Parenting Australia

Hot Bodies Post Babies

Celebrity mamas seem to have it all together. They are stylish, their kids are oh-so-cute, their nappy bags are to die for, and if by any chance they have dark circles under their eyes they are covered by makeup or enormous designer sunnies. But I think the hardest part for the rest of us un-super-mums to deal with is their hot bods. Any time a Hollywood mama steps out with a new baby she seems to have instantly bounced back to her pre-pregnancy size and it of course makes the front page of the glossies.

Catherine Oehlman

I have two questions I think we should all ask:

1. Have they really got their body back, or is it an illusion?
2. If they have, what cost did it come at?

I have to wonder if some of these celebrity mums aren’t pulling every trick in the book. I know I wore a stretchy elastic support bandage for several weeks post birth (recommended by my physio) which eliminated much of my jelly-belly look. How many celeb mums are strapped in similarly, or at least wearing the best support underwear money can buy? I find my posture makes a big difference. If I’m slouching, especially while holding a baby on my hip, I still look practically pregnant. When I concentrate on my posture though I can control the belly bulge fairly well. Does having a camera constantly in their face make celebrities just much more posturally aware? Clothing makes a massive difference too. I have a few key pieces that are higher waisted, more structured, or even more flowing than I would choose ordinarily, but they camouflage wobbly bits beautifully. With larger budgets and access to stylists, are mums in the public eye simply more selective with their wardrobe choices?

But then of course there are those pics of women who have barely left the maternity ward frolicking on some exotic beach in swim wear. Swim wear!! A whole human being, even a small one, growing inside another human being is no mean feat. To remove the evidence in only a few weeks you either have to have surgery, be one of those exceptionally rare people blessed with amazing genes, or work out a lot. A real lot. Every day. For several hours.

Apparently an increasing number of women are electing to have a tummy tuck with their caesarean birth. It’s expensive, and not without risk. It also limits the interaction a mother and baby can have in the early hours and days post birth. And what about implications for subsequent pregnancies?!

Many celebrities sweat their way to a hot post baby body, but don’t think for a second that they do it alone. If I had a nutritionist to plan my meals, someone to do my groceries and prepare the healthy food, a personal trainer to tailor my workout sessions and a nanny to watch my kids while I did it... I suspect I’d be a yummy mummy too! At the end of the day, is it really worth it?

It’s not wrong to want to look good after having a baby. It’s not wrong to eat well, exercise, or dress to impress (with suck-me-in underwear) - but it is wrong to idolise women in the public eye, and make them the benchmark for post baby bodies. Their image comes at a cost, and for most of us it isn’t a cost we’d pay even if we could afford it.

How do you feel about seeing celebrity mamas with their hot post baby bodies? Do you think that they project a realistic image for the rest of us?Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

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Catherine Oehlman is a SAHM currently being raised by a terrific toddler and a curious crawler. Her background in primary education, love of the mothering journey and compulsion for writing collide on her SquiggleMum blog. Cath encourages other parents from all walks of life to maximise the time they spend with their children.

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