the spa. You can even book a massage or a photo shoot. While you are probably not feeling hot and sexy now, doing these things can help you embrace your new figure. Thus, putting your personal needs first can help you grow into accepting your new body.
2. Talk to someone.
Tell a person that you trust what you are going through. Most likely, they will understand. No matter how lonely you feel, you are not alone. Millions of people have the same struggles with their body.
1. Stop looking at celebrities who seem to bounce back overnight.
Oftentimes, the images you are looking at online are not real. They are heavily photoshopped or the pictures are taken at flattering angles.
Celebrities, social media influencers, or even friends will only show you the positive sides of having a new baby. It is extremely rare that people are willing to give others a realistic view about what really happens after child birth. In addition, most of the photos that people are posting of their postpartum bodies are probably edited/filtered, therefore not giving other people a clear view about what a real body looks like after child birth. Do yourself a favor and stop comparing yourself to unrealistic views of other people. It may help to just avoid social media for awhile or at least until you can get your mental health back in order.
BOTTOM LINE: If you are feeling not so positive about your new postpartum body then you are not alone. There are millions who are struggling just like you. It is important to understand that you are not alone and that accepting your new body will not happen overnight. It is a journey and you will get there....
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"You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you
