“It takes time for the body to recover after a pregnancy.”
Scrolling through Instagram can sometimes feel like entering a funhouse where reality gets distorted. With the right angles and poses, you can easily appear 10-15 pounds lighter in just one click, leaving followers none the wiser. That’s where mom and blogger Lisa Thompson steps in to remind us that photos often don’t tell the whole story.
Recently, she shared a side-by-side snapshot taken just 11 days after giving birth, beautifully illustrating that we shouldn’t stress over our post-baby appearance. At first glance, the images look similar, but a closer look reveals the truth. On the left, Lisa is wearing high-waisted leggings and flaunting a surprisingly flat tummy for someone who just had a baby. In stark contrast, the right side shows her leggings pulled down, exposing a perfectly normal postpartum belly. (Once you see the right side, those high-waisted leggings seem like they’d be incredibly uncomfortable, right?)
“It takes time for the body to recover after a pregnancy,” Lisa writes in her caption. “It’s crucial to give your body the time it needs; no one gets back to normal overnight.”
After enduring a parade of visitors during those hectic weeks after my daughter’s arrival, I noticed countless sideways glances directed at my belly. I’m sure some were curious or even unintentional, but let’s face it—many people instinctively gaze at our midsections post-baby, eager to see how quickly the baby bump has vanished. Sadly, that’s just how society operates!
While it’s clear from her Instagram that staying fit is important to Lisa, her focus is primarily on cherishing her postpartum body and her new baby. Everything else can wait. “My body has given me two healthy boys, and I am forever grateful,” she shares.
And her followers are equally grateful for her candidness, resonating with her relatable photo comparison:
- “Women need to recognize that the aftereffects of pregnancy are like battle scars from the war to bring a baby into the world. Thank you for this post!”
- “I really needed this right now—thank you!”
- “Wow! We are often our toughest critics for no good reason! You look amazing with your little one.”
- “It took me two years, but I adore my new curves.”
The truth is, our bodies undergo tremendous changes during those 9-10 months of pregnancy. Sometimes they bounce back to their pre-baby form, and sometimes they don’t. And that’s perfectly fine.
If you want to dive deeper into related topics, check out our post on home insemination at intracervicalinsemination.com, or discover more insights on pregnancy and home insemination at Healthline. For those exploring their options, Make a Mom provides an excellent guide on at-home insemination kits.
In summary, Lisa’s side-by-side photos serve as a powerful reminder that our postpartum bodies deserve love and acceptance. The focus should be on our journey and the miracle of motherhood—everything else can take its time.