I had a very difficult time learning to love my postpartum body and, instead, found myself leaning towards self-hatred instead of self-care. It was difficult to feel comfortable in a form I didn't recognize anymore, and the pressure to "lose the baby weight," was more relentless than I could've imagined. Thankfully, I remembered one tiny little detail that helped me learn to love the postpartum skin I was in: my body is why I have my baby. I can only imagine the things your baby wants you to know about your postpartum body; things that can give every new mom the perspective she needs; things that prove what your body looks like doesn't hold a candle to what your body can do (and has already done).
In the days and weeks after my son was born, I shrunk myself. Not in size, but in existence. I didn't feel comfortable or attractive or like the "good moms" that grace the covers of magazines in the check-out aisle, so I had it in my mind that I had already failed my son. Because I didn't look like a happy, skinny new mother (who has somehow hidden all evidence that she was ever pregnant) I wasn't going to live up to any other standard our society has attached to motherhood. So, I shrunk myself. I grew quiet; I didn't want to leave the house; I wore big, baggy clothes to hide my body; I downplayed the labor and delivery my body just endured. I was horribly unkind to the very same body that brought my son into the world. It wasn't until that body was capable of comforting my son during a particularly horrific crying fit (literally the only thing that would soothe him was direct, skin-to-skin contact) that I realized I was being so unfair to myself and the body that had done and was still doing incredible things.
If only my son was able to articulate his thoughts and feelings on the subject. Knowing him like I do now, I'm sure he would have smacked me upside the head and said, "Hey, mom. Your body is why I'm here. Get it together, because your body did an amazing thing and you're amazing too." He wouldn't have been wrong, and I think as mothers (especially first-time, brand new moms) we all need subtle — or not-so-subtle — reminders that we are astounding. So, with that in mind, if your baby could tell you what you need to know about your postpartum body, here's what I imagine he or she would say: