Ana Carolina Rojas Bastidas (36 - she/her), mother to Elias (13), Eliana (12), and Jonathan (23 months - pictured)
Bogota, Colombia | Houston, TX
How has parenthood impacted your body image?
At first, it was overwhelming and I felt like a failure. Then, it was made worse when I found myself divorced with a body I thought was ruined and ugly and therefore holding me back from the life I wanted. The feeling of inadequacy followed me everywhere and impacted every part of my life. One day my 3 year old daughter told me she couldn't wait to get older so she could have a tummy just like mine. Mine. Covered in stretch marks, scars, and loose skin. I wanted to warn her but embraced the thought instead. She reminded me that I am what I am and any self loathing doesn't benefit me in any way and that the life I wanted was up to me. No one gets to decide what I can and cannot do, wear, or feel about myself. It's been a long road to healing but it's been worth every struggle.
Now, I feel empowered to help other though my projects and new business.
What was your postpartum experience?
With my first two children, life was a blur. I was young and while I loved being a mother, I struggled to speak up for myself and my needs. The pressure I put on myself was crushing but the only thing that mattered was the I was living the life everyone expected me to. I kept up that exhausting pace for years until it all came crashing down and I was left having to start all over again. Fast forward to 11 years later and I was re-married and pregnant with my third. This time I asked for all sorts of helped. I held myself to no standards and I allowed myself the grace to following my intuition. The two experiences have been night and day. I only wish I felt as supported as I did this time around.
What is your truth?
The world is too big and full of too many people to ever believe there is only one way anything can or should be done. The more grace we give one another as individuals the farther we can all go.
Why did you choose to participate in this movement and share your story?
When I first joined Instagram, I didn't understand what my goals were beyond wanting to help postpartum mamas feel heard and understood. 4th Tri Bodies was the first account I found that showed the postpartum community as raw and wonderful as it deserves to be. I've always wanted to be a part of it and now is my chance and hopefully it will help someone else.