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Mum shared post baby image just hours after giving birth – describing how she is no longer ‘ashamed’ of how her body looks.

Elise Raquel, from west Australia, posted the picture of herself in her ‘rawest and most vulnerable state’, after welcoming baby daughter Willa into the world.

She explained how it’s ‘a strange feeling to look down and still see a bump’ despite ‘holding your baby in your arms’.

Describing how she had felt the need to cover up after her previous births, Elise says she is now ‘proud’ of her body, calling on other women to also celebrate their post-pregnancy bodies.

“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!”

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!

A post shared by Formerly eliseraquel (@raisingyoungloves) on

Remember when Alyce, showed us how amazing real women look after birth, when Melissa Jean Photography captured her one hour after giving birth to her son.

alyce

Another fed up mum shared an image showing “This is a normal postpartum body”. 

She explained that ‘We give up our bodies to create our children, our bodies change and gain perfect imperfections that we should be celebrating, not shaming.’

Saying, ‘We see pictures of fitness models snapping back from a pregnancy. But how many of us are fitness models?

‘It makes women think our bodies are not okay or not normal when they are.”

Read more:

Lauren Brant responds to criticism over post baby shot

Real woman one hour after birth

FANS shocked at Serena Williams two week post baby body weightloss

New mum shares “This is a normal postpartum body”

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  • Beautiful, realistic photos!

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  • she is inspirational and real! i’m glad that she is confident and she celebrates what her body has done

    Reply

  • Most women have a jelly belly after giving birth, but I certainly was not ashamed and also didn’t feel the need to share. Must be a generational thing.

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  • Nothing wrong with a postpartum body and having a bump after just giving birth. To be honest, don’t we all have a wee belly, not only while pregnant / after pregnancy ? Except for those who have a very lean and sporty figure or never gave birth…they might not have a belly. Anyway, belly or not – it doesn’t take away from our beauty. Indeed, our bodies are amazing !

    Reply

  • Very brave. Four years later and I’m still waiting for my body to bounce back.

    Reply

  • I pretty much just ignore all post birth pics. Most aren’t real, and none are MY body.

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  • Seeing all those celebrity posting about their post partum body always made me feel bad. My body has far from recovered and I have not the money nor the time (thanks to hired nanny and co) to get back to my pre-baby body so quickly. It is nice to see that my post partum body is normal.

    Why do we all have to be back to our pre pregnancy body within hours or days of giving birth ?! Such high expectations !


    • Yes, just unnecessary pressure. Let’s take things easy and, with time, things get better for everyone.

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  • I love these pics- birth should be a celebration. It’s all natural, and beautiful as God intended.

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  • I have always known and felt that my body is normal and also wonderful. I do not care about images of celebrities or other mums or compare my body to theirs. My body was able to carry babies and that is a miracle and I thank my body for it. No one will ever make me feel anything other than proud of my body.

    Reply

  • I love all these pictures after birth. Aren’t our bodies amazing? :-)

    Reply

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