Thinness and bounce-back culture is a trend that has unfortunately reawakened. While I’m certainly aware that despite the huge body positive/neutral movement did not entirely squash the thinness-is-ideal mindset that so many have, I would have thought that there would be more acceptance in the postpartum world. Alas, I was too hopeful.
The influencer trend of either subtly or not-so-subtly showing off their thin postpartum body is reminiscent of the early 2000’s magazine covers with celebrities showing off their postpartum body usually with headlines reading, “How I lost the baby weight!”
I can’t scroll for a second without being fed a video of an influencer showing off their thin or somehow ripped postpartum body to an audience that did not ask for such an inspection, alongside dietary and weight loss tips…
All of this to say, I have no issue with a postpartum body. It is important to see realistic versions of postpartum bodies, however, that is hardly the case online. For every realistic video I see of a postpartum mom showing her still swollen, albeit, jelly-like belly in mesh hospital underwear, there is another sanitized video or image of focused weight loss body progression updates from brith to six months postpartum.
These disparate visuals can cause women to feel disillusioned about what to expect after birth. There is no magical bodily reset. Postpartum means you might still look pregnant for a bit. Postpartum means a squishy belly, perhaps stretch marks or loose skin. It means bleeding and wound care for up to six weeks because yes, it is an open wound. It means night sweats and rapid hormone changes leading to mood swings and hair loss.
The postpartum period is an important time for maternal recovery and yet it is met with an incredible lack of care. We regularly evaluate ourselves through the lens of others like our peers, or close social groups, perceived para-social individuals like influencers or celebrities that contribute to a wider society culture. These groups can furthermore effect our self-esteem, body image, and approach to postpartum care1 .
Gibson G, Liddelow C, Burke KJ, Lee MF. Exploring the influence of social media ‘Mumfluencers’ on postpartum body image. Journal of Health Psychology. 2025;30(14):4268-4283. doi:10.1177/13591053251381895
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