30 Celebs Who Didn’t Hide Their Postpartum Bodies To Maintain An Unrealistic Body Image
Hollywood sets really high standards for beauty and fitness. Celebrities are always under immense pressure to look their best, whether they're at the Oscars or at Oscar's Pizza. So when you throw a pregnancy into this dynamic, it can get pretty wild.
Regardless, many famous women are known for bouncing back super quick after having a baby. We can only guess if these supernatural feats are the results of media manipulation or bulletproof willpower. However, not all celebrity moms choose this path.
Pushing back against unfair expectations, some are sharing their most personal and private moments on social media in the hopes that fans will see and appreciate what they really look like postpartum.
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Sadia Slayy
During the period — which some researchers believe actually lasts up to six months — the mother's body experiences a number of changes, from healing after childbirth to hormonal mood swings. All of this on top of the added stress of breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, and the overall monumental adjustment to motherhood (when it's their first child).
Vicki Broadbent, writer, director, broadcaster and founder of Honest Mum, told Bored Panda the pressure on new moms to 'bounce back' is utterly stifling. "It plays into this culture that the quicker the loss, the greater the value and respect we should have for the mother, which in my opinion is awful and damaging," Broadbent said.
"Even the '9 months in and 9 months out' axiom isn't sound for all. Every mother is different, as is every baby. Whilst a small minority of mothers will naturally resume a similar figure as before postpartum, the majority -- so often the hidden majority in the mainstream press -- won't and that's completely normal yet needs to be normalized," the author of Mumboss explained.
Pink
1) P!nk rocks. 2) I totally agree with the "stay off the scales" 3) Muscle weight, and body-fat weight are not the same, and have two totally different implications for a person's health. I've stayed the same weight, yet dropped 2 clothing sizes - because I LOST bodyfat and GAINED muscle mass. It's VERY possible to be "heavier" AND healthier, IF the weight is the right kind of weight.
"I still have a post-c-section pouch and stretch marks which will never go (and that's fine) and my kids are 10 and 7. Thank goodness for social media and mothers taking more control over their narrative, representing how diverse mothers' bodies are after having a baby. I remember thinking I would leave hospital like Victoria Beckham, as slim as I was pre child. Not. A. Chance. Only seeing slim new mums made me feel like I was failing as a new mother (on top of all the other postpartum stress I endured after a traumatic birth)."
Broadbent admitted that finding herself in a larger body once her baby was born dented her confidence hugely, adding that if society and the media were kinder in their coverage of pregnant and postpartum women, she knows she wouldn't have felt so bad. "My mother who had me in 1980, said it was a given to appear bigger for the first year after having a baby, and maternity wear reflected that with maxi dresses and more billowing dresses being the norm. She said there was an understanding that new mums were going to be bigger for at least a year or more, so the pressure was nowhere near as intense as it is now."
Jenny Mollen
Had NO idea a woman's body could respond this way to giving birth. This equally worthy of discussion. So glad she sought help.
She believes partners can make a difference in the way moms recover from this difficult period, too. Most notably, by reassuring their loved ones that they look wonderful. "They should show deep respect and praise to the mother of their child who endured 9 months (biologically, it's actually 10) and the birthing of their child. My advice would be to cook and prepare meals where possible, help with the childcare when you can, and importantly, encourage rest and sleep which will support her both emotionally and physically."
So mothers, please be kind to yourself. "You have endured the most demanding milestone of your life. Give yourself some credit and if anyone makes you feel bad about yourself online, please hit the unfollow button. Curate your feeds for a happier life and please know that whatever your size and body post baby, you are worthy and amazing," Broadbent said.
Katy Perry
At first I was wondering what those things sticking out of her bra were but then realised it is designed to be used for a breast pump.
Amy Schumer
The comments are disgusting... Body shaming because she was always curvy, and calling that "not giving a flying f*ck" ? Who the hell do you find attractive ? Skeletor ?
Desiree Siegfried
Ashley Graham
Tia Mowry
Jenny Mollen
As a former nurse, I’d say that is a really good looking incision scar! Way to go, doc!
Chrissy Teigen
Gemma Atkinson
Iskra Lawrence
Audrey Roloff
Bekah Martinez
Carly Waddell
I'm happy she openly talks about not breastfeeding. It does seem to be a taboo. For some women, it really doesn't come easy or it just doesn't seem to work. Hurray for formula when breast feeding is not an option (by choice or otherwise).
Brie Bella
@jeremy shes happy to have a baby and so what if shes not the first it's probably her first so maybe you should stop being a d**k and be happy for her
Hilaria Baldwin
"where are all the pads for bleeding".... wholly f**k.... is that what women have to endure IN ADDITION to giving birth!!??!! For the love of everything wholly.... you are supreme!!! :o
Kate Hudson
Why is there what appears to be a stripper pole in the middle of the kitchen?
Peta Murgatroyd
Jamie Otis
Catherine Guidici
Daphne Oz
Melissa Suffield
Can’t “tan them into oblivion”. They either stay your normal un-tanned skin color, or they tan darker. But don’t despair; they do fade...in a decade or two...kinda...
Daphne Oz
Amy King
Jessie James Decker
Alaia Baldwin
Peta Murgatroyd
Jamie Otis
It looks like she edited her belly because the skin looks absolutely flawless and perfect.
Cardi B
How do you get rid of the black line but here’s my rock hard abs and sponsored sportswear to look at while you have a think.
Note: this post originally had 48 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
The wonderful world of motherhood: Grow another human being, get criticized for any and every way you look/act during and after, while risking permanent health problems if not death. Then there comes the next 50 years....
I don't understand all the negativity... I'm a woman who was beyond overjoyed when I learned I did not have to have children (really crappy childhood and the oldest, having to take care of insane brothers). I am happy to see mothers building up other mothers instead of tearing them down, even if by accident. All of us having to prove we are beyond perfect all the time is ridiculous, and new moms need all the love they can get. If my mom would have had some love, my childhood wouldn't have sucked so bad. We need to lift people up, not tear them down! *Climbs off soapbox*
There are so many things that no one tells you about pregnancy/childbirth/new baby, like it's some kind of test or initiation you have to struggle through alone because we 'don't talk about that'. No one told me that your belly will look like a deflated balloon, no one told me you will bleed like a stuck pig for a week or so, and so on, I'm sure every woman can add their own list. At least now, there is the internet for information and pictures like these, to counter the unrealistic 'on the beach' pics. It wasn't really up to speed 23 years ago!
I bounced back like nothing had happened the first time (appearance wise, health wise was a whole other story). The second time though, I held onto that extra weight for almost a year. I did get lucky in that I don't have a ton of stretch marks. I do have one though that is especially annoying. It blew out the side of my belly button, so I went from a perfect little innie to this weird crescent shaped thing. It's a small thing, I know, but it still annoys the hell out of me.
How vacuous was it not enough that celebs wanted to murder the song imagine when they felt they were getting enough attention during covid? If you want our attention , then how about you post pictures of you working in a homeless shelter or animal shelter or some other genuine good cause
Who the f**k are these women, why are they special and why should we care?
No offense.. but what is the point in this we don't need to see some famous persons belly all they are trying to do is show off. I'm sorry but not for me...
The wonderful world of motherhood: Grow another human being, get criticized for any and every way you look/act during and after, while risking permanent health problems if not death. Then there comes the next 50 years....
I don't understand all the negativity... I'm a woman who was beyond overjoyed when I learned I did not have to have children (really crappy childhood and the oldest, having to take care of insane brothers). I am happy to see mothers building up other mothers instead of tearing them down, even if by accident. All of us having to prove we are beyond perfect all the time is ridiculous, and new moms need all the love they can get. If my mom would have had some love, my childhood wouldn't have sucked so bad. We need to lift people up, not tear them down! *Climbs off soapbox*
There are so many things that no one tells you about pregnancy/childbirth/new baby, like it's some kind of test or initiation you have to struggle through alone because we 'don't talk about that'. No one told me that your belly will look like a deflated balloon, no one told me you will bleed like a stuck pig for a week or so, and so on, I'm sure every woman can add their own list. At least now, there is the internet for information and pictures like these, to counter the unrealistic 'on the beach' pics. It wasn't really up to speed 23 years ago!
I bounced back like nothing had happened the first time (appearance wise, health wise was a whole other story). The second time though, I held onto that extra weight for almost a year. I did get lucky in that I don't have a ton of stretch marks. I do have one though that is especially annoying. It blew out the side of my belly button, so I went from a perfect little innie to this weird crescent shaped thing. It's a small thing, I know, but it still annoys the hell out of me.
How vacuous was it not enough that celebs wanted to murder the song imagine when they felt they were getting enough attention during covid? If you want our attention , then how about you post pictures of you working in a homeless shelter or animal shelter or some other genuine good cause
Who the f**k are these women, why are they special and why should we care?
No offense.. but what is the point in this we don't need to see some famous persons belly all they are trying to do is show off. I'm sorry but not for me...