Recreating Beautiful

When we get caught up in the whirlwind of being pregnant, The last thing that tends to be on our minds are that our bodies are going to change forever.  For some lucky women, they bounce back like nothing ever happened.  If you didn't know where to look for the little marks of motherhood, you may not know she has been the vessel of life.  For most other women, it may feel like you've had a make over with a wrecking ball.

Things migrate, you discover stretch marks in areas you didn't know you could get them, you begin to loose hair faster than a dog in spring.  Your metabolism might take a dive. We get those lovely skin tags, hair where it doesn't belong, and some of us lucky ones get the permanent linea negra. It can quickly become a recipe for self loathing.

I have had the distinct pleasure to be amongst an online community of women who gave birth around the same time. We all gave birth in various ways. We have differing backgrounds, geographic locations, ideals, and economic status.  The one thing we have in common (besides children the same age) is our struggles with our mommy bodies.  Some of us have learned to love the changes, others are still coming to terms with their new looks, but at some point in our journey to motherhood, we have all had the self-esteem problems associated with pregnancy.

Photo courtesy of Ashley Arnold

This is what I want all of us to remember, that we are beautiful. We were the method to which new life arrived!  We have passed amazing trials, exhibited unsurpassed strength, stood our ground, and took our place among generations of mothers. We stand as the foundations for the future, we are those that our children will look to as examples. We are the pillars of our homes, the matriarchs of our time. We owe it to ourselves to embrace what we are, and give ourselves the strength to rock our mommy bodies!

Photo courtesy of Jenna Saylor

These stretch marks are the road map of my tour to motherhood, a badge of honor pointing to the months that my child was warmly and safely growing in my belly.  These sagging breasts are a testament of my bodies ability to sustain the life my womb brought fourth (even if I didn't breastfeed). The weight that I keep provides a better lap to sooth sick and injured children, they make for squishy hugs for those times that only a hug from mom will do.  

Photo by Heather Felker

My scars are the reminders that my body went through amazing feats to ensure the safety of my child. They show the lengths I am willing to go to. The fears realized and the joys that only hard work brings. My scars are beautiful, a reminder of the birth of that amazingly special entrance my child made. My mind may get fuzzy, but my body will forever tell the story of the most joyous moments of my life.

Photo provided by Kylynn Hilyard

Our society values what is not natural. We kick ourselves constantly trying to obtain what we think is body perfection. When we cant fit into a size zero at 3 weeks postpartum like the latest celebrity mom, we begin to wonder, what is wrong with her? Or worse yet, what is wrong with me?

Fact is, no two women are alike. And that's a good thing! We need to stop pushing these unrealistic expectations on ourselves and embrace our true beauty. If we can change our attitudes about how we look maybe we can make things better for our kids! I don't ever want my girls to think " If only I were more like her". I don't want my sons to only see women as needing to be affirmed by superficial means.

We are a beautiful work of art created by pain, joy, struggle and triumph! We should embrace our differences, and discover our strengths.  We are mothers! These gorgeous bellies are what real women look like. They are what real moms struggle to love. Its a learning process, and one well worth the lesson!

I want to thank the amazing women that I've been able to share my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with. You are all so wonderful! Its been a divine pleasure to experience all of your joys and sorrows with you. And special thanks to women who gave permission to use their photos. You all have blessed my journey.

A better way

The placenta is probably the most amazing forgotten organ that the female body produces. At least it is in American culture. Most often after birth the placenta is discarded, forgotten, and under appreciated. For the average Jane and Joe the mere mention of placentophagy (ingesting ones placenta) is a nauseating experience.

I get it, I was in that camp too.  Its a funky looking organ. On the one side, it looks a bit like an over tenderized steak (the maternal side), the other has a blueish tint and looks a lot like a trees branches (the fetal side).  The amazing thing is that this organ that protected and nourished your child during his womb stay, can help nourish both mom and baby long after the umbilical cord has been severed!

I began looking into the benefits of placenta encapsulation probably near the half way point in my pregnancy. I, more often than not, have suffered the sometimes debilitating effects of postpartum thyroiditis. An autoimmune disorder that essentually means the body goes wonky and produces to much or to little thyroid hormone, sending your body into a bit of a shock.

There is no research that I could find stating that taking placenta would reduce the incidence of postpartum thyroid disease, but after seeing all that it could do, I was eager to try! So far, at 11 weeks postpartum, I have noted increased energy, decreased lochia, increased milk supply, and zero baby blues! So far, I've not had any noticeable thyroid related symptoms!

I urge all women to look into the benefits in keeping your placenta for capsules, tinctures, and other forms of supplementation.  Its been a pleasant and amazing recovery!