A mother goes through preparing her body to be the perfect host for baby, the unstable period of trying to conceive, nine months of smooth or complicated pregnancy, labor and childbirth, followed by the overwhelming first days where she is clueless as to how to handle a newborn, then the months where she is still figuring things out while dealing with a surplus of hormones and possibly the baby blues, and afterwards trying to settle with a routine while functioning on minimal sleep. After that, she cares for her home and starts paying attention to herself, makes effort when it comes to her marriage because after all she is a wife and a partner, she heads back to work while spending part of her income on daycare or chooses to stay home to tend to her growing family, she oversees the milestones of her child while always struggling to find time for herself.
Along comes the comment of: Oh you still haven’t lost your baby weight?
Social media is showing the public the success stories, women who bounce back 2 weeks after giving birth, but is this real? This unattainable lifestyle with a chef, a personal trainer, a nanny and the whole nine yards is just a slap in the face to “regular” women, real women who stay at home or with full time jobs, with body image issues and emotional eating, with only the basic support at home. Not everyone can afford a lavish entourage and these mothers in particular have fallen into the trap of comparing their lives to those who are in the public eye. And not only do said mothers feel bad about themselves, their acquaintances or even strangers believe it’s their right to ask that awful question.
This is a mere overview of what women go through to become mothers, and while no words can do us justice, it is important to highlight the pressure we put on ourselves to have it all. Do you find it fair for an outsider to comment on the last thing we need to be brought up? Is it your body or ours? Do you have any idea whatsoever of the struggle we have when it comes to eating healthy, being strong, breastfeeding and staying up all night? Do you know that some women have health issues that prevent them from losing weight fast? Do you know that some are going through depression because their bodies aren’t the same as they used to be?
Each mother has the right to get back into shape at her own pace, and it is no one’s right for that matter, to state their opinion. Some women need 3 months, others need a year. Some have 2 babies within a short time span, while others take 5 years to bounce back to their pre-pregnancy body.
Please respect every mother’s sacred body; it is not an issue that is open to discussion.
Maria Najem
Photo: www.livingwellmom.com
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