Emily
A research study revealed that fewer than one-third of women regain their pre-pregnancy fitness levels within a year after childbirth. The body undergoes remarkable changes during nine months of pregnancy, which naturally impact its shape and form. While some celebrities swiftly recover their pre-pregnancy physique, many notable personalities are now opting to avoid body pressure, choosing instead to embrace and celebrate the changes they’ve experienced.
Kate Winslet
At 46 years old, the actress is a mother of three. Following the births of her first two children, she openly confessed, “I’m 33. I don’t look in the mirror and think, ‘Oh, I look fantastic!’ Of course, I don’t. Nobody is perfect.”
When questioned about the aspects of her body she considered imperfect, Winslet responded, “Where do I start? Okay, what’s not perfect about me? Everything!” She elaborated, “Post-pregnancy tummy, and my breasts have changed significantly after having two kids.”
Olivia Wilde
The actress, aged 38, welcomed her first child in 2014 at the age of 30. Close to a year after giving birth, she disclosed that she hadn’t returned to her previous form, remarking, “In fact, I’m softer than I’ve ever been.” She likened her post-baby physique to “a partially deflated pool toy.”
Wilde appears completely content with the alterations her body has undergone and emphasized, “I believe in a world where mothers aren’t pressured to erase any physical reminders of their pregnancy experiences.”
Zooey Deschanel
The actress, aged 42, welcomed a son and a daughter in 2015 and 2017. Shortly after the birth of her first child, she vocalized her strong disagreement with the pressure to swiftly regain pre-pregnancy form. She expressed, “Haven’t we all seen those images of a new mom looking fabulous in a bikini just a month after? That’s not me.”
Deschanel further clarified that the physical transformations a mother experiences are entirely natural, stating, “You’ve just nurtured a human and then brought that human into the world. Your body shifts everything around.”
Anne Hathaway
The 39-year-old actress, a mother of two sons born in 2016 and 2019, took to her Instagram three years after welcoming her second child to showcase her readjusted jeans. Hathaway captioned the picture: “There’s no shame in gaining weight during pregnancy (or anytime). There’s no shame if it takes longer than expected to shed the weight.”
Drew Barrymore
The 47-year-old actress, a mother of two daughters, candidly discussed her body after childbirth. She acknowledged, “After giving birth to two babies […] it’s tough to stay positive and embrace yourself.” She further remarked, “You feel like a kangaroo with this huge pouch; everything seems loose and unusual.”
However, Barrymore seems to value these changes, expressing, “Yet, you contemplate the beauty of being capable of bringing children into the world.”
Pink
The 42-year-old singer, a mother to a daughter born in 2011 and a son born in 2016, wasn’t rushing to shed the weight gained during pregnancy. She openly stated, “I enjoy feeling fit and healthy. I wasn’t in a competition.” Pink also shared, “I was genuinely compassionate to myself because I was genuinely amazed by the fact that […] ‘I brought a human into this world!'”
Tia Mowry
Seven weeks following the arrival of her second child, the actress, then 39 years old, shared an Instagram photo displaying her postpartum body. Her caption read, “For some women, after pregnancy, the belly disappears within 7 weeks, while for others, it might take a bit longer. I’m in the latter group.”
She openly expressed that it took a while to fully accept the transformations her body experienced, yet she confidently added, “This is who I am. And I’ve grown to love myself.”
Keira Knightley
The actress, aged 37, is a mother to two daughters born in 2015 and 2019. Reflecting on her body two years after the birth of her first child, she acknowledged, “It’s a different body, as it rightly should be, having accomplished something extraordinary.”
Expressing her surprise, Knightley admitted she didn’t feel pressured about her postpartum body and went against the expected norm. She said, “I anticipated feeling the need to quickly get back in shape. Instead, I felt completely the opposite.”
Hilary Duff
The actress first gave birth when she was 24 and now has 3 children. She noted that “being a new mom was one of the happiest times” of her life, but she had struggled with the way she perceived her body.
She admitted, “I wasn’t one of those women who just could nurse and lose the weight.” But Duff revealed that her perception changed as she realized that her “body helped create a bond” between her and the child, and that “was far more important” than her trying to get in shape right away.
Kristen Bell
The 41-year-old actress welcomed her two children in 2013 and 2014. She confessed that it took her more than a year to shed her baby weight and reflected, “Even now, when I glance down at the extra skin on my belly, it’s a constant reminder of something truly remarkable I’ve accomplished.”
Bell shared her perspective, emphasizing that she doesn’t fret about her appearance or weight, recognizing it as part of the journey of motherhood. She remarked, “I’m not someone whose value is defined by my clothing size.”
What’s your stance on women not rushing to regain their pre-pregnancy figure? How did you experience your post-pregnancy phase?