Finally, real women are daring to show the world their real mom bodies. Proclaiming to the world, “I am woman. I am real. Hear me roar!” A group of moms, bloggers at CTWorkingMoms.com, regular moms just like you and I, decided no more. No more accepting the status quo and hiding their post partum body because it didn’t look like the typical celebrity’s post partum body.
There is so much pressure from society to be beautiful and perfect; do we really need to put that pressure on ourselves? We live in a world where there is no forgiveness for imperfection. The status quo is that we strive for beauty at any cost or at least we die trying. Perfect or bust.
I think these moms rock. I could never do what they did. It takes big balls to be a "normal" mom and bare your post baby belly. I wish I could. I won’t lie; I have succumbed to societies peer pressure over the years. My body, like most women, is my sore spot. It’s the one thing that most women are very guarded about, especially after having a baby. That new skin you are in leaves many women feeling vulnerable in a way that only another woman can truly understand.
The simple fact is, in today’s world, we worship perfection. How can we not when the celebrity moms have their rocking pre-baby bodies back within 2 weeks after giving birth? Not to mention the fact that their pre-baby bodies had zero body fat, six-pack abs and well defined muscle throughout. Most celebrity moms are photoshopped and starved into having the bodies of 12-year-old boys. It’s very intimidating and it sets an impossible standard for mothers just as detrimental to women as the waif thin models do for our teens. Honestly, celebrity moms, where does all of your loose skin go? Is there top secret special medical waste plant built just for housing celebrity post-partum skin?
We need to unify as women and show the world that this is what having a baby looks like. The Beyoncé’s of the world are the exception, not the rule. Beyoncé gets to sleep in and has nannies to watch her baby while her trainer whips that post baby body back into shape. We non-celebrity moms have very little free time, even less sleep and usually no help. Its hard work looking your best when you are surviving on coffee, 3 hours of sleep and whatever food you can scavenge in between feedings.
These working moms in Connecticut have the right idea. To do this, we need to stop comparing ourselves to celebrities and stop judging one another. We should be proud of our post baby bodies for what they’ve done. I don’t care if you had your baby two weeks ago, two months ago or two years ago; growing babies is hard work and you should be proud of yourself. Let’s start a movement. Dare to bare those post baby bellies. Mommies of the world unite!
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Comments 22
Using the term "real" isn't degrading or contributing to the problem, it's just a word to help people differentiate from "Hollywood" (ie people who can afford trainers and/or plastic surgery). After I had my son 6 years ago I bounced right back, I got like 2 tiny stretch marks. Then I had twins. I bounced back too, in a way, and I didn't get more stretch marks but it made the ones I had a lot worse. Also, I say in a way because while technically I weigh the same as I did before I was pregnant with them, I don't fit in any clothes and had to buy bigger sizes and the weight around my belly and hips changed. It does take guts for us "everyday" moms, if that is a better term, to show our post baby bellies. (no pun intended.) I don't dwell on it, I know I'm not doing anything to help the situation, but when I try to put on a pair of pants that won't go over my butt even though I weigh no different than when I bought them, yes I want to cry and mumble about my body.
It's great that these women want to spread the word about normal "post baby bellies"....but I, for one, contrary to popular belief, do not believe that having a child is an excuse to let yourself go...or gain a bunch of weight. Sorry. I don't. We too promote a healthy lifestyle and healthy food choices. I had twins and am smaller now than I was prior to having them. I'm not "braggine". I'm saying that b/c I watch what I eat and exercise, I am more "fit" than I was prior to pregnancy when I should have had all the time in the world to be fit. It's very easy to blame the media and hide behind baby weight rather than face the fact that maybe you need to eat healthier and excercise more. If you love your fluffy body, then great. If you don't, it's not the media's fault. That's all I'm saying.
Hmm great idea, but I agree its also a little degrading to have you say "real moms." Anyone who is a mother whether by giving birth, or stepped into the mommy role of a child is a mom.
After my 3rd and 4th birth I was actually about 2sizes smaller each time than before I got pregnant(before 3rd preg I was 22-24ish, gave birth went straight into a sz 18-20, 4th was still about a 20, after she was born was in 14-16 in 3 months or less) I didnt go crazy exersizing trying to get in shape, it just happened.
Expectant moms must, first of all, stick to a healthy diet, Yes, we "are eating for two" but that is no excuse to stuff our faces silly. The occasional indulgence is OK, but, weight can controlled in a very healthy manner during pregnancy. Even so, all bodies are different. these models and actresses must bounce back quickly, as their physique is their tool of the trade, but i must not be as easy as they say, maybe it is, but their bodies are also trained to do that. They were fit pre-baby and stayed fit during pregnancy, so post-baby body is bound to be very close to "normal" in a shorter time. I always say, be realistic and eat healthy before duting and after, then a lot more depends of genetics as well. Be happy, do your best effort to recover your ideal shape and weight, but don't make it an obsession.
Belly dancer moms have been baring their post-partum bellies for years! The difference is we are not trying to make a statement about what our body looks like. Our dancing speaks for itself when you see what our bodies can do. Belly dance promotes a sense of confidence coupled with a spiritually uplifting energy that nearly eliminates the feelings of inadequacy that cause some people to complain about moms who prioritize their looks over selflessly caring for their babies. No one is better or worse, just different. If you focused on exercise and health before your pregnancy, you will focus on it after and have a better looking body for it. If you didn't focus on exercise and health before, don't blame those that did. The way you look has always been your choice.
I agree with Tami, I've had 4 children and the first 2 I shrank down super fast and was in my old jeans 3 days after birth. I didn't do anything special just good genetics but with my other 2 had a harder time getting back down. I think the problem is EVERYONE assuming there should be a mold that all women fit into. Hollywood wants a sz 2 3 days after birth and "normal" women want a a flabby stomach. How about we quit saying what a woman should be and just accept that we are all different and our bodies react differently and no one should persecute anyone for how their body is =P