Postpartum Body Changes Every Mom Should Know

The third time is supposed to be a charm, but for mom of three, Blake Lively, the birth of her third child left her feeling insecure. The celebrity mom shared on her Instagram stories how she wanted to feel proud over the latest addition to their family. Instead, she admitted to feelings of insecurity when it came to her body.

Blake Lively on Postpartum Body After Third Child

On Instagram, the celebrity mom opened up about how she felt when she had to choose clothes for an event. The fashionable mom said that after giving birth to her third child, the changes on her body made it difficult to put together outfits from the brands she once loved. "So many clothes from the stores I liked did not fit anymore -- and that is just alienating," Lively revealed.

The "Age of Adeline" star also talked about losing her self-esteem. Lively shared how she had less confidence now than before she had her third child. The actress took notes of guilt feelings over the "beautiful miracle" her body was since it was able to give them the baby. Yet, she said she could not bring herself to be proud of her body "simply because I do not fit into these clothes anymore which in retrospect, can be rather silly," added Lively.

ALSO READ: Ashley Graham Is Trying to Help New Moms

Fashion for Moms

Though the 33-year-old actress may feel silly, many moms can relate to her story. With her opening up, her fans felt they were not alone. The story served as an eye-opening anecdote in the fashion world on helping women find post-pregnancy clothes they would feel good in, Cinemablend reported.

On the other hand, it can be understood that brands have a buyer's profile they are targeting. They want certain characteristics in ladies that would go on to wear and advertise their clothing out in the world. Still, the actress's IG story can encourage brands to become more inclusive.

ALSO READ: 8 Helpful Ways to Minimize Postpartum Hair Loss

Postpartum Body Changes

Then again, being able to bounce back to pre-pregnancy body may not always be possible. Some moms may find features of their body they no longer like post-pregnancy. These include sagging skin and stretchmarks along with other changes to the body of the woman like:

Belly Bulge

Once the baby is out, never expect a flat tummy. It can take around 6 to 8 weeks for the uterus to shrink to pre-pregnancy size. This alone effects the appearance of the belly. Hence, the dreaded "mommy pouch" which can still remain there even years after giving birth. Exercises that help flatten the stomach include mountain climbers, planks, and bridge exercise.

Permanently Different Shoe Size

During pregnancy, especially the third trimester, a woman's feet would often swell. But the weight gain during pregnancy can put extra pressure on the feet which can flatten the arch of the foot. This then results in the woman's shoe size increasing by an extra half-inch, Web MD revealed.

And a Cup Size Smaller, Too!

A breastfeeding mom should expect her breasts to increase in size with increased milk production. But after weaning, breasts can not only become saggy but also become smaller. After pregnancy and breastfeeding, it is not uncommon for women to drop bra cup size. Plus, the more children a woman has, the more the breasts will have a tendency to sag.

Thinning Hair

Pregnant women have higher levels of estrogen that keep their hair from falling. After pregnancy, estrogen level drops, and so do hair. For the first five months post pregnancy, women can experience a lot of hair loss. But, this is temporary as hairfall will stop after the first year postpartum.

Reduced Sex Drive

New mothers may also see a decrease in their mood for sexual intercourse. Hope Ricciotti, MD and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Harvard Medical school revealed that it can take women up to one year to get their sex drive back.