I spent over two years feeling completely dissatisfied with my body.
Should I have felt this way right after my body had just given me the greatest gift of all (my baby boy)? No, I guess not. But I did.
Yes, we should love our bodies no matter what. We should be grateful for what they do for us. I wholeheartedly believe these sentiments. Sometimes they are just easier said than done.
My pregnancy had left me with stretch marks, loose skin, and a pooch. All of these are pretty typical changes, though I later learned even these common "side effects" of pregnancy can be prevented. I was also left with more serious issues, like an umbilical hernia and split abs.
When you are born with your body a certain way and then it drastically changes in nine short months, it can be a hard pill to swallow. Not to mention that you are constantly comparing yourself to others who still look "normal."
I was bombarded with images of celebrities with photoshop on their side, making me feel lesser-than. I hid my stomach at all times, even from my husband. Sneaking quickly into the shower, standing towards the wall, away from view. Feeling ashamed.
This was of course a very unhealthy way of feeling. I should have accepted my body through this transition and loved it. Love should be the reason for wanting to take care of your body, not hate. I think these feelings came from hopelessness. I wondered, "Will my body would ever look the same again?" I didn't think there was anything I could do to fix these issues.
I pored over the Internet trying to find a solution to my problems. A lot of what I found was women trying to embrace the changes that had occurred to their body. While I believe in positive body image as much as the next person, I knew I wanted to heal my body.
I couldn't accept that this natural process, that our bodies were designed to do, should leave us in such an altered state. To clarify, I am not talking about weight or the shape of one's body. All body types are beautiful. I just believe that you weren't born with split-abs and a pooch, so why should you have to just accept them for the rest of your life, simply because you had a child?
As I began to research deeper I found sources that supported this theory. No! You don't have to look this way forever. Yes! There are ways to heal these issues. Yes! Lots of women have already successfully done this. I began to implement the guidance I had received from my research, and begun the process of healing my body. I was no longer afraid to go through pregnancy again, as I knew what simple things I needed to do to prevent any further harm to my body.
As I went through my second pregnancy, I loved every moment of it and appreciated my body. My body was resilient through the whole process. I proudly showed my pregnant belly to the world in my maternity pictures, something I had been far too embarrassed to do the first time around. Now three months postpartum I feel confident I will get my body back into amazing shape, and I will love it all along the way.
I want all women who may be feeling this way to know that they can heal their bodies after pregnancy. They can get back in a bikini and feel confident. It takes lots of hard work and dedication, but it is completely possible. Love your body through all its changes!