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Many women go through pregnancy afraid of what it will do to their bodies. Sure, their bodies will change during pregnancy, but what about the long term?
Will I ever get my pre-baby body back?
How long will it take to lose the excess weight?
Will I always feel so different?
These are just a few of many common questions that women ask themselves during and after having a baby. Yes, bodily changes can feel weird and uncomfortable. And while your body will be different to some degree after pregnancy, that doesn’t need to be a negative thing.
The keys things you need to do are protect your mind from living in a negative space and foster your physical health. Below, Military Wives shares some advice for new mothers battling self-image issues.
Expect Differences in Your Body
Carrying and delivering a baby will take a toll on your body. You cannot expect your body to be the same as it was before you conceived. Your body may even feel foreign to you after your baby arrives. Your breasts may be larger, you may have left over baby weight, and you’ll probably experience higher fatigue levels than ever before.
Further, you can expect to experience a wide range of emotions because of your body‘s hormonal responses to pregnancy. It’s essential to keep in mind that just because your postnatal body is different doesn’t mean it’s damaged. Embrace where you are on your journey instead of stressing out about how to obtain your ideal body weight and image.
Stop Stressing Out About Your Weight
Too many new mothers become anxious to lose their baby weight right away. But the hard truth is that you may never lose every ounce of the weight, even if you work hard and obtain a healthy weight. Don’t give into guilt, confusion, or other negative emotions during this time. And stop relying on the scale for validation.
Remember that your body will be different in one way or another for the rest of your life. While setting goals and taking care of your physical health is important, try to adjust your perspective of the ideal body weight.
Further, don’t be discouraged or influenced by advertisements or other cultural pressures to “lose the baby fat“ quickly. Nothing is more important than nurturing your newborn and helping your body recover at a healthy rate.
Find the Right Clothes and Bra
Another practical way to improve your self-image after carrying and delivering a baby is to invest in clothing that will keep you comfortable on long and tiring days. You might be surprised by how many attractive, comfortable options there are when it comes to shirts, leggings, and other pieces of clothing.
It’s also important to make sure you have the right kind of bra. Along with having several nursing bras, make sure you have normal bras to accommodate your larger bust size. Each bra should be supportive, comfortable, and functional for everyday wear. Many retailers offer supportive bras for hard to fit sizes for busts that go all the way up to 46 I. This makes it easier to find the right type of bra that’s just as comfortable as your nursing bra.
Focus on Your Health
Lastly, don’t forget to prioritize your overall health as you recover from having a baby. Self-care can be especially challenging when balancing feeding and naptimes with all of your other responsibilities on almost no sleep.
Try to eat a decent diet and incorporate physical movement anytime you can. And if you’re not napping when baby naps, start doing that today! Remember: There’s no need to stress out about getting back to your pre-pregnancy body, but you do need to take care of yourself and maintain your health.
Don’t buy into the societal lie that you need to get your body back to where it was. Begin honoring your body for the miracle it just achieved, and don’t forget to enjoy the special time with your newborn as you make gradual lifestyle improvements. Be kind to yourself, invest in clothing and bras that better fit your body and focus on your physical health. If you commit to this approach, your body will naturally recover and you’ll have a healthy perspective to operate from.
If you enjoyed this article, you can find much more helpful content on militarywives.com.
submitted by Virginia Cooper