Gone are the days when postpartum women hid their bodies. There has been a cultural movement toward recognizing the many changes that a woman’s body goes through after giving birth. Soft, squishy tummies, swollen breasts, stretch marks, healing scars, and messy hair are all part of the beautiful chaos that surrounds the postpartum period. And we are here for it!
The most frequent postpartum surprises include the fact that we won’t be the only ones wearing diapers, how horrifying the first trip to the bathroom is, and the fact that we’ll still be living in pregnancy clothes. We’re here to pull the veil back and show how messy, beautiful, and tender the postpartum period really is.
We’ve gathered some of the most stunning and intriguing images of women embracing the postpartum period in honor of the magnificent majesty and unvarnished honesty of the time following childbirth.
That first meal post-birth just hits different. This momma’s first meal of a bacon cheeseburger, large fries, and a Coke was so necessary to hold off the hangry. | Dalijah Amelia
This is postpartum. Everyone has cried at least once today, mom included. And they’re all running on fragmented sleep trying to navigate through this new territory. It’s magical – the snuggles, the love, the roller coaster of emotions. | Dana Lawrie
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It’s more than skin deep, but it’s always loving the skin you’re in – stretch marks, wonky belly button, textured skin, surgery scars and all. | Kit and Me
A postpartum self-portrait taken by a photographer is one of the most beautiful ones. | Catherinesmithphotography
You might still look a little pregnant. You might have a dark stomach. There may also be some loose skin and fresh “tiger stripes.” Your C-section scar serves as a constant reminder of your badass status for undergoing extensive abdominal surgery to deliver your child. Greetings from your body. Embrace it. You did that. | Zoë Allamby
Give your body grace. Humans have been grown and housed there for at least nine months. It has fed them, cared for them, and given them the ideal setting. Before they ever breathed their first air. The human body is exquisite. It’s amazing. And so are you. |Erica Lo Photography
Two months postpartum. When asked why this mum would share photos like this, here’s what she had to say:
“Once upon a time, I was a first-time mum. When I was pregnant, I can still remember being scared by the stretch marks that were horribly crawling up my stomach every day, thinking that as long as they didn’t go above my belly button, everything would be fine.
“The numbers creeping higher and higher on the scales, thinking it’ll be okay if it just doesn’t get higher than 100 kg.”
In the photos, moms pose proudly with their stretch marks, scars, and bodies on full display. They often hold their children, too, and some moms breastfeed while others bottle-feed.
Their descriptions are equally as lovely, and they express their own, unfiltered thoughts and feelings while demonstrating how their admiration for and perspective of their bodies has evolved.
I never in my wildest dreams imagined I could feel this accepting of this postpartum body today.
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