When a woman gives birth to a baby, she also becomes a new woman. Her body changes and, too, her mind changes. It has already been scientifically proven that a woman's self-esteem tends to be affected after childbirth. We will tell you why and how to overcome that barrier to love yourself again.
How does the body change during pregnancy and postpartum?
Pregnancy causes a multitude of changes in the body, and not only the most noticeable ones, nor only after childbirth. During pregnancy, the body enlarges to accommodate the baby, so the volume of the chest and abdomen increases, mainly.
Some hormonal changes also occur that not only cause more erratic behavior, but also cellulite, the reappearance of acne, swollen face and legs, among other changes. Hormonal changes are the most evident, in addition to the body adapting to the process of giving birth, which also leads to a lot of exhaustion. Some people who are overwhelmed by all these changes also suffer from anxiety and/or depression.
How does this affect our self-esteem?
The postpartum period is the period of time between the moment immediately after childbirth and approximately 40 days, which is the average time the body requires to gradually recover from the changes caused by pregnancy.
Well, during the postpartum period, the woman needs a lot of attention to comfortably adapt to her new reality as a mother. This generates perceptions and ideas not only from third parties, but also from the woman herself, with external and internal thoughts and value judgments that affect the mother.
These perceptions and expectations, added to the hormonal changes of pregnancy, create an explosive cocktail that directly affects a woman's self-esteem after pregnancy, and is usually very related to feelings of success or failure. After childbirth, both the woman and other people tend to evaluate her abilities as a mother, which puts her self-esteem at risk.
Of course, society's beauty standards also influence this drop in a woman's self-esteem after childbirth with the appearance of scars, stretch marks, varicose veins, and all the physical changes related to pregnancy.
How to relate to this new body or get the body we want?
Some tips for accepting the new reality and new body after childbirth are as follows:
- Go to prenatal checkup centers and, if necessary, to a psychologist or psychotherapist who can help you accept this new paradigm.
- Maintain a balanced and healthy diet.
- Exercise or do physical activity regularly, unless your doctor says otherwise. You can start with walks and, little by little, increase the intensity or even join a gym. This will help you regain your body and, in addition, help you keep your mind balanced.
- If you have a partner, talk to them so they know how they can help and support you during the postpartum process. You can also look for support groups and share your experience with other people who have gone through the same experience as you and who can offer their point of view.
- Accept that adapting to these changes will take you time and do not pressure yourself. Everyone has their own pace.
- Dedicate time to yourself to feel beautiful and free. It is very important to dedicate time to yourself, even if it is just a few minutes a day, so as not to lose the connection with your inner self.
If you wish, to regain your body after pregnancy you can resort to natural remedies that are not aggressive with your body.
Natural and breastfeeding-compatible treatments for stretch marks and cellulite
Cold-pressed oil is a very effective natural remedy to eliminate stretch marks and cellulite, in addition to being compatible with breastfeeding so as not to harm neither your body nor your baby's.
One of the most used oils to treat the body after pregnancy is rosehip oil, very useful for preventing the appearance of stretch marks and even treating them. Although it is recommended to use it before the baby's birth to increase the flexibility and elasticity of the skin, it is also very beneficial during the postpartum period and breastfeeding.
This is because rosehip oil has repairing properties, which is great for stretch marks. You just have to apply a couple of drops on the palm of your hand and massage the affected area gently until the skin completely absorbs the oil. This stimulates the skin's circulation. If you repeat this process for three months, you will see the results.
The 5P method in pregnancy
The 5P method strengthens the pelvic floor thanks to the use of some natural tools, the most well-known being the proprioceptive log. By using this wooden log during pregnancy and postpartum, different benefits are achieved, highlighting the following:
- Normalize muscle tension in the pelvis.
- Activate the muscles that straighten the spine.
- Improve posture.
- Decrease back pain.
- Improve circulation in the pelvis and legs.
- Automatically activate the pelvic floor muscles.
- Increase the tone of the posterior perineum.
- Improve the management of abdominal pressure.
- Stimulate the sensitivity of the perineum.
- Reeducate breathing.
With all the benefits listed, you surely imagine why the 5P method is so advantageous during pregnancy and postpartum.
The 5P method is completed with the use of Winner Flow, used in breathing exercises to ensure a constant ventilation flow. Thanks to Winner Flow, the pelvic floor is strengthened, abdominal muscles are toned, and a more mobile diaphragm and a more flexible chest are achieved, something that is great for pregnancy and childbirth.
To support you during this process, at Real Earth Stories we have a pack that contains the proprioceptive log and Winner Flow to complement each other and help you regain your pre-pregnancy body and love yourself.
