{"id":16864,"date":"2020-03-01T09:23:44","date_gmt":"2020-03-01T08:23:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=16864"},"modified":"2020-02-28T14:33:11","modified_gmt":"2020-02-28T13:33:11","slug":"body-after-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/body-after-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"Forever Changed: Why You Won\u2019t \u201cGet Your Body Back\u201d After Pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Making a human from scratch is hard work. It\u2019s one of the most physically demanding things people do as humans. It requires your literal blood, sweat, and tears. Pregnancy and birth transforms you from the inside out. With it comes many unexpected changes. This is a time for tenderness, compassion, and patience for your growing and changing body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pregnancy, while incredibly rewarding, is also self-sacrificial. Women give their bodies over as a home to create a new life. They are stretched to their limits, emotionally, physically, and energetically. This beautiful act of love means that after the birth of your new addition, you will be forever changed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Change tends to make us weary. So the idea of having a not only a new baby and family dynamics, but a new body- can be incredibly nerve-wracking. Pregnancy changes you, there\u2019s no way around that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pregnant people\u2019s bellies expand with the growth of their babies. A beautiful dance of development. Women bring new life into the world, but then face the shame of needing to shrink down. They are led to believe that growth is only acceptable during pregnancy, and even then there is often an unhealthy emphasis on weight.<\/span><\/p>\n

They are bombarded by magazine headlines and blog posts about \u201cGetting Your Body Back\u201d. They feel insane amounts of pressure from society, and themselves, to have a flat stomach- before the uterus even has a chance to return to its normal size. They\u2019re told to \u201cget back in shape\u201d and \u201cget your pre-baby body\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

This message is not only unrealistic but harmful.<\/span><\/p>\n

This shaming of pregnant and postpartum bodies can trigger harmful eating patterns, especially if someone has a history of eating disorders or yo-yo dieting. The postpartum body is in a state of healing, and needs proper nutrition to come back to a state of harmony. If a new mother is nursing, it\u2019s that much more critical that they are getting lots of healthy food<\/a> and are staying properly hydrated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Concerns about dieting can hinder someones\u2019 ability to heal and keep a healthy milk supply.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s ok to be self conscious. It\u2019s ok to want your old body. It\u2019s ok to feel uncomfortable in your own skin. It can be frustrating to not feel like your old self. These feelings are all totally normal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You may not be able to change your body immediately, but you can change your mindset. Coming to a feeling of gratitude and pride for the process you just underwent can be enough to change your outlook on your physical appearance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The standards of beauty carried in western cultures emphasize thin limbs, and smooth, photoshopped skin. That isn\u2019t real life. Redefine your standards of beauty. Creating life is one of the most beautiful processes that people go through, and postpartum is just as much a part of that as pregnancy is.<\/span><\/p>\n

Post baby body blues still got you down? Here are some helpful tips to switch your perspective:<\/span><\/p>\n