Mom Shares Photo of Her Body Just Hours After Giving Birth

A mother-of-three has shared a candid snap of her body just hours after giving birth to show how a post-pregnancy body really looks. Elise Raquel, from west Australia, posted the picture of herself on Instagram in a bid to show her 30,000 followers what a real post-pregnancy body looks like in its “rawest and most vulnerable state.” 

Describing how she had felt the need to cover up after her previous births, Raquel said that despite the joy of welcoming a new baby, it always felt “strange to look down and still see a bump.”

However, after giving birth to daughter Willa, she admits she has finally learned to be proud of her body including the extra kilos and stretch marks that came with each new arrival. 

 

Formerly eliseraquel (@raisingyoungloves)'in paylaştığı bir gönderi (3 Ağu 2017, 04:39 PDT)

“It's not easy to go home with a baby and still have to wear maternity clothes. With my first I was adamant I would just “bounce back”. But you know what, I didn't, I never have in fact,” she wrote.

“It's taken me three babies, but I've finally realised this postpartum body isn't something to hide! I am beyond proud for what this body has given and sacralised.”

 

Let's talk postpartum bodies! I asked @belleverdiglionephotography to take this photo, just hours after giving birth to Willa, in my rawest and most vulnerable state. I was in pain and I was overcome by a flood of emotions. Elated to have welcomed our beautiful girl and so empowered and proud of what my body and I had just done! It's a strange feeling to look down and still see a bump, even though you're holding your baby in your arms, even after doing it three times. It's not easy to go home with a baby and still have to wear maternity clothes. With my first I was adamant I would just "bounce back". Everyone would say "you're young, you'll loose the baby weight in no time!" But you know what, I didn't, I never have in fact. With each baby I've gained a few more kilos and a few more stretch marks. I used to feel the need to cover up in this newborn stage, I didn't want to see my body in this state, so why would anyone else? It's taken me three babies, but I've finally realised this postpartum body isn't something to hide! I am beyond proud for what this body has given and sacralised. I am thankful that my body is able to carry and birth babies naturally. I am NOT ashamed of my (many) new stripes and my postpartum body. And neither should you! Let's celebrate postpartum bodies, in all their glory. The female body is incredible and I am so proud of what mine has done!

Formerly eliseraquel (@raisingyoungloves)'in paylaştığı bir gönderi (14 Tem 2017, 03:12 PDT)

The inspirational mum called on other women to celebrate their post-pregnancy bodies too adding, “I am NOT ashamed of my (many) new stripes and my postpartum body. And neither should you! Let's celebrate postpartum bodies, in all their glory.”

 

My post labour photo has been shared a few times on the internet this past week. And although I received a huge amount of support and had so many mothers share their own postpartum stories, I also saw many people question my decision to share such a personal photo publicly on the internet. So I thought I'd explain why. When I was pregnant with Peyton I really had no idea what post birth was really like, and you don't fully understand until you actually have a baby! I was one of the first of my friends to get pregnant, so I didn't have that support group to ask all those TMI questions about pregnancy and birth. My doctor was more concerned about setting a medically unnecessary induction date rather than explaining to me what post birth would be like! No one told me the reality of the fourth trimester. I had no idea you could still look so pregnant even after giving birth. Everyone told me I was young, I would bounce straight back, and I believed them. Just like many women do, I too used to look up to the media, celebrities who would show off their supermodel like post baby bodies just weeks after giving birth! I thought thats how it would be for me too. So when I went home from hospital four days after giving birth, still looking six months pregnant, I thought I must have done something wrong. How come I didn't look like they did post baby? How come I didn't bounce back straight away like everyone said I would? How come it took me a year to fit back into my pre baby jeans? Well, because for many women, and for me, this post baby picture that was painted in my head just wasn't realistic! There's so much pressure from society and from ourselves to look a certain way post baby, but for many that's not the case, and that's ok! I posted that photo because I wish someone had posted a photo just like mine when I was pregnant. I wish that someone had told me what realistically might happen to my body and to my mind. The fourth trimester is such a taboo topic. I want other mums also walking in my shoes to know that they're not alone. That whatever their postpartum journey may be, it's ok, it's normal and it should always be priaised! I did it for me, for you and for her!

Formerly eliseraquel (@raisingyoungloves)'in paylaştığı bir gönderi (1 Eki 2017, 19:29 PDT)