This is such a thoughtful and evocative piece, Violet, thank you. I remember the stage you are at well, albeit with a lot more hair loss (I was also very very active before becoming a parent). Part of me wants to say that soon, you will be moving so very much, more than ever in your life if you have a particularly active toddler, just in a very different way than ever before. But that may not be your experience, we are all so different, and unsolicited advice really does become tiresome.
I read something once by a pregnant therapist that said "around a pregnant body, peoples' unconscious thoughts are very close to their mouths". Truth. Anyway thanks for transporting me back to a very tricky but lovely time, and for making me think.
This was such a nice comment to read, thank you! I will def accept that notion that I’ll be moving with a toddler in a year or so — that sounds rly nice, even if the movement looks different than before 🩵 Bummer about the hair loss! That’s one symptom I’m lucky to have avoided, I hope it grew back for you. Thank you for reading and sharing the quote, it’s so true 🫶🏻
I want to pick out quotes I love, but I’d be quoting half your article! This is the most relatable and beautiful and hard post. I commend you for putting it out in the world.
Postpartum bodies are truly a new experience, no matter how much confidence/fitness/body positivity you had before baby.
And I can’t even start on people commenting on pregnant bodies . . . one of my least favorite parts of being pregnant, really.
And haven’t we all fallen prey to the Orange creamsicle dreamsicle miracle fixes.
Anyway. I love every bit of this creative, honest, funny, beautiful post.
Thank you for this sweet comment! I rewrote this thing 4 times — I’m rly glad it turned out okay 🤣🩵 the orange creamsicle dreamsicle is truly a money purge but you know what? I still feel fancy when I rub it in LOL 🫶🏻
Really important piece and something I hope to explore more through my writing too. It’s taken me two years to realise there’s no timeline back to normality as that’s shifted to new parameters.
You’ve been through so much!! Just continue to be kind to yourself and your body after literally CREATING LIFE!! 🤯 It really throws you for a loop. Personally I spent so much time preparing for the birth that I was absolutely unprepared for postpartum.
I definitely have! 🫶🏻 Just riding all of the waves that come with recovery and time after baby. I do sorta feel like I’ve had a better time postpartum in pregnancy but also felt more “prepared” for pregnancy like you mention here. A wild ride! 🩵
We got legally married when I was 4 months postpartum. I remember looking at the photos after and thinking I didn't recognize myself. My body had changed a lot before I was pregnant (like wider hips and shoulders) so I was already going through a clothing crisis of trying to understand what clothes to wear that felt like my identity was reflected. It was A LOT of trial and error. Finally my son is almost 5 years old and I've landed at a place where I understand what clothes make me feel most me.
I also wanted to share that beef tallow or castor oil can repair skin tissue, if that's something you're interested in. Also, our scars and marks tell a valuable story which can sometimes be more valuable than flawless skin texture!!
Taking in all of this! Thank you for this thoughtful comment and all of the recs — I’ll def take what I need 🩵 I’m glad you’re in a place rn that makes you feel much better, I hear you on the body shape, too! My hips are a completely different shape it’s truly wild lol to our bodies!! 🫶🏻
This is so validating. I am six months postpartum and didn’t expect to still feel so postpartum-y at this point. Blob is a great way to put it! I see you, and thanks for making me feel seen.
Me too! My dad and I were joking a few months ago about how long it's typical to say you're postpartum, like what is THE month cut-off when you're just...mom with a kid? My naïve self thought it was six months. It seems like two years is the real answer lol thank you for this sweet comment. We can be blobs together 💌
Slowly but surely climbing out of blobdom, but we're all in it together! Know when you're feeling out of balance at 3 AM, I am too, feeling the same ❤️
This is such a thoughtful and evocative piece, Violet, thank you. I remember the stage you are at well, albeit with a lot more hair loss (I was also very very active before becoming a parent). Part of me wants to say that soon, you will be moving so very much, more than ever in your life if you have a particularly active toddler, just in a very different way than ever before. But that may not be your experience, we are all so different, and unsolicited advice really does become tiresome.
I read something once by a pregnant therapist that said "around a pregnant body, peoples' unconscious thoughts are very close to their mouths". Truth. Anyway thanks for transporting me back to a very tricky but lovely time, and for making me think.
This was such a nice comment to read, thank you! I will def accept that notion that I’ll be moving with a toddler in a year or so — that sounds rly nice, even if the movement looks different than before 🩵 Bummer about the hair loss! That’s one symptom I’m lucky to have avoided, I hope it grew back for you. Thank you for reading and sharing the quote, it’s so true 🫶🏻
I want to pick out quotes I love, but I’d be quoting half your article! This is the most relatable and beautiful and hard post. I commend you for putting it out in the world.
Postpartum bodies are truly a new experience, no matter how much confidence/fitness/body positivity you had before baby.
And I can’t even start on people commenting on pregnant bodies . . . one of my least favorite parts of being pregnant, really.
And haven’t we all fallen prey to the Orange creamsicle dreamsicle miracle fixes.
Anyway. I love every bit of this creative, honest, funny, beautiful post.
Thank you for this sweet comment! I rewrote this thing 4 times — I’m rly glad it turned out okay 🤣🩵 the orange creamsicle dreamsicle is truly a money purge but you know what? I still feel fancy when I rub it in LOL 🫶🏻
Really important piece and something I hope to explore more through my writing too. It’s taken me two years to realise there’s no timeline back to normality as that’s shifted to new parameters.
Absolutely! I’d love to read a postpartum body piece if you write one 🫶🏻 Plz link it if you do!
Ah thank you - I've touched on it in my most recent one about the first exercise class I went to in a long time... hope you like x
https://open.substack.com/pub/anitaghosh/p/on-trying-new-things?r=a1ym4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
You’ve been through so much!! Just continue to be kind to yourself and your body after literally CREATING LIFE!! 🤯 It really throws you for a loop. Personally I spent so much time preparing for the birth that I was absolutely unprepared for postpartum.
I definitely have! 🫶🏻 Just riding all of the waves that come with recovery and time after baby. I do sorta feel like I’ve had a better time postpartum in pregnancy but also felt more “prepared” for pregnancy like you mention here. A wild ride! 🩵
We got legally married when I was 4 months postpartum. I remember looking at the photos after and thinking I didn't recognize myself. My body had changed a lot before I was pregnant (like wider hips and shoulders) so I was already going through a clothing crisis of trying to understand what clothes to wear that felt like my identity was reflected. It was A LOT of trial and error. Finally my son is almost 5 years old and I've landed at a place where I understand what clothes make me feel most me.
I also wanted to share that beef tallow or castor oil can repair skin tissue, if that's something you're interested in. Also, our scars and marks tell a valuable story which can sometimes be more valuable than flawless skin texture!!
Also, my friend Meg Sylvester had a similar journey postpartum and published a book in that time. While I haven't read it, you may be interested: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/163807075X?ref_=cb_interstitial_us_ca_desktop_unrec_location_unk_dp_dp.
Sending you blessings 🤗
Taking in all of this! Thank you for this thoughtful comment and all of the recs — I’ll def take what I need 🩵 I’m glad you’re in a place rn that makes you feel much better, I hear you on the body shape, too! My hips are a completely different shape it’s truly wild lol to our bodies!! 🫶🏻
This is so validating. I am six months postpartum and didn’t expect to still feel so postpartum-y at this point. Blob is a great way to put it! I see you, and thanks for making me feel seen.
Me too! My dad and I were joking a few months ago about how long it's typical to say you're postpartum, like what is THE month cut-off when you're just...mom with a kid? My naïve self thought it was six months. It seems like two years is the real answer lol thank you for this sweet comment. We can be blobs together 💌
7 months postpartum and feeling so much of this, thank you ❤️ it’s good to know I’m not the only one!
Slowly but surely climbing out of blobdom, but we're all in it together! Know when you're feeling out of balance at 3 AM, I am too, feeling the same ❤️
A stunning piece — as always! You’ve perfectly captured so many of the layers of complexity that is postpartum.
Thank you so much 🥹🩵