Reconstruct yourself: Postpartum body shape

As moms, we understand having a baby can wreak havoc on our bodies. The pregnancy is wonderful, and the first month after having the baby we’re so consumed with love and attention devoted completely to the little one that we often forget to just look in the mirror. A mom’s postpartum body shape is something that comes with the territory of giving life to a new human being, and isn’t something to be ashamed of.

The difference is visible to us. We notice the weight that won’t go away, we are more tired, and our faces and the dark circles under our exhausted looking eyes don’t have the softness they once had. It can actually cause body image postpartum in new moms.

I was not immune to this either. There were several areas of my body that I wasn’t happy with anymore. I love my kids, and I don’t regret that creating them is what did this to my body. But it doesn’t mean I have to be unhappy with my body. None of us do.

There are ways to help deal with some of the problems that we suffer as moms, and it’s important to understand where some of those target areas are on our bodies.

• Tummy flab
• C-section scars
• Sagging breasts
• Flabby arms

Exercise

The good news is that some of the problems can be dealt with by just committing to a bit of exercise each week.

Exercise is generally only good for toning up the body and losing the baby weight. Because of this, it tends to focus more on the legs, arms, and tummy. To strengthen your body and help shape some of those particular problem areas, you can practice the following exercises just a few times a week:

• Pelvic twist: Lay on your back and with your knees up, then flex your abdominal muscles and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat five times.
• Dumbbells: Just get a couple of small ones (2 lbs) and lift with each arm 10 times.
• Yoga: This is all-inclusive because it helps your muscles all over your body and helps with toning.

These three exercises will help get rid of the belly fat and tone those problem areas. Mayo offers more advice on dealing with body image postpartum.

Reconstructive Surgery

Unfortunately, not everyone finds exercise easy and not everything can be fixed with exercise. There is no way to get rid of a c-section scar or reshape breasts without paying for it.

After doing a little research, I discovered that reconstructive surgery can help get rid of most of the real problem areas. There is nothing wrong with getting reconstructive surgery after having a baby to get rid of that tummy, or scar revision to help make a c-section scar disappear.

Another sad fact that we mommies face is that, after the swollen breasts are gone, they are not what they once were. They sag more, sometimes hang uneven, and just don’t hold the same allure they once did. There’s no shame in getting augmentation surgery to get them back into shape.

I am not completely happy with my body. So I decided to look into reputable reconstructive surgeons and came across Dr. Jason Hess, among others, with a reputation for quality work.

Our families are our world. Moms sacrifice a lot for them. That doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice our self-esteem as well.

Photo Credit: Emily Taylor (Flickr)