The four of us squeezed into a booth at the pizza place, our newborns nestled in their carriers around us. As we enjoyed our sodas and slices, one mom innocently asked, “When will my body feel normal again?” We all nodded, anxious to hear the answer. An experienced mother with a child several years older chimed in, “Don’t expect your body to return to normal for at least a year.” A collective sigh of relief filled the air. “A year sounds manageable—no rush to shed the weight,” I remember telling myself back then. Now, almost six years and another child later, that timeline seems almost comical, as my body still feels anything but “normal.”
Just yesterday, I found myself in the shallow end of the pool, having a pretend tea party with my son. It’s easy to compare ourselves to others in places like the beach or pool, letting self-doubt creep in. “How did she lose her baby weight so quickly?” I thought, as I observed a woman in a bikini effortlessly chasing her child along the shore. My son interrupted my thoughts by handing me a teacup filled with pool water.
The next day, I stepped on the scale, and the number reflected my lifestyle, which is proudly showcased on my Instagram: vibrant rainbow pancakes dripping with syrup, oversized donuts, and picnics filled with sandwiches and craft beer. Yet, it also fails to show that I’ve taken up running since April, now covering over three miles several times a week. Just the other day, my family and I tackled a 12-mile bike ride, and a few weeks ago, my husband and I enjoyed a peaceful two-hour walk, hand in hand, while Grandma watched the kids.
I must hold onto these athletic achievements, as it’s tempting to let the scale and clothing sizes dampen my spirits, especially as summer approaches. The bathing suit season often triggers thoughts about our body shapes, skin elasticity, and the sizes of our shorts. It’s a reminder of the unrealistic timelines we impose on ourselves post-baby. But summer can also be a time to celebrate our bodies and the strength we possess—running alongside other moms, biking new trails, walking hand in hand with our partners, or playing tag with our kids in the pool.
When we fixate on how we compare to others, we risk missing out on cherished moments with our families. We overlook the joy of building a perfectly constructed sandcastle or of pretending to sip pool water from teacups. We forget the sensation of our children riding on our backs as we submerge underwater or the thrill of chasing them through the sprinklers.
Our kids will remember the laughter, the games we played, and how we made the most of every moment at the pool until closing time. They won’t care if we fit into a size 6 or 16 swimsuit; they will remember how fast we ran on the beach or the silly faces we made underwater. And even if our bodies have changed, what truly matters is the warmth of our embrace as we create whirlpools in the water.
That’s what stays with them—how long it takes us to feel “normal” is irrelevant. Their version of “normal” is much more forgiving. My new “normal” embodies strength and softness. I may not have shed the baby weight, but this is who I am now—wiser, happier, and more confident. My children will remember the fun we had together this summer, not the baby weight I’ve yet to lose.
For more insights into the journey of motherhood and how to embrace your body, check out this blog post on at-home insemination kits. Additionally, for authoritative information on fertility and home insemination, you can refer to resources like this site on Alpha-LH and this excellent resource for pregnancy.
In summary, embracing the changes in our bodies post-pregnancy is essential for our well-being and our family’s happiness. The memories we create with our loved ones far outweigh the numbers on a scale or the size of our clothing.