4 ways to love your body after baby (postpartum realness)
Realistic workout goals
Flip the negative to a positive
Buy new clothes
Make memories
I'm 9 months postpartum, and getting ready for the day is a struggle. We all know that our bodies will be different after we have a baby. Our life is not a sitcom where you bounce back 22 minutes after you push out a human. So why is it still such a surprise?
If you also went through fertility treatments, then your body hasn't been your own or recognizable for a while. When I got pregnant, I was in year 3 of fertility treatments. I was the heaviest I have ever been. I tried to walk and go to yoga, but the tax of trying for a baby can be exhaustion. My energy went to work and keeping mentally strong through the roller coaster of dedicating my life to trying to have a baby. I had also decided to have a baby alone, so I didn't have anyone to share the load with. I made that decision, and I don't regret that, but stress shows up in your body. I was too tired to go to yoga, pilates, or to do 10,000 steps. By the time I became pregnant, my body was already so different. I liked the changes in my body during pregnancy; they proved that my miracle was coming true. And that's the switch you may need: flip the negative to a positive.
Your body took at least nine months to make a baby. If you did fertility treatments, it may have taken longer to get to this point, so don't feel bad when it takes longer than two months, 3 months, or even a year to get back to feeling comfortable in your body. Remember, it's a journey that requires patience and understanding, not a race to 'bounce back '.
Realistic Workout Goals
If you can get a workout in, great. But there may be days when you can't. That's fine, too. I had a C-section, so I had to wait six weeks to feel good enough to start walking. I found myself mad at myself over something I couldn't control. Once I realized that I couldn't control how my body healed or how fast it got back to being strong, my days were less of a struggle.
Be realistic about what you can do because if you don't, you will feel like you failed every day, and no one wants to feel like that. So instead of saying you will work out every day, start with three days a week. When you get an extra day in, you give yourself a win. Setting achievable workout goals will make you feel empowered and in control of your postpartum journey.
It’s taken me 9 months to start to really start my workout journey. I blame the Seattle weather. Truly, its trying to find the time. Babies change so much, that everyday is different. I am just starting to have a routine.
Flip Negative to Positive
Change the way you talk to yourself. When you're dressed for the day and look in the mirror, remind yourself out loud that you just had a baby. I know it's going to be hard because the person in the mirror may be a person you don't recognize, and that's okay. I am taking this opportunity to work on changing the way I talk to myself. I am raising a little girl, and the last thing I want to teach her is that it's okay to talk to yourself negatively. Positive self-talk can uplift you and boost your confidence during this transformative time.
Buy new clothes
I wish I had done this sooner. If I feel good in my clothes, I feel better. It's simple. I didn't buy any new clothes because I knew my body would be changing, so why waste money? It's not a waste. Your clothes before the baby won't fit, and your clothes during pregnancy won't fit either.
Make memories
Take pictures. I don't mean of your body, but take photos with your baby. It's hard to see pictures of yourself—I get it—but your baby will only be this small once. There will be so many unforgettable moments; you don't want to look back at those memories and not see yourself in them. Trust me, you will regret it.
So, to recap.
It will take longer than you think to be comfortable in your body. Let yourself be comfortable; don't compare yourself to the person you were before baby. This isn't a half-hour sitcom. Be nice to yourself, take photos, and buy clothes that make you feel good.