Childbirth can have a major impact on a woman’s body image. Many moms experience feelings of depression, self-doubt, and overwhelm as a result of their changing bodies. These feelings can have a negative impact on intimacy with their partners.
As a Body Image and Style Coach, I have seen firsthand how negative self-talk can contribute to body image issues. When I had my son, I saw a picture of a celebrity who had recently given birth and looked amazing. I immediately told myself that I had to lose all the weight I had gained during pregnancy in two weeks. However, this goal was unrealistic and unattainable. As I ignored both internal and external factors like— her metabolism rate, what she did, her diet, the authenticity of the picture she posted, and so on. And it only led to disappointment and negative self-talk.
The good news is that there are things you can do to improve your body image and strengthen your connection with your partner. Here are a few tips:
Talk to your Partner about How you Feel
It can be difficult to open up about your body image concerns, but it’s important to do so. Your partner may not be able to understand what you’re going through unless you tell them. They may also be able to offer you support and encouragement.
Truly Take Care of Yourself
Prioritise your self-care. This includes eating healthy, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. When you take care of yourself, you’ll feel better about yourself overall. This will also help you feel more confident in your body.
Carry Partner Along in the Process
It is not enough to just express how you feel to your partner, carry them along in the process. Express your struggles as well. Do things together that make you feel good. This could be anything from going for walks to taking dance classes. When you do things together that you enjoy, you’ll feel closer to your partner and more connected to your body.
Be patient with Yourself
It takes time to heal from childbirth and to come to terms with your new body. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to feel better overnight. I once did and it just led to more pain and disappointment for me. I would suggest focusing on taking small steps each day.
If you follow these tips, you will be well on your way to improving your body image and strengthening your connection with your partner. Remember, you are not alone in this. Many moms experience body image concerns after childbirth. With time and effort, you can overcome these challenges and feel good about yourself again.
Additional tips:
1. Find a supportive community of moms( Instagram) who are going through the same thing. This could be an online forum, a support group, or even just a few close friends. Read books or articles about body image and postpartum recovery. This can help you learn more about the challenges you’re facing and how to overcome them.
2. Seek professional help if you’re struggling with severe body image issues. They can help you work through your thoughts and feelings and develop a healthy body image.
Remember, you are beautiful and worthy of love, regardless of your body size or shape. With time and effort, you can overcome the challenges of postpartum body image and find peace with your new self.
