Four proud new mums show off real ‘post-baby bodies’ after Kylie Jenner posed with flat stomach one month after birth
We speak to four women who think new mums should take more pride in their altered figures
SMUG celebrities cannot get enough of sticking sleek “post-baby body” snaps online just weeks after giving birth.
Kylie Jenner, 20, did so on Snapchat recently, wearing only knickers and a crop top, above, just a month after her daughter Stormi was born.
Critics claimed the shots could make other new mums feel inadequate.
But rather than moan about the star, some new mothers would prefer to post their own far more realistic snaps of their new figures.
Here, four women who have given birth in the past six months show off their mum-bods – and tell JENNY FRANCIS and SAMANTHA BRICK why they believe other recent mothers should take pride in their figures.
Claire Bentley, 30
WAITRESS Claire, from Haywards Heath, Surrey, lives with husband Matthew, 34, a fitness account manager, Imogen, six, and Jasmine, four months. She says:
"My body isn’t perfect but I’m very happy and grateful with how I look after giving birth to two children.
Before becoming pregnant I was a size six. I’m naturally slim and carried no weight on my hips or tummy at all, while my breasts were tiny.
After childbirth I’m only a size eight but I have stretch marks, curves where I had none before and wobbly bits everywhere.
My boobs have shrunk even more. They went from an A-cup to a C-cup and now back to an A, which was a surprise.
At first I was a little bit uncomfortable with the changes, but I’m much more accepting of my body now.
When I go swimming with Imogen, I don’t have a problem showing off my stretch marks.
I’m doing the 16:8 diet (eating within an eight-hour period, then fasting for 16 hours) and when Jasmine naps I do a high-intensity interval training workout.
My mum and I are really close and I took a lot cues from her. She prepared me for the changes my body would undergo after pregnancy and childbirth and I’m always asking her questions.
It’s a massive help that my husband Matthew is always telling me how great I look.
There’s real pressure on social media to only post pictures of specific body types. The reality is, most mums don’t look like that and all different shapes are just as beautiful."
Jasmine Mbye, 38
FITNESS trainer Jasmine Mbye, 38, went up two dress sizes after having daughter Lily-Lainer four months ago. The size 12 mum, who lives with construction site supervisor husband Solomon, 36, in Luton, Beds, says:
"I didn’t put on much weight during pregnancy , although I made a point not to look at my weight in my maternity notes and not step on the scales at home. I didn’t see the point worrying about the numbers.
Since I gave birth, I’ve noticed my thighs are bigger. My body hasn’t “snapped back into shape” like celebrities claim and my tummy still bulges, so I look a bit pregnant.
I had pert breasts before and now they’re bigger and have dropped. While half of me desperately wants my pre-pregnancy body back, the other side tells me to chill out. It’s only been a few months.
I remind myself of my gorgeous baby girl and realise how much I love her – and that makes me love my body. I’m a first-time mum and an older mum too, so I accept my body will be more vulnerable to change.
Family and friends are very supportive, telling me I look good. And although my husband made a joke about me still looking pregnant, he also tells me I’m sexy.
It’s important for us mums to show off our bodies so other mums can feel confident about theirs too."
Vanesa Macia Domene, 37
NEW mum Vanesa, 37, lives with partner Samiul Ali, 34, a chef in Colchester, Essex. The teacher, who was a size eight, gave birth to son Aidan Macia Ali in December and now wears a size 14. She says:
"Women have it a lot harder today than our mums did. Previous generations were expected to be bigger and dress in baggy shirts during the first year of their baby’s life.
Today, we are constantly made to feel like we’re supposed to immediately slim down. That is physically impossible for most of us, including me.
Celebrity mums such as Kylie Jenner and Ferne McCann don’t help by parading their thin bodies in selfies on social media barely a month after giving birth.
Seeing that sort of thing while I’m still having to wear my maternity clothes certainly doesn’t make things any easier. Before I became a mum, I was a size eight but now I’m more than a stone heavier and three dress sizes up.
My breasts and my tummy are a lot bigger than I expected them to be but I’m slowly but surely getting used to how I look.
Part of me wants to lose weight but the other part wants to enjoy these precious moments with my baby. He comes first.
I don’t have time for exercise and don’t want to put pressure on myself to change too quickly.
Unlike celebs who rush to change, I think it’s important to give your body time to recover.
That’s why showing my body after pregnancy is important. It lets other people know the realities of pregnancy and birth.
I’m really lucky that my partner is so supportive and he loves me the way I am."
Claire Reynolds, 25
SUPPORT worker Claire, 25, was a size ten before pregnancy. Now mum to 21-week-old daughter Ella-Maria, she has gone up to a size 16. Claire, from Southampton, who lives with sales coach partner Luke Eagle, 28, says:
"I knew my body would change with pregnancy but it’s been a more extreme change than I had ever imagined.
I have put on weight in all the usual places, such as my hips, and have gone up three dress sizes – much more than I thought.
But being bigger doesn’t faze me, as I’m lucky to have Ella-Maria.
I had an ectopic pregnancy six years ago and one of my Fallopian tubes was removed, so it’s a miracle I fell pregnant again.
That’s why any negative thoughts about my bigger body immediately get pushed out of my mind.
On days when I wish I fitted into my old skinny jeans, my partner Luke helps me to focus on the positives and that really helps me to stop fretting.
My best friend was worried I’d panic about being bigger but she is proud of how I appreciate my body for what it’s achieved.
I go to a slimming club to make sure I eat healthily.
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I don’t want my daughter to grow up hearing me moan about my figure. If I have a positive outlook about my body then she’ll have one, too.
Celebrities only show off their post-pregnancy pictures when they think they’ve slimmed down.
However, I think that more people should show their body off when they are still naturally recovering. It would be a lot closer to reality.
I had a C-section during the birth and whenever I see the smiling scar on my body, it’s as a reminder of the beautiful little life I’ve created."