Having kids changes everything about your life. No longer do you just live for yourself. Now, you have someone who you love more than everything and will do anything for. But for many women, what happens to their bodies during pregnancy can wreak havoc with their self-image and confidence. So to help you learn how to adjust to these physical changes and feel happy in the new life role that you’ve found with your little one, here are three tips for loving your body after having kids.
Try To Avoid Comparisons
We all know of someone whose body seemed to be barely phased by pregnancy. They bounced right back to their pre-pregnancy body in what seemed like no time flat and with what appeared to be no effort at all. And while you likely could spend hours stewing on this fact, comparing yourself to anyone isn’t going to be beneficial to you at all. According to Kaitlin Stanford, a contributor to The Bump, those supermodels and their amazing post-baby bodies with their toned buns and flat tummies are the exception, not the rule. Rather than feeling sad that you don’t look like them, try to hold off on comparisons and be patient with yourself.
Think About All You Have To Be Grateful For
Although having a baby means that your body is going to change and grow, Julie Burton, a contributor to Mother.ly, reminds us that your new body should also serve as a reminder of all the things you have to be grateful for now. Your body was able to conceive a child, carry that child for months, and then give birth to that beautiful, healthy baby you now have in your arms. So the next time you look at yourself in the mirror, try to only think about the miracle you’ve just been a part of and all the future miracles you’ll now get to see in your child’s life, too.
Do The Little Things That Make You Feel Beautiful
From getting no sleep to having spit up all over you, there are very few things about having a newborn that most people would consider sexy. But in order for you to feel confident and begin to love your new body, Heidi Murkoff, a contributor to What To Expect, suggests that you start to do some of the little things that make you feel beautiful. This might mean putting on some mascara in the morning, wearing perfume, or taking a soak in the tub. By spending a little time on yourself, even if it’s just a few minutes, you’ll begin to feel like your old self again despite how much you might not look it at the moment.
If you’ve just had a baby and are finding it hard to get used to this new version of you, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you learn to love your new self.
