This is a delicate topic, I know. Many women (and men) have an opinion about this. It's almost as it's forbidden to be sad about how your body looks after pregnancy and breastfeeding. You should be happy that you have had the fantastic opportunity to have a baby of your own and don't think any negative thoughts whatsoever. But the truth is that far from all women are content with how they look after they have become mothers and a lot of women - me for example - have a hard time accepting all the changes that follow from pregnancy. Of course it's sad when women get depressed about things that are hard to fix, stretch marks for example, they will fade after time, but I guess that they will always be there, reminding you of what your body went through. And your breasts will surely look different after intense and long term breastfeeding. But besides from the things you can't change, there are some things you can do to recover your old body - this is an expression some people argue you shouldn't use - but I don't thing that you should be so worried about what other people think, you are entitled to your opinion. You own your thoughts.
In fact, you should do something to recover your old body, if doing so, it will not only look better, IT WILL LAST LONGER. If you don't invest time and effort to reactivate your inner abdominals for example, this may affect your core stability, your back and posture for the rest of your life. You should never be ashamed of wanting to look like your old you, or wanting to look even better. You can always say that you are investing in your health if someone puts you down for wanting to look better, for being shallow instead of focusing on your baby only - as if it wasn't possible to do both.
I am so proud of what I've achieved after having to adorable (but wild) boys. My core strength is better than ever before. My stomach has never been this flat and strong. My upper body is strong and toned, and it has to be. I have to be strong to be able to care for my children and to last long, hopefully for many many years. I have a c-section scar on my belly, my breasts don't look the same and my hips are a bit wider, but I can live with that, knowing that I have done all I can in terms of recovering my core strength and healing my diastasis recti. I feel more confident than ever, and I promise you will do to if you do something to rehabilitate your postpartum body. And remember, it's not only about losing pregnancy weight, it's about getting strong and maintaining a healthy lifestyle for you and your child, being a STRONG and HEALTHY MOM : )
//Nicole Hellgren
