I read through this article and started writing out my thoughts in response below.
Are Women’s Bodies Still Beautiful After Pregnancy?
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- taken by Jade Beall
We are so harsh in our society on women and our bodies. I was/am one of them. Maybe not so much with others, but definitely with myself. And at the end of the day, both are ridiculous. I’ve been going to school at The Wellspring School for Healing Arts for Holistic Nutrition for the past few months and it is changing my life and my perspective on my own body and the bodies of women. I didn’t see that comin’ that’s for sure, but it has been necessary. If I am going to help people get healthier and aid in healing disease and ailments as a calling, I have to live a life of embracing and accepting. And shouldn’t this be the way for all of us? Accepting ourselves and accepting others right where we’re at is the only way to break through to the other side and have the kind of freedom in our bodies God desires for each of us. We should never feel shame for the way we look, even if the way we look represents deeper issues or societal pressures or a body that isn’t the ‘norm’ (whatever that means). We are human. We are women. And we are loved. If not by others than by the One who made us, always, unconditionally.
Four-and-a-half months from now I will be giving birth to my second child and right now my body is not my own, but then again, it is, isn’t it? This is fully me, fully mother, fully woman. I have been resisting this moment in time, but why? Because I feel inadequate, uncomfortable, not ‘myself?’ Yes. All of the above. But this is all of me giving all of my body over to growing and nourishing my child. And it is a gift. In all of it’s heavy, uncomfortable, hormonal glory, this is a gift. And whether you are pregnant or not, feel worthy or worthless in your own skin, our bodies in all of their various shapes are one of the greatest gifts we have.
And so I accept. And so I embrace. And in one week, I will see just who I’ve been nourishing: girl or boy. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter because it is all bigger than me and it is all energy, life, spirit and movement. I can resist or I can flow. Today, I’m gonna’ flow…
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Are you hard on yourself about your body? Have you accepted and embraced your pregnancy and post pregnancy body? Share your thoughts, oh, brave and fierce women!
I’m also pregnant (almost the same due date!). Great post about the thoughts that roll through a woman’s head: a complete wonder at the beauty of creating new life and a tinge of fear of some potential loss of personal value to the world. I have to remind myself that I don’t want relationships built on impressing people, but on loving people (and being loved).
Congrats! I didn’t know you were expecting! I am due in October and I LOVE my pregnant body. However, I am worried about how it will look particularly AFTER breastfeeding. It’s silly but I am anxious about it. I should be more accepting but I do feel pressure to look a certain way. I’m hoping this is something I can overcome. To be completely comfortable with oneself has to be so liberating!
Stephanie! Congrats right back! Awesome. We are due about a month or so apart. I like my prego bod the first time around, not so much this time around. I feel like I got bigger overnight and I’m just really uncomfortable, I don’t care about my size so much bc I know it comes off, I just feel so heavy and not myself in my own skin, trying to own it anyway 🙂 The first one was incredible, I was lifting weights, running, took a dance improv class, etc. and wasn’t at all nauseous, my first trimester did me in for about a month-and-a-half so tryin’ to get my groove back and get back to moving and Spinning class, etc. which helps! ANYWAY, I love that you love your prego self, that’s awesome!!! It is liberating to feel good regardless of all the changes, but for a lot of women there is a grieving process that goes with it as well before the embrace comes 😉 😉 Best! -Rama
Pregnancy is a beautiful thing and children are an amazing gift. My body is not exactly as it was before pregnancy, but I would not change it for the world.
Beautifully put, Melissa. Mine either, but I am embracing it and loving it just the same. And to see your children as a result…nothing compares 🙂