Fitness mom gets real about belly flab, sex life post childbirth

Nisean Lorde
·3 min read

“I was completely self conscious to be naked in front of my own husband…”

Alexa Jean Brown is getting candid about the realities of life after childbirth.

“Postpartum reality. We don’t talk about this issue enough,” the fitness blogger said in a recent Instagram post, which received well over 113,000 likes in three days.

“Not only are our bodies completely out of sorts, we’re exhausted, we’re changing into new people, and don’t get me started on our emotions,” the 26-year-old blogger captions, alongside four stunning photos that fabulously showcase her belly. “No longer can we we keep these things to ourselves and secretly suffer.”

The Arizona mother of two describes giving birth as one of the most amazing things she’s ever accomplished, but it hasn’t stopped her from feeling insecure, at times, about certain areas of her body.

“Most days right after giving birth were beautiful. But there were also days of complete sadness and just gloom. And if we’re being completely honest, I was completely self conscious to be naked in front of my own husband and I didn’t want to be intimate with him,” she confesses.

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Post partum reality. We don't talk about this issue enough. Not only are our bodies completely out of sorts, were exhausted, we're changing into new people, and don't get me started on our emotions. No longer can we we keep these things to ourselves and secretly suffer. Don't get me wrong, creating life is hands down one of the most amazing things I've ever accomplished in my life. I'm proud of it and most days right after giving birth were beautiful. But there were also days of complete sadness and just gloom. And if we're being completely honest, I was completely self conscious to be naked in front of my own husband and I didn't want to be intimate with him. My photo isn't the type that is on display as a “post-baby bod” featured in magazines. Society puts the pressure on many new moms to feel that their post-pregnancy bodies should look identical to their pre-pregnancy bodies. Being in front of millions daily, I felt the pressure to get my body back. I gave birth to my second daughter 3 1/2 months ago. I have a few more stretch marks, some tummy flab that won't go away. My belly button is even saggy and stretched out (one of the many things no one warns you about). If this is how I feel as a fitness person, I can't even imagine how other moms must feel. To all my momma bears, give yourself some grace, if you're feeling sad do not go at it alone, talk about it, and lastly own that body. That body created life! Look at your sweet babe and give yourself some credit.

A post shared by Alexa Jean Brown (@alexajeanfitness) on Mar 31, 2017 at 2:50pm PDT

She admits that her photo may not be the typical one featured as a “post-baby body” in magazines, but society places too much pressure on new moms to look identical to their pre-pregnancy bodies.

“Being in front of millions daily, I felt the pressure to get my body back,” the blogger admits “I gave birth to my second daughter 3 1/2 months ago. I have a few more stretch marks, some tummy flab that won’t go away. My belly button is even saggy and stretched out (one of the many things no one warns you about).”

“If this is how I feel as a fitness person, I can’t even imagine how other moms must feel.”

ALSO SEE: Blogger gets real about ‘least favourite part’ of her body in powerful post

Brown touts nutrition and training advice through her fitness guides and clean eating, but she’s been very vocal about attempting to embrace her postpartum stretch marks and belly rolls. In a previous post she discusses how halfway through the pregnancy of her second child, she saw a picture of a woman online, showing off her “flat tummy and abs” just one day after having a baby.

“Our society has put this idea in our heads that women have to bounce right back after having a baby, but that’s typically just not realistic,” she wrote, noting how stretch marks and belly rolls are perfectly normal.

ALSO SEE: Mom shares before and after pregnancy belly shots as cheers to ‘mummy tummy’

This is me 4 weeks post birth. As much as its my job to motivate you I also believe it's my job to be relatable and honest. Our society has put this idea in our heads that women have to bounce right back after having a baby, but that's typically just not realistic. This is not the truth for most of us. I have more stretch marks and belly rolls and that's perfectly NORMAL and OKAY. I remember being part way through this pregnancy seeing this woman online 1-day post partum with a flat tummy and abs thinking to myself, "wowie, I hope I can pull that off". I instantly felt the pressure to measure up. Then fast forward to my 1-day post partum body and it was more of the squishy, droopy flub that I remember after my first baby. As bummed as I was that I didn't just bounce right back to my pre-baby body, I can't help but feel so amazed that this body created two beautiful babies. If you're finding yourself obsessing about, feeling ashamed of or apologizing for the appearance of your body, even if you haven't just had a child, STOP. Our bodies are incredible and amazing and we need to love every inch of it. Lots of love to all of the other amazing mommies out there! ????

A post shared by Alexa Jean Brown (@alexajeanfitness) on Jan 19, 2017 at 10:45am PST

“To all my momma bears, give yourself some grace, if you’re feeling sad do not go at it alone, talk about it, and lastly own that body,” Brown ends her recent post “That body created life! Look at your sweet babe and give yourself some credit.”

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