Maybe it’s the Pinterest-mommy backlash or just a reaction against one too many tabloids showing off celebrity post-baby bodies that are completely unrealistic, but these moms are blessing the internet with the harsh truth about motherhood.
Baring stretch marks, unwashed hair and uncomfortable nursing bras for all to see, a select few brave ladies have been taking to the internet to show off what motherhood really means, warts and all. And we are here for it.
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Even though some snippy commenters can’t deal with the knowledge that (gasp!) women don’t magically regain washboard abs ten seconds after giving birth, these body positive mamas are not backing down. To prove it, here are five moms whose truth bombs are shaking the internet.
Amanda Bacon
In what is now considered the Facebook post heard ’round the world, new mom Amanda Bacon appears in the background of her gorgeous baby wearing… wait, what is that thing?
The “giant mom diaper” is less than flattering, but it’s part of an essential conversation about postpartum bodies that just doesn’t get discussed (probably because it’s not glamorous). “Having a baby is a beautiful experience,” she explains, “and the realities of postpartum life aren’t spoken enough about. And definitely not photographed enough.”
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While Bacon’s brave post was flooded with support from moms who remembered the diaper all too well, some people were not ready to hear about it. “Really, no need to talk about the big [diaper]… no one needs to see it,” said one commenter who will not be named. Lots of women adamantly disagreed, mentioning how helpful and informative it was to see a frank discussion of the postpartum body on social media. (Your loss, commenter.)
Marissa Fearon
Ever the advocate for moms, @babiesandpushups_ is no stranger to posting bracingly honest pics. Though she’s fit as hell, she doesn’t shy away from showing the parts of her body that didn’t bounce back after giving birth to her three kids… and we love her for that.
As she said in the caption for this photo, “Even when I get called disgusting, that my stomach is ugly, I will never stop being proud of it. Haters will never bring me down, judgemental people will never change me.” Take that, haters.
Abigail Wedlake
This gorgeous lady knows a thing or two about perfecting your image (her hair and makeup are always incredibly on-point), but there’s one thing she refuses to sugarcoat: her stretchmarks.
Wedlake posts pictures of her midsection alongside her precious baby girl, unashamed of the marks she left on her body. Her Instagram followers are as in love with her brutal honesty as they are with her ever-changing locks.
Stephanie Rothstein
Steph Rothstein’s posts are mostly running, running, and more running, but she takes time out to reassure her followers that, yes, even her ultra-high performing body shows the signs of birthing two children.
She’s not apologizing or making excuses, though! “When I look down I see stretch marks that are here to stay, ab muscles that need continued strengthening, legs that are powerful and feet that are ready to fly!” she wrote alongside the above photo. Nothing is stopping this speedy lady from achieving her goals, and the marks on her stomach are just proof of the amazing things her body can do.
Kathy DiVincenzo
Having a baby doesn’t just leave a mark on your body, it can leave some major scarring on your mood, too. That was the point that Kathy DiVincenzo was trying to make when she teamed up with a photographer friend to shoot a side-by-side comparison that shows what motherhood is really like.
In one picture, Kathy is the ultimate Pinterest mom with a perfectly clean playroom and a chic, styled outfit—the picture of calm and composure. In the other, however, she looks as if she’s hanging on by a thread—wild hair, a room strewn with toys, and a half-on nursing bra.
Explaining that she’s been diagnosed with postpartum depression, she posts a confessional letter to all her followers. “The truth is, both of these pictures represent my life depending on the day,” she writes. “I would only ever comfortably share one of these realities though and that’s the problem… work twice as hard to hide this reality from you because I’m afraid to make you uncomfortable.”
That’s one confession of many that really made an impact, and we applaud all these brave moms for speaking their truth.
