Embracing Anti-Bounce Back Culture
Imagine this: as a new mama, you just accomplished the most incredible thing; you gave life to a new perfect little human. You endured the physical and emotional struggles that come with conceiving, growing, and caring for a baby and your body. You went through labor and delivery and experienced the painful, beautiful, raw and amazing experience of actually bringing that human into the world. You are handed your baby and you start the process of feeding, caring for, and teaching that baby everything it will know.
After all of this, you look at the person staring back at you in the mirror and what do you think? For too many of us, it’s not: “Wow, I am a queen.”
Instead, that internal voice becomes an unrelenting critic: “my breasts look gross,” “I hate these stretch marks,” “my skin is too loose,” and “how am I going to lose this weight?”
How you view and think about your body after having a baby MATTERS.
There is so much pressure in the media and from society to “bounce back.” Celebrities are praised for how quickly they return to their pre-baby bodies. Social media shows us “perfect” figures. You may even have that friend who tells everyone how quickly she was back in her pre-baby jeans. As a result, many of us moms are left with an unrealistic view of what a postpartum body “should” look like. It’s imperative to move through this new stage of your life with the understanding that motherhood is a massive transformation for you in every conceivable way. It’s not something you ‘bounce back’ from. It’s something you adjust to, thrive in, and become.
At Matrescence, we embrace the Anti Bounce-Back Culture movement. We aim to challenge the societal pressure placed on new mothers to quickly "bounce back" to their pre-pregnancy bodies and lifestyles after giving birth. We resist the pressure to praise celebrities simply because they have quickly regained their pre-pregnancy bodies, and we choose not to share resources that promote diets and exercise regimens solely aimed at achieving a post-baby "bounce-back."
The reality is, every woman's postpartum experience is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery after giving birth. The physical and emotional changes that occur during and after pregnancy are significant, and it is important for new mothers to focus on their own health and wellbeing, rather than trying to conform to societal expectations.
We aim to create a more supportive and inclusive environment for new mothers, by promoting self-care and body positivity. We encourage you to prioritize rest and recovery, mama, rather than pushing yourself to resume your pre-baby routines too quickly. We celebrate the diversity of postpartum bodies and commit to showing you a more realistic and inclusive standard of beauty.
Anti Bounce-Back Culture is about recognizing that every woman's postpartum journey is unique and valid. By challenging the unrealistic and harmful expectations placed on new mothers, we will create a more inclusive and empowering environment for all women. Remember that your changing body and mind are things to be celebrated, mama.
