Awat Dhahir
The unfiltered truth is that the female body faces daily judgment and unrealistic beauty standards. Postpartum bodies are especially sensitive to this, but one mother decided to embrace her flaws and support others by shedding the filters and clothing.
The challenges that come after childbirth often catch most mothers off guard.
Danisha, a mother of four, has begun sharing her body acceptance journey on social media. Initially feeling ashamed of her postpartum belly, she decided to make a change with her last baby.
She said: “I didn’t know that I would have as much loose skin as I do now, and stretch marks. No one ever discussed it, my doctors didn’t discuss it. I didn’t know that my body just wouldn’t look the same anymore. But I want to embrace my body, and I’m happy where I’m at.”
According to Danisha, a woman’s body has the power to create miracles.
Celebrity pregnancy photos can create a false image of perfection, leading to lowered self-confidence and self-love among women.
Through an Instagram post, she encouraged fellow moms by stating, “Don’t let society trick you into believing you need to be ’fixed.’ Your body is not wrong, society is!”
The mothers’ postpartum bodies are expected to conform to a different societal image.
New mothers are often pressured to regain their pre-pregnancy bodies. However, this expectation can make them feel like strangers in their skin. Instead, accepting and loving oneself postpartum is crucial for true self-love.
Danisha’s candid posts make her proud of who she is. She recognizes that everybody evolves differently, and her postpartum belly reminds her of her four beautiful children and signifies growth. Though it took time, she has learned to accept, love, and appreciate her body.
She said: “Our body is meant to evolve and change, that is what happens with growth, not everyone’s body will change the same and that’s okay. My wonderful body carried 4 beautiful blessings, my belly is a reminder of that and signifies growth. It has taken me a long time to accept her, love her, and appreciate her.”
Keeping positivity online is challenging, especially when facing criticism from all directions. It can be one of the toughest aspects of vulnerability.
“I have a pouch, I have soft stretchy loose skin. My physical features are not what makes it beautiful, but the fact that my body was able to create life itself for a fourth time. I’m strong as a mother,” said Danisha.
Despite negative comments, Danisha continues to share the unfiltered truth about postpartum bodies.
She wants to help other mothers who may be unprepared for the realities of motherhood. She said: “A lot of mamas are unprepared for postpartum.”
Watching our bodies change as we age is a privilege.
Despite our best efforts to stay fit, genetics can sometimes alter our appearance. As she explained, the person in the mirror may look different. Danisha said: “I love it when people tell me that if I had moisturized my skin more then my belly wouldn’t have looked ’this way’ or if I wore a waist trainer I wouldn’t have a pouch and even greater if I dieted or exercised more, then my belly wouldn’t be as ‘big.’The reality is genetics play a big role. My belly is this way because of 4 reasons. I created life 4 times and no oils or creams would have miraculously prevented it. My sagging skin, stretch marks, and other love marks are reminders of bearing my children.”
Mothers are unique in their own right and should not face discrimination based on their physical appearance.
She declared: “To the mama looking at herself in the mirror: It’s completely normal not to fit into your pre-pregnancy clothes your body outgrew in order to make room for your beautiful blessing. Sizing up is nothing to feel ashamed of.”
Accepting her body was a difficult journey, but Danisha persevered.
Learning to love and accept stretch marks and body changes can be challenging for moms. However, these changes are a natural response of the body.
“Many would love to have tiger stripes. You can also have them without having children. My tummy was home to 4 of my children, and they love it,” she said.
True beauty emanates from within and without.
Despite our outward appearance, including differences in skin color or weight, every individual is unique and their body plays an incredible role in their survival. This mother highlights this to inspire others: “Whether you choose to cover your belly or not, you’re still worthy, still beautiful.”
Do you agree that all mothers are special in their way? Should we talk more about the unfiltered truth? Share your thoughts in the comments.
This is one of the healthiest most authentic posts I have seen online. It is all true and by sharing our truth we help others to adapt to theirs.
Grow up.
I am a 76 year old mother of four and grandmother to twelve, step-grandmother to one granddaughter and great grandmother to her two children. The latter just recently gave birth to her second child and I want to share this site with her in case she may need a better perspective with how she views her body. Thank you to everyone whose thoughts I will read here.
Just for the record, I am 5’2″ tall, having shrunk from 5’5″. I was overweight most of my life and topped the scales at 304 pounds when I was around 61 years old but am currently 147 and have been holding weight at 135 through 160 for more than perhaps five years. No special diets, pills or exercise programs. Just one day I decided what I wanted to do about my weight problem and worked at it in various ways as I concentrated on what I really wanted in life more than being satiated by wonderful food. I achieved my goals!
Some of the comments on here proves how ignorant a lot are.
Research never hurts anybody. 🙄
Some women and even men have different skin types, no different from those who can burn easy in the sun and those who can resist. Carry a child is a gamble when it comes to the results after the child is born. Some have no issues body wise but the breasts are affected, others lose teeth, later some even have joints and other problems that pop up. Honestly this isn’t bad to me, it can be reduced with care and micro needling without surgery, (research first) it takes a while but it looks much better. Coco utter, Shea butter nor bio oil don’t always work but it helps. Exercise is also good but one must also take other steps. I am saying even if you do it also can’t be helped because some may have also have naturally thin skin.
Regardless, she is beautiful and quite brave to post this and I love it
I don’t get it. I just turned 17 and my son is as born 3 weeks after. I was a size 8 and my son weighed a healthy 8 pounds . I have no stretch marks or stomach like that at all. My mum has had 11 children and she also has no stretch marks or loose skin like I don’t we just have normal bellies that have gone back to normal . I don’t get it or understand. Just be normal and get on with ur life’s. No one’s bothered snd if they are or say anything to you say F off.
Glad your tummy is normal! Glad this lady in the photos tummy is normal! Glad my tummy is normal!! I’d love to see someone with an abnormal tummy though. In almost 40 years I’ve never seen an abnormal tummy!!