positive body image after having a baby

A few days ago I was driving in the car, just Nova and I.  There were no toddlers to distract my thoughts as I listened to a podcast on the calm drive home.  At a stop light I randomly looked down, for no reason at all.  As I glanced down I saw my stomach hanging over the seat belt.  I saw it, gave it no thought, and moved on.  But then I had a thought… I should be upset about it.  But I wasn’t.  I didn’t dislike my body.  I just saw my body, how it was, with no negative thoughts, and I was shocked.

I grew a baby for 9 months.  Then I had a baby 5 weeks ago.  I knew my body had changed.  I loved the changes.  I had a baby and without even forcing it on myself I gave myself grace.  Grace to have body peace.  Peace with where my body is at right now and not wishing for where it will be months from now.

I have gone through the postpartum part twice before, and this third time I have a different mind set about it.  It’s not something that is crowding my mind.  It crowded my mind with previous pregnancies.  I even have a whole page dedicated to my post baby weight loss journey from when I was pregnant with Hunter.  It was a bigger deal to me then, but now it’s not a mental priority.  It’s not something to add stress about.  I have so many more important things and people in my life, why add the mental stress about something that isn’t the most important thing in the world?

Maybe my mind set has changed because I know it took 9 months to grow a baby and change my body, and that I don’t have expectation about instant changes (that’s just not realistic).  I’m also happy with where I am at.  I know with my real food way of eating, being active, and working to not stress about as many things, the weight will naturally go away when my body is ready to let go of it. I also know from my previous pregnancies that it usually begins to happen around the 5 month post baby mark for me, so I’m not forcing anything and it is so peaceful to feel that way.

I just want all you ladies out there to know, it is okay to take your time losing the baby weight.  It is okay to love your body after you have a baby.  Your body will look different, and it may take a while to get back to where you were before, but the more grace you give yourself in the journey, the better you’re going to feel as a person, as a mother, and as an example to others that may be struggling with negative body image thoughts about themselves.

Give yourself grace.

Love your body for what it does for you.

Calm the negative self talk, and up the positivity in your mind.

Your baby, your family and most importantly, YOU deserve it.

How is your mind set post baby?  What are your struggles?  How do you work to overcome them?

Heather