We all know that the female body is pretty amazing. This is a body which grows life, feeds a child, and does all manner of wonderful things at the same time. With this in mind, why are so many of us ashamed of what is underneath our clothes? Why do we try so hard to disguise or hide, the wonderful form that we own for ourselves?
Body image is an issue for both men and women, but after giving birth, many women find it hard to be proud of their body. Just read that back for a second – ‘hard to be proud of their body’. It’s just delivered a child! This is a real-life miracle, right there! A study by Mothercare in the UK has shown that half of new mothers feel this way. Something has to change.
To help turn the tides of change, the very same company have put together a new London-based campaign, called ‘Body Proud Mom’. Across London over the coming months, there will be 10 powerful images of real-life postnatal bodies. Scars, stretch marks, you name it. No more unrealistic images of perfectly toned women who claim to have given birth three days beforehand. It’s just not possible!
Is this something that more countries should be attempting? I think so!
Putting undue pressure on a woman to look a so-called version of perfect is unacceptable at any time, but just after giving birth? After nine months of carrying a child, sleepless nights, aches and pains, all manner of weird pregnancy symptoms, only to then go through hours of agonising labour, perhaps ending in a C section (which by the way, is a hugely invasive procedure), and then, after all of that, be forced to smile for the camera and magically lose x number of pounds in weight overnight?
Unrealistic isn’t the word! It’s not strong enough!
Ladies, whether or not you’ve just given birth, you should be proud of what your body has done, and what it is capable of. The guys that are reading this, you played a part in the wonder of conception, so you should be equally as proud too. We should not be forced to feel inadequate because of stretch marks, scars, and a little extra wobble, we should embrace it all! These are your battle scars, this is your story!
Body Proud Mom is a fantastic campaign, which I hope spreads across the globe, opening up this very real conversation that we all need to have. There is enough pressure on a new mom, without expecting to shed baby weight quicker than is humanly possible. The images that are put out there by the media are unfair and far too unrealistic. Why do you think celebrities disappear from the radar for a few months after giving birth? It’s not only because they want to spend time with their new bundle of joy, it’s because they want to lose weight before the cameras catch them! But why? Why not show your miracle-providing body to the world in all its glory?
Ladies, embrace your body. Embrace every single lump, bump, ripple, scar, mark, and wobble.
