Australian model Erin McNaught is
the latest woman to post a mommy body photo on Instagram. Her photo shows her
in a bikini four weeks after giving birth.
''4 weeks PP [post partum] and I'm
starting to get my stomach back!
Aside from lots of walking and
eating healthily, I've been doing loads of pelvic floor and transverse
abdominus exercises. Still no traditional ab work though which is driving me
crazy! #bodyafterbaby”
The comments range from
congratulatory messages for her being so healthy and working hard to the
negative observations that this sends a bad message to other new moms.
There are already so many
pressures placed upon women to look a certain way and be a certain way as moms,
that a photo and message like this can trigger negative thoughts and behaviors
in non-model moms.
The worst part of photos like this
though is that it sets up a certain ideal unconsciously in women’s minds.
When I gave birth to my first
child, I had never seen a post-pregnancy belly before, except for toned abs
like McNaught’s.
When I looked down at my belly in
the days following the birth of my daughter, I was scared. I thought my abs
would never be seen again. If I had only seen other moms and their squishy
post-pregnancy bellies, I wouldn’t have been so worried that there was
something wrong with me.
 |
| My post-pregnancy belly |
My belly button looked like a cork
popping out of my round midsection.
I took a photo out of
bewilderment. Would this ever reverse itself?
My belly has somewhat returned to
a normal state, but regardless of how much ab work, or exercises, or dieting I do,
it looks like I will always have a wonky looking belly.
Am I jealous of women like McNaught?
No. I know that every woman is
different. Every body is different.
Should she be showing off her trim
tummy for all to see? It’s her prerogative.
I am not one to speak, having at
one time been photographed looking good. Having once made a living based on
what my body looked like.
Did I ever make another woman feel
bad about herself? I never really thought about it quite like that before.
 |
| My pre-pregnancy belly |
Do women have a responsibility to
other women when it comes to their beauty? Is there a difference between
celebrating ourselves and showing off?
Should there be?
Should intent matter when it comes to sharing photos
of ourselves?
Should we have to consider how other people will react to our photos? Either out of jealousy for our killer abs or even revulsion for our wrinkly, stretch-marked bellies?
