From Kylie Jenner to Beyoncé, celebrity moms have been applauded and lauded for debuting virtually flawless postpartum bodies mere weeks after giving birth. But while there's nothing bad about reclaiming one's body after a pregnancy, such "snapbacks" are unrealistic for the average mom, and they can make new mothers with stretch marks and cellulite feel as though they're doing something wrong.
Such expectations for moms and their postpartum bodies were the inspiration behind photographer Hayley Garnett's incredible project #Celebrating_My_Postpartum. Using that hashtag, the mom of three has launched a viral movement that encourages mothers to share honest photos of their postbaby bodies and, in the process, embrace their bodies for the miracles they are.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bggh1a9h4Ej/?hl=en&taken-by=th3littlestavenger
Hayley has three children of her own: a toddler son named Archer and two infant twins named Ruby and Ramona. Her Instagram feed is full of adorable and gorgeous photos of her family.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg9OdAAhPgK/?hl=en&taken-by=th3littlestavenger
Hayley launched #Celebrating_My_Postpartum at the end of March: "The excess skin, the stretch marks, the horrible diastisis recti — it’s part of who I am and by golly I’m going to love and celebrate myself for this physical journey that motherhood has taken me on!" she wrote on Instagram at the time.
Inspired by Hayley's post, other moms turned out in a MAJOR way.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhHvRk-h50l/?tagged=celebrating_my_postpartum
Many moms jumped at the opportunity to get real about their postpartum bodies, and the hashtag spread like wildfire. Wrote Meghan, mother of an adorable girl named Maci: "Every body is different. Unique. Special. And so powerful. From the ones who had the smallest changes to the ones who had the biggest."
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhMquDBAlgH/?tagged=celebrating_my_postpartum
"This body is a testament of the countless days and nights I spend breastfeeding, rocking, carrying, soothing, playing, teaching and most importantly, LOVING her," shared Dominika, who gave birth to a little girl about a year ago.
"I'm not in a hurry to 'bounce back,'" she added. "I'm not in a rush to lose the 'baby weight' or tighten that 'loose skin.' This body continues to take its time to nurture this child, so I'm going to continue to take my time in nurturing this body."
The hashtag has produced quite a diverse set of perspectives on postpartum life. A mom named Nat, for instance, used it to dish about her postpartum weight loss and body image journey. "I have embraced my body as it is because it’s honestly pretty d*mn amazing," she wrote. "It carried a human for nine months, birthed it, and nourished it from my breasts."
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjG3DNpACfE/?tagged=celebrating_my_postpartum
A mom named Gabi, meanwhile, used #Celebrating_My_Postpartum as an opportunity to reveal her postpartum fitness plan: "Being a mum of 2 little humans is exhausting and there isnt [sic] much time for any extras but when I find the time I give myself 30-45mins to work on my recovery," she shared.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiNCCi1lQUv/?tagged=celebrating_my_postpartum
And Desiree, a mom of triplets, chose to participate in the campaign to pay tribute to the "hope wounds" she developed while she was pregnant. "You show how much I went through to bring my darling hope triplets into this world," she wrote. "You are beautifully saggy and beautifully ugly. You are my dream come true. You are the hope of my infertility. You are the joy of a fruitful womb."
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiHpK1RnLzx/?tagged=celebrating_my_postpartum
"This is me, the new me. The body I don’t quite recognize but am slowly learning to love," wrote Amanda, mom of twins. "I lay in awe thinking of this amazing journey. This was the home to my kids for 8 months. The scar and marks remind me of the ability to grow two of the most precious parts of me. I’m celebrating my postpartum today and will continue to work on loving every part of it."
https://www.instagram.com/p/BiFonsonFcK/?tagged=celebrating_my_postpartum
"My body may never be #goals but it’s strong and has blessed me with my greatest adventure," chimed in a mom named Savannah. "I know it’s our jobs as mommas to teach our children how to grow through this life, but that little girl taught what being strong, compassionate, and loved is. So you don’t have to love your stretch marks (i don’t love mine) but I’m thankful for what they’ve given me."
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh-CFapAFq7/?tagged=celebrating_my_postpartum
"The extra bits & stretch marks are a reminder of the 40+ weeks I felt your kicks and we were like one. I’m grateful for my body being able to give birth to 3 beautiful babies," wrote a mama named Kelsey, adding, "Let’s recognize the mom bod in all its glory."
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bho8QQhgfE_/?tagged=celebrating_my_postpartum
"I think it’s safe to say I bounced back I am physically & mentally in a happy place ♥️" wrote Corinne, a mom of one who documents her postpartum fitness journey on Instagram. "Although I still occasionally tell myself I have not made as much progress as I had hoped, but I also have to remind myself that I am only 7months postpartum and I still can make more progress!"
"2 weeks postpartum & embracing my body," penned a new mom named Laurie. "It grew a human, withstood major abdominal surgery and is now feeding a thriving, healthy boy. I’m strong as f**k. "
https://www.instagram.com/p/BhuUkQTnlDo/?tagged=celebrating_my_postpartum
A mom named Kylie revealed that she calls her stretch marks and extra skin "love marks."
Props to Hayley for starting such a beautiful movement! You can follow her on Instagram at @th3littlestavenger.
