Erica (31 - she/her), Adam (31 - he/him), and Shavit (9 mo)
Albuquerque, NM | Washington, DC
Erica shares -
How has parenthood impacted your body image?
I feel so different about my body than I imagined I would. I had an incredible pregnancy. I loved my body throughout pregnancy and I stayed committed to being as healthy as possible. I drank more water than I ever thought was possible, I went on long walks, I worked out the day before I went into labor. I thought (and hoped) that my positive body image would continue postpartum, especially because I gave birth. I imagined that I would feel like I could do anything because I brought a life into the world and thought it would empower me to love the body that brought me my son. My son is nine months old now and I’m still working on loving my body the way I think it deserves to be loved. I guess I’m not surprised that my new curves, rolls, and shape aren’t my very favorite (yet).
What I didn’t see coming, and makes me want to love every inch of me, is that I want to show my son positive body image and show him how to love his own body, in all of its perfection. As a parent, I want to create a home and a family that speaks so well about our bodies: they’re strong, they’re resilient, they’re capable. But, in looking at my new body, I struggle to speak that way. But, I’m working to show my son. So, loving my body is a work in progress…one that I’m working on.
What was your postpartum experience?
We had a homebirth and I thought I was prepared for anything: lots of labor practices and activities (none of which we used), prepared to have to transfer to a hospital or to labor for days. But after five hours of active labor, dilating fully in two hours, and giving birth just 18 hours after my first contraction, rocked my body. And, when my son didn’t nurse when he was born, I immediately saw that there was a chance we’d have to take my son to the hospital. I wasn’t ready to have to work so hard to breastfeed, I wasn’t It was the beginning of my life as a parent, my nerves, my anxieties, and my heart were all living outside my body.
There were days that felt absolutely insurmountable, despite doing “nothing”…also known as hours of cluster feeding, pumping to keep my milk supply up, weight checks and trying to sleep for a minute…and there were days that were the happiest of my life. But now, only nine months out, Shavit’s newborn months are filled with joy and pride. All of the things that were impossibly hard, which some days included getting out of bed or getting dressed, and the things that left me bursting with joy, his first smile, his first laugh, are all wrapped together in happiness for this family we’ve grown.
What is one piece of knowledge you'd pass along to your former self, or a new parent?
Just breathe. Nothing will be easy but nothing will be so hard you can’t do it. You’re made to do this.
Adam shares -
How has parenthood impacted your body image?
I've become more conscious of how I talk about my body and the importance living a healthy and active life now that I have a child. I've become kinder, albeit, slightly to myself.
What is one piece of knowledge you'd pass along to your former self, or a new parent?
There is no such thing as ready. The best thing you can do to prepare is be prepared to not be ready and that's ok.
Why did you choose to participate in this movement and share your story?
Putting myself out there like this is a stretch and while I stretch myself in many ways this opportunity is no and different. I think it's also important to deepen my connection with my body and this project struck me as an opportunity to do this.