Bouncing Back After a Baby
After a baby, most women are eager to get back to that pre-baby body they once had. Prove to the world that you still got it! That moms are sexy too. In a society that values and encourages the snap back culture, moms are putting this unnecessary pressure on ourselves to bounce back. I know I did. The faster the recovery the better, I thought. I’m sure I questioned other moms, wondering how long it took them. How long is a reasonable and realistic time frame. I’m sure I compared myself to celebrities who miraculously snapped back in what seemed like weeks! But the true question is not how long does it take moms to bounce back …
But why does it even matter?!
Mama’s we just birthed a baby! A whole human! It took 9 months to grow this little life - 9 months of our bodies transforming and our hormones raging, and the inevitable mental shift that comes with being a mommy. This is no easy process. Some forget that it is not just a physical change, but a mental and emotional change as well. And after baby is out, we are adjusting to motherhood, sometimes balancing more than one child, and while our physical health and diet is important- be easy on yourself! Physical healing takes six to eight weeks minimum - sometimes longer for my c-section mamas. Let’s not forget to factor in postpartum (yes PPD is real!). While for some getting back in the gym may be therapeutic - maybe the gym is your happy place (not me! Lol) - it’s important to take your time and let your body heal. It’s important to be easy on yourself. Don’t compare yourself to other women, and don’t forget what your body has done. Created life.
So applaud yourself, rather than tear yourself down because your body doesn’t look the way it used to. I see my c-section scar as my battle scar. I look at my new body as proof and a testament to the miracles I created. My greatest accomplishments.
I am blessed to have had two smooth and seamlessly easy pregnancies. Pregnancy to me is SO beautiful and I embrace every single part of it. Pregnancy taught me that life is bigger than me, my wants and even my fears. It’s taught me to love my transforming body. Every curve, every blemish, and every stretch mark it may bring.
It’s easy to sometimes over analyze and become overwhelmed with the quick and major transformation our bodies are making and that's totally normal. Some days you really don't feel sexy. Nothing fits, you grunt just to bend over and put on your socks. Lol. We evolve into this brand new person.
….But I say, soak it all in. Enjoy the moments you feel the tiny kicks during your pregnancy and the connection you build with your baby growing in your womb. Enjoy the journey. Embrace the change. Love yourself, your baby, and all the newness.
Here are 5 things I wish I did more of after labor/delivery:
Get rest - Your body needs TIME and REST to heal properly. If you are not whole yourself, you will be no good for your baby and your family. Though, easier said than done (trust me - I KNOW) - do your best to rest as much as you can. You’re not expected to bounce right back into your normal routine and doing it ALL - so please, REST.
Pay attention to your mental health - A lot of times we ignore what we’re feeling in order to be strong for our baby and for our family, but pay attention and acknowledge what you’re going through. Don’t ignore it.
Be mindful of what you’re putting in your body - Drink lots of water!! And of course, eat the right foods. Make sure you’re replenishing your body with healthy food options to get yourself back on track. No crash diets or major calorie deficits (especially for my breastfeeding mamas) - but do be mindful of what you’re putting into your body as you heal and recover from childbirth.
Voice your needs - Now this is something I can admit I have a hard time doing. Asking for help. But it truly does take a village and we have to realize it’s okay to not be able to handle it all. Part of healing means letting others help.
Be gracious with yourself - Healing takes time. Don’t overexert yourself. Don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself to do more than what your physically or mentally capable of. Set realistic goals within realistic timeframes. We are our own hardest critic - but I am telling you now, you don’t have to be! That you will feel better if you treat yourself with grace and understand that you won’t bounce back overnight.
Realistically, bouncing back encompasses more than just “getting your body back”. To me, bouncing back means fully recovering mentally, physically, and emotionally. Once the hormones balance out and you feel more like yourself - THAT is the real bounce-back! And there’s no specific timeframe on when that will happen - because we are all different. And every pregnancy experience is different. I bounced back pretty fast after my first baby, but the second one —— WOW (LOL)! But even in the moments where you find yourself being hard on yourself, the hard reality is - you are going to be different after you have a baby. Your body, your mindset, your relationship .. so much is inevitably different. However, don’t let society make you feel the pressure to be a certain weight or have a particular body type to be deemed as pretty or acceptable. Make sure everything you do is for YOU, your health, and your precious baby.
Motherhood has truly been God's greatest gift to me. Its kept me humble, selfless, and I'm finally learning that I can't control everything. Though it has its difficult moments for sure, I am basking in all that it brings because I've learned that even the moments I am hard on myself - pregnancy IS sexy anddd motherhood IS sexy. And once I began embracing ALL the changes motherhood brought - the good, the bad, and the ugly (lol) - I then realized I am SEXY just the way I am!
🤍 J. Leigh
