A woman’s body goes through a lot of changes during pregnancy.  She gains weight.  Her breasts grow, and she gets that adorable baby bump.  Stretch marks often appear, and her face, hands and feet swell.  And once the baby is born, things don’t just magically go back to the way they were before.

All of these changes are completely normal, but they often have a devastating effect on new the new mom’s body image.  She worries about how she is going to lose that baby weight, and she may be dismayed with her newly sagging skin and stretch marks.  Instead of seeing these changes as beautiful because they brought forth new life, she may wish that her body didn’t seem so foreign.

The media does little to comfort new moms with body image issues.  Pictures of new moms in magazines are airbrushed to perfection, making it seem that pregnancy should have no long-term effects on the body.  Stars who have babies are praised for losing weight quickly, and many of them have plastic surgery to eliminate any flaws.  So it’s no wonder that a woman’s postpartum body comes as such a shock to her!

Moms whose bodies did not change significantly from pregnancy are not immune to body image issues, either.  They may have had such issues long before they ever became pregnant.  Society’s ideals about what is beautiful can have a profound effect on young women, and instead of treasuring their uniqueness, they may be embarrassed by it.

A woman’s body image has a direct effect on her self-esteem, and can contribute to such problems as eating disorders and depression.  A mother’s body image not only has this affect on her, it can also affect her children.  So as a mom, it is important to work through these issues and be happy with yourself as is.

One thing you can do to feel better about your body is to stop comparing it to the bodies of others.  This includes perpetually thin celebrities, your best friend who can eat anything and not gain an ounce, and everyone else in the world.  Your body is unique, and it is important to realize that everyone wasn’t meant to look the same.

It is also important to recognize that society’s idea of beauty is a lot different from what it once was.  Actresses and models who were considered the epitome of beauty a few decades ago would be considered plus-sized now.  Meanwhile, nothing about the natural tendency for different people to be different shapes and sizes has changed.

Chances are, your body will look at least a little bit different after you become a mom.  The changes will require some getting used to, but they are nothing to be ashamed of.  Learning to love your body is important for both you and your children.