Postpartum Body Image

In the winter 2008 issue of Brain, Child, in the Nutshell column, Elrena Evans shares information that she found on the recent glamorization of the pregnant body and the resulting negative impact this has had on postpartum body image. Evans reports that in American culture, the pregnant body is sexy while postpartum women want to show no trace of having been pregnant. She writes about asking Jessica Smartt Guillion, Ph.D., an epidemiologist, why, "...pregnant bodies are in but postpartum bodies are not." Smarrt Guillion's response is that the pregnant body is "fetishized by the media at the moment, without acknowledgement of the physical impact of childbearing on the body." This short article really got me to thinking...

So many changes occur in our bodies during pregnancy. This is also true postpartum. Changes continue for months and sometimes throughout the first year or more depending on breastfeeding, etc.

A negative postpartum body image can contribute to low self-esteem and postpartum depression, as well as a host of other negative emotional and societal effects. It can also cause a mother to diet which could potentially be detrimental to her infant if she is breastfeeding as well as contribute to postpartum depression symptoms from lack of nutrients and calories.

I cannot count the number of times I have heard mothers of young children say, "I have felt so unattractive since I had my baby." We need to reclaim the "mama body" and celebrate it as an image of strength, warmth, and beauty. How can you proudly embrace your mother-body? How can we as a society promote positive postpartum body image? One mother, Bonnie Crowder, hosts a website called The Shape of a Mother. It is dedicated to honoring the maternal body throughout pregnancy and postpartum. She has been collecting and posting photos to celebrate the normal, healthy mother body. Seeing pictures of mother's bodies that are not altered by surgery or other severe measures to return to the before pregnancy state is a start.

Throughout the week I will be posting ideas to nurture your new mama body.

Nurture will be hosting several workshops in June, one of which is focused on reconnecting with your body postpartum. Check back for more details soon!