I’m not going to lie. My body-positivity was at an all-time high while I was pregnant with my daughter. Like many of us, I’ve had minor issues throughout my whole life when it comes to how I viewed myself. Looking back, there were times I thought I was fat when I was completely healthy. So seeing my body in a whole new way, and watching it literally create a fantastic little human being, was eye-opening. That said, I also had grand illusions of “bouncing back.”
And the postpartum photos I saw in US Weekly didn’t help things all that much.
“I think I want to invest in a whole new wardrobe,” I told my husband. “I want to look like a fashionable mom.” Yes, I actually said that. Then I realized that babies spit up and have accidents a lot, which is why you want to avoid things you need to dry-clean.
Also, I just felt a little unfamiliar with my body.
My stomach, which I loved weeks earlier, almost resembled a bloated-yet-deflated beach ball. I didn’t want to pour a lot of money into things that didn’t fit well, or were in a size I was unhappy with.
Kylie Jenner had the same issues, which she revealed on an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. “Nothing in my closet fits me,” she said to sister Kim Kardashian. “I’m just feeling a little insecure. I feel like my hips have just spread. My favorite jeans, they’re never going to fit me again.”
“I feel like some people don’t get it. Some people are just body shamers.”
It was relatable, for sure. Because, body changes after birth aren’t just about weight — they’re also about structure.
Even though Jenner gave some advice on how she bounced back, it may not be the most relatable for some moms.
“I’m naturally just a really skinny person. But not like Kendall. She’s naturally, like, model status. But yeah, I’ve always had a really flat stomach, but I never felt like it went back to what it was before Stormi until recently, and I feel like it has a lot to do with diet,” she said on Instagram Live, according to Yahoo.
She admitted that she eliminated carbs to get back to her post-baby body. As you know, carbs usually have a bad reputation when it comes to losing weight.
“I really eat very crazy usually. Like whatever I want,” she admitted. “Pizza, pasta, a lot of dairy. And I just kind of cut all of that out and have just been eating better.”
“And I feel like that’s the trick for me, personally.”
Jenner has a point — changing up your diet often yields better results than exercise alone. But here’s what all new mothers need to know.
Even though things may seem foreign right now, it’s okay to carry some post-baby weight. And it’s okay if you don’t “bounce back” immediately.
Jenner is in the public eye, so she may have felt a bit of added pressure — but it can often take moms years to feel more confident in their bodies.
Plus, not all new moms have the same level of help that Jenner had after the birth of Stormi.
Babies are a lot of hard work, and if you need to choose between exercise and sleep, you’ll probably choose sleep.
Oftentimes, the scars and stretch marks and bumps left behind after having a baby can be seen as a beautiful reminder that your body created a life. That life literally depended on that body to grow strong.
*one week postpartum*
— Douglas A. Boneparth (@dougboneparth) March 12, 2019
Me: Did you get any sleep last night?
Wife: Yeah.
Me: So, you’re good now?
Wife: ...
Me: I’ll see myself out.
So, even though you may want to bounce back, just know that there’s no rush.
With food choices, you should fuel yourself with nutritious foods that will give you energy, but don’t be so hard on yourself if you need to pop a Mama Celeste pizza in the microwave, since time is so limited.
Also, because they’re delicious and you deserve it. You just had a baby.
That first year, especially, is going to be a blur. So, don’t forget to go easy on yourself.
That baby loves you regardless of what your body currently looks like.
Even though it’s a shame that so many women feel down about themselves after giving birth, it is nice to know that even Kylie Jenner can admit it’s a rude awakening.
Most celebrities are out and about looking better than ever while the standard mom is still homebound and exhausted.
If seeing Jenner’s story is making you feel bad (or just making you crave all the food she supposedly swore off), try to put that energy towards something more productive.
Because you should never compare yourself to other postpartum moms, especially celebrities.
But if she’s helpful with motivation to change things up, try to reprioritize your future weight loss in your mind. It shouldn’t be about looking as good as Kylie Jenner — it should be about staying as healthy as you can for your baby.
Because that baby is going to be a toddler soon. And toddlers are active.
Me [stressed after chasing toddler around bedroom for an hour]: Please, please, time for bed. I have lots of work to do.
— Merve Emre (@mervatim) August 10, 2018
Toddler: Mommy, just relax.
Me: What?
Toddler: Act normal and be yourself.
Just remember — you truly are beautiful.
Women at every stage of pregnancy and having a baby are beautiful. It might be tough to see now, but give it some time.
No matter what your body type was like before pregnancy, it’ll be a little different afterward.
Having a baby takes a toll, but it’s a small sacrifice when you realize you’re bringing a kind, intelligent, and incredibly sweet new person into the world. Sure, Kylie Jenner may miss her favorite jeans, but chances are, she’s much happier to have Stormi in her life.
