Leah Clay (24), Zoey Armani (4) and Royal Amorie (9 weeks)
Atlanta, GA
How has parenthood impacted your body image?
I’m learning to fall in love with myself again . I had Zoey at 19 and before I became pregnant with her I was always a small girl never weighed over 150. So it was hard to accept all the weight I gained after I had her . I expected to go right back to my smaller self and I didn’t and I honestly didn’t what to do, all I did was eat more and more.
What was your postpartum experience?
Honestly, I’m still adjusting with Zoey it’s was rough. I was at such a different mentality at 19 . I was too scared to show how I felt. I didn't want to be treated like I a young mother that don’t know anything so I faked like I had it all together . Now currently with Royal honesty I’m struggling. I have my good days, my bad days , and my rock bottom days - some days I feel like pure crap and like I’m the worst mother in the world especially after having to have a emergency cesarean with Royal. I expected everything to be picture perfect but it was far from that and now I’m learning to be okay with that.
What is your truth?
My truth is that I don’t always have it together and that is okay.
What is one piece of knowledge you'd pass along to your former self, or a new parent?
To the former Leah , it’s okay to cry it’s okay to yell and don’t let anyone make your not good enough or like your ungrateful because you’re not always happy. You’re human too and it’s okay to have emotions . You’re beautiful inside and out regardless of what anyone else has to say.
Why did you choose to participate in this movement and share your story?
What brought me here today is this beautiful movement to love your postpartum self. If we only showed to love your postpartum self if everything went back to how it was before and honestly for most women things are never the same again and that’s okay.