THE REAL DEAL
Mum shares incredible photo of her body just HOURS after giving birth
Mum-of-three Elise Raquel, from Australia, wanted to show viewers what a real post-pregnancy body looks like, in its rawest, unaltered form
A MUM has stunned and inspired viewers by sharing an eye-opening photo of her body just hours after giving birth.
Mum-of-three Elise Raquel was brave enough to take to Instagram, where she posted the snap to the 30,000 followers on her account.
The Australian mum wanted to show viewers what a real post-pregnancy body looks like, in its rawest, unaltered form.
So Elise enlisted the help of to capture how she really looked just hours after giving birth.
Snapped not long after Elise welcomed her third child, Willa, into the world, the photo highlights how much pregnancy will change a woman's body - even after it's over.
Elise wrote: "Let's talk postpartum bodies! I asked @belleverdiglionephotography to take this photo, just hours after giving birth to Willa, in my rawest and most vulnerable state.
"I was in pain and I was overcome by a flood of emotions. Elated to have welcomed our beautiful girl and so empowered and proud of what my body and I had just done!
"It's a strange feeling to look down and still see a bump, even though you're holding your baby in your arms, even after doing it three times."
What family life is like on Instagram v reality
Elise's caption on the photo, which has been liked nearly 2,000 times, continues: "It's not easy to go home with a baby and still have to wear maternity clothes.
"With my first I was adamant I would just 'bounce back'. Everyone would say 'you're young, you'll loose the baby weight in no time!' But you know what, I didn't, I never have in fact.
FUNNY MUMMIES Hilarious images prove just why mums are the funniest members of the family… even when they don’t mean to be
"It's taken me three babies, but I've finally realised this postpartum body isn't something to hide! I am beyond proud for what this body has given and sacralised.
"I am thankful that my body is able to carry and birth babies naturally. I am NOT ashamed of my (many) new stripes and my postpartum body.
"And neither should you! Let's celebrate postpartum bodies, in all their glory. The female body is incredible and I am so proud of what mine has done!"
Elise, whose Instagram is dedicated to photos of her and her children, has received praise from hundreds of other mums for her honest photo.
One wrote: "YES. Thank you. And solidarity for the days when you don't feel things are as great... cause those come too. "
And another said: "My eldest is 21, my youngest is 5. I wish I'd seen an image like this with my first baby..I felt like I was the only one with marks and saggy bits."
Previously, we told how a "vulnerable" mum shared a moving photo of a nurse caring for her post-birth which shows the stark reality of labour.
We also told how a seemingly innocent picture of a newborn has set the internet alight… but can you spot why?
MORE FROM SUPERMUMS
Topics