17.2.17

body after baby + a WonderBra giveaway!

*** giveaway is closed ***

So a weird thing happens when you have a baby, not to mention a second and a third within three years. Among other miracles, your body grows in such a way as to house, sustain, and eventually nurture human life. No biggie, right? And then the baby leaves your body, only to use it for sustenance and comfort for the many weeks, months, or years to come.

If you haven't guessed by now, this post is for the ladies. Mamas, in particular. So guys, do yourself a favour and head here instead, k? Ciao.
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So, body after baby. What thoughts does that conjure up for you? I feel like my mind goes to annoying before and after pictures on Instagram of women looking smokin' hot without a glimmer of pregnancy or childbearing on their stunning bods, or the polar opposite, the reality of stretch marks, crazy boobs, and saggy skin that just weren't there nine months ago.

We all feel comfortable saying every baby is different, or every pregnancy or birth story is unique, but when it comes to body after baby, everyone seems to be comparing. Moms always want to know, how long did it take you to loose your baby weight? Spoiler alert: just like everything, it was a different journey with every pregnancy. With Lily I didn't even have time to think about my post-baby body before I was pregnant again with Oli. And then with Oli it was about eight months before I started resembling my pre-baby self. After Chloe I was fitting into my regular clothes sooner, but by then I had literally no muscle mass to speak of and couldn't even open a pasta jar.

Let's be perfectly clear, pre-baby self is never coming back. Weight is one thing - a measly number - but EVERYTHING changes when you have a baby, give birth, breastfeed, and ween. Those stretch marks that I got in the second to last week of my first pregnancy? They're here to stay. My breasts have literally been every single size on the conventional spectrum in the last six years. I'm not kidding. If you've ever been to one of my stuff swaps, you've probably been offered one of my countless bras in ever-changing sizes which no longer fit me.


When WonderBra offered me a few of their new bras to try, and I checked out their sizing chart on their website, I was once again enlightened to my new bra size. Except now it's probably my bra size for the legitimate future (fingers crossed, because I don't think I can handle any more body changes!). I'm not having any more babies, I'll never be pregnant or breastfeed again, and I seem to be at a stable size/weight (I know this because I've been wearing the same jeans for the past 2+ years, not because I weigh myself - I don't own a scale - a practice I highly suggest). Now is the perfect time for me to make peace with my body after baby, because it's the same body I'm going to live in for the rest of my life.


What I've learned after three kids in three years? Babies are not always kind to your curves. You might gain weight that you can't loose. Your girls might develop a mind of their own and mutiny against every shirt you own by being either way larger or much smaller than you'd like. What I've also learned? It's 100% worth it. I've written about my difficult journey of breastfeeding my three kids, and how I wish I started working out sooner, not to weigh a certain amount but for the energy it gives to help you through the day. But this body real talk? It's a first for me, but I'm glad to join the conversation.


I love WonderBra's approach - that every woman's body is wonderful and we should see them as the incredible things they are, no matter their size. In partnering with Wonderbra this month, I got to try some bras from their new collection and they are so beautiful and so comfortable! I've teamed up with Wonderbra to host a giveaway on Instagram, and one winner will receive a bra set of her choice! You can enter as many times as you like (by tagging women you admire!), so head over to Instagram to enter. The winner will be drawn Sunday night at 10pm! Good luck girls, you're wonderful ;)

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