How to feel better about your body after a baby

My title might have made you think, ‘oh, another baby myth’. However, I bring you good news, or rather a few tips on how to loathe less the seemingly foreign body you are forced to inhabit during pregnancy.

Carrying an infant for half an hour burns 126 calories

Even though you might have replaced your toned love handles for a pair of sagging bags or had to forget about the slim legs which once turned heads in the streets, you can still find a way of feeling incredible. I am about to spill the beans for you.

“Mushy tushy, mushy tushy...” I can still recall myself jiggling around with my mother’s soft bum when I was three years old since her bottom was exactly at my eye level. She’d just scorn me in a friendly manner and advise me to wait until I had my own children.

Obviously, I was far too young to understand what a curse it was for my mother to have had to go through such changes for my sake. For me it was a bonus to find a squishy lap on which to comfortably watch television or have breakfast.

However, the truth is and will remain such: children see their mums as Aphrodites no matter what. Keeping this in mind may help one find a little bit of peace when trying to embrace a new body size.

It’s definitely not easy

Most women are not happy about their figure in the first place and the spider veins, floppy arms and chubbier thighs will certainly not help. These insecurities may implant themselves for an undetermined period of time in the first year of parenting and expand even further if another child comes along shortly after.

“Times of transition are when negative feelings about your body tend to bubble up,” says Margo Maine, author of The Body Myth.

On the other hand, working may make matters worse. When one is at home, there are fewer people to scrutinise your body but at work colleagues may make you feel even more conscious about your body shape.

They might not actually be examining you, but it’s harder to feel good about oneself when working with thin non-mums while you’re trying in vain to close the zip of your jeans every morning.

Avoid going down the dangerous road of comparing yourself to celebrity mums who miraculously pose for bikini shoots a few months after giving birth.

Accepting your new shape

Adopting a positive self-image is key to making this dreadful situation seem a lot better.

It also affects many aspects of your mum life: from being able to handle difficult situations to teaching your own children to love their own bodies. In fact, your whole family will benefit from your body confidence.

Exercise can work wonders. It not only allows you to improve your image, but it can take your self-confidence to another level. When choosing what exercise programme you wish to start, be reasonable and set goals you can achieve.

Be versatile and imaginative about the type of workout you choose. Why not take a brisk walk with the baby this week? Just as you’ve had to slow down the activities in your life because of a baby, you must do the same for your body expectations. Otherwise, emotional stress will strike home.

If you eat properly and exercise frequently, your body will gradually regain a better shape. The idea is to be persistent and progressive in your working towards your seemingly ‘mission impossible’. Simple everyday activities can help you burn calories.

Moreover, discard the concept of, ‘my body should be like Victoria Beckham’s’, or even how it was before. Working out for half an hour everyday is not just beneficial for your image but also for your health.

Appreciating our features

It’s what we think that makes the biggest difference in how we perceive our body image and whether we reject or accept the changes we have had to go through.

Though rare, some women consider body changes accompanying pregnancy as another stage in life they must embrace.

They might feel that the battle against their bodies is over as they are so much in love with motherhood that it surpasses the anguish of having gained weight during gestation. Some women may feel more curvy and thus sexier than before.

Treat your body with love, kindness and acceptance rather than thinking of how saggy your bottom has become.

Finally, one might not have time to attend fitness classes or spend hours at the gym; lugging children around may actually sbe just as effective.

Mama, the good news is that carrying an infant for half an hour burns 126 calories!