The Struggle is Real: Why Do We Gain Postpartum Weight and How to Deal (From a Mother's Perspective)

Ah, postpartum weight gain. The bane of every mother's existence. It's like our bodies have decided to hold onto that baby weight like it's a precious keepsake. In this blog post, I want to share my own experiences with this struggle, as well as explore the reasons why we tend to gain weight after giving birth, how our body image changes as a result, and the impact of societal attitudes on this whole ordeal.

Let's face it - postpartum weight gain is a common problem for many of us. It's like our bodies have gone through this massive change and decided to set up camp in the land of comfy sweatpants and stretchy waistbands. Personally, I blame my sweet tooth for my own stubborn pounds. But hey, life is short - might as well indulge in that second piece of cake, right?

But beyond the numbers on the scale, postpartum weight gain can really mess with our heads. Our bodies don't feel like our own anymore. Suddenly, our pre-pregnancy clothes feel like something out of a Barbie doll's wardrobe. And don't even get me started on the "bounce back" pressure. It's like society expects us to be able to squeeze back into our skinny jeans within days of giving birth as if our bodies haven't just gone through a marathon of childbirth and sleepless nights.

And let's talk about those societal attitudes for a moment, shall we? It's not just unrealistic expectations that are the problem - it's also the way that we're judged if we don't meet those expectations. We're constantly bombarded with images of celebrities who seem to have magically shed their baby weight as if they're not human beings who have access to personal trainers and chefs. And then there are the uncles and aunties who make it their business to comment on our weight gain at every family gathering as if we don't already feel self-conscious enough.

But you know what? I've decided to embrace my postpartum body. Sure, it's not perfect. But it's carried and nourished a tiny human being for nine months. It's a superhero in its own right. And when my baby giggles as he plays with my belly fat, I know that my body is doing something right.

In conclusion, postpartum weight gain is a struggle that many of us face. But let's not let it get us down. We can make peace with our bodies by focusing on our health, finding humour in the chaos, and standing up against the unrealistic standards set by society. Let's celebrate our postpartum bodies and all that they're capable of - even if that means wearing sweatpants for the foreseeable future.