Mommy tummy 🌸🫶🥰
Oversharing? Maybe. Will I regret this post? Perhaps. Do I hope it helps someone else love themselves for the body that they are in? Absolutely, 10000%.
Hey momma, I see you. I see you holding your tummy and sucking in as you pass the bedroom mirror. I see you counting the calories in your gummy vitamins. I see you googling the physical and fiscal price of a tummy tuck. I see you spending $ after $ on creams and scrubs, desperately trying to trade your used skin for new skin; chasing the past, mourning.
I see you. I feel you. I understand you. You are not alone.
It’s easy to hate our new body. It’s stretched, scarred, loose, perhaps bigger, saggier. Whether your body only changed the slightest bit or you look like a completely different person, change is HARD. Especially when that change attempts to defy what society knows as “beauty standards”. It’s easy to compare ourselves to others who seem perfect, who look like they never even experienced pregnancy or weight gain. It’s so easy to put ourselves down for things that are out of our control.
I wish I could give you the perfect piece of advice to stomp out this insecurity once and for all… but I can’t, and I won’t pretend that I can.
I just want to remind you that you are loved. You are beautiful. You are worthy. If you were pregnant, you carried life. If the changes are due to weight regulation issues, you are on a journey to discover your best self. You are human, however you look. You have value that does not change based on your appearance. You are not alone. Give yourself grace. Change is hard, but it’s inevitable… for all of us. I know it’s hard. I challenge you to say one nice thing about your body every day, and I’ll be right alongside you trying to learn to appreciate this change.
I’ll never get my old tummy back… and while that honestly does upset me, I know change is inevitable & I am grateful for another day. Besides, I like to consider the stretch marks a unique piece of art created by my child.
#Lemon8Diary #bodypositivity #LoveYourself #unaesthetic #embracevulnerability #mentalhealth #sahm #motherhood
Hey, fellow moms! After reading about embracing our 'mommy tummy,' I felt so seen, and I wanted to add my own thoughts and a few things that have genuinely helped me on this journey. It's tough, right? One minute you're celebrating your incredible body for bringing life into the world, and the next you're catching your reflection and feeling a pang of disappointment at the visible skin texture, the stretch marks, or just the overall change. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, and if you're like me, you've probably spent countless hours wondering if you'll ever feel comfortable in your own skin again. I remember feeling so isolated, thinking I was the only one struggling to love my post-baby body. But honestly, this 'mommy tummy appreciation post' resonated so deeply because it reminded me that we’re all in this together. My journey to body positivity started with tiny steps, and maybe some of these will help you too. First, I had to change my wardrobe. I stopped trying to squeeze into pre-pregnancy clothes that just made me feel defeated. Instead, I invested in some comfy, flattering pieces that made me feel good *now*. It wasn't about hiding my 'mommy tummy,' but about dressing in a way that celebrated my current shape. Think flowy tops, high-waisted anything, and fabrics that feel soft against your skin. It's amazing what a difference comfortable clothes can make to your mood and confidence. Secondly, I started practicing daily affirmations. It sounds a bit cliché, but standing in front of the mirror and saying something kind about my body, even if I didn't entirely believe it at first, slowly started to shift my mindset. Things like, "My body is strong and incredible," or "I am grateful for all my body has done." It helped me focus less on the 'flaws' and more on the strength and resilience my body showed. I also found immense comfort in connecting with other moms. Hearing their stories, seeing their 'mommy tummies' and realizing we all shared similar struggles, was incredibly validating. Social media, when used mindfully, can be a great place for this. Seeing real bodies, not just filtered ones, helped normalize the changes I was experiencing. It transformed my perspective on what a post-baby body should look like. Another thing that’s been huge for me is gentle movement. This isn't about 'bouncing back' or punishing my body; it's about moving in a way that feels good and strengthens me. A daily walk, some gentle yoga, or even just dancing around the living room with my kids. It helps me appreciate what my body can do rather than what it *looks like*. It's a way of thanking my body for its hard work. Finally, I'm learning to reframe my thoughts about stretch marks and loose skin. Instead of seeing them as imperfections, I try to view them as a map of my motherhood journey, a unique piece of art created by bringing my child into the world. It’s a powerful shift from self-criticism to self-compassion. This journey to truly embracing my visible skin texture and my 'mommy tummy' is ongoing, but with each small step, I feel more at peace and more connected to the incredible woman I am becoming. You've got this, mama! Give yourself grace.
