Hi beautiful,
Let’s take a deep breath together and sit with something sacred.
Somewhere along the way, someone may have told you that your postpartum body looks like you “let yourself go.” Maybe it was a comment from a stranger, or even someone you love dearly, a glance in the mirror that stirred deep emotions, or the silent pressure of scrolling social media. Maybe it was your own inner voice whispering comparisons to the “you before baby.”
But here’s the truth, the one I want you to soak in with all the love I can pour into these words:
You did not let yourself go.
You let life in.
Your stretch marks are not flaws. They are reminders of growth—of skin expanding to hold something amazing.
Your softened belly? A tender testament to your labor of love.
Your new shape, your tired eyes, your changed reflection—these are the echoes of creation.
You are not broken. You are not behind. You are not too much or not enough.
You are becoming. And becoming takes time, gentleness, and grace.
The Body That Birthed a Baby
You carried life. Whether for weeks or months—you were home to another soul.
Your body held, nourished, and protected.
It labored. It bled. It ached. It wept. It opened.
That is not weakness.
That is witness.
A witness to strength, endurance, and love in its rawest form.
And no matter how your baby entered this world—through your belly or your birth canal, through silent tears or joyful screams—you did something divine.
The Lie of the “Bounce Back” Culture
There’s this loud message out there that says women should “bounce back” after birth. As if we’re rubber bands meant to snap into shape, erase the evidence, and pretend our bodies didn’t just perform a miracle.
But here’s the quiet truth we need to say louder:
You were never meant to go back.
You were meant to go forward—wiser, softer, deeper, stronger.
Motherhood is not something you add to your life. It’s something that transforms it.
And your body, in all its beautiful, ever-changing glory, is the map of that transformation.
Maybe you’re still breastfeeding and your body holds extra softness to keep your baby nourished.
Maybe your belly hasn’t flattened.
Maybe your clothes don’t fit the same.
And that’s okay.
More than okay—it’s normal.
You are not failing. You are unfolding.
Let your healing take the time it needs.
There is no timeline for loving your new body.
What If We Changed the Narrative?
Imagine if instead of asking “How can I get my body back?” we asked:
- How can I honor what my body has done?
- How can I support it with love, not shame?
- How can I teach my children that worth isn’t measured in waistlines, but in wonder?
Let’s redefine what strength looks like.
Let’s raise daughters who see motherhood not as something that destroys beauty, but deepens it.
Let’s speak to ourselves the way we’d speak to our sisters and friends—with tenderness, truth, and awe.
A Love Letter to the Woman Reading This
You are not broken.
You are not behind.
You are not too soft, too round, too anything.
You are exactly who you need to be right now.
This body—your body—is the home of so many beginnings.
It deserves to be celebrated, not criticized.
So buy the comfy clothes that fit your now.
Take the bath. Wear the soft robe. Say the affirmation.
Take the photo—yes, even if you don’t love how you look in it.
Your children won’t remember if you had abs.
They’ll remember how safe, warm, and loved they felt in your arms.
Let go of the old story that says you need to fix yourself.
You were never broken. You were reborn.
Letting Go and Rising Up
So yes, maybe you did let yourself go.
You let go of perfection—and stepped into power.
You let go of shame—and chose softness.
You let go of who you were—and stepped into who you are becoming.
You are more than enough, just as you are.
And I see you. I celebrate you.
With so much love,
Jamie
Labor of Love for Birth & Beyond
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