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Pregnancy shouldn't be viewed as a temporary disruption a woman has to "bounce back" from.

Postpartum mothers should focus on the amazing functions of their bodies.

A body neutral approach may help new moms experience their bodies in a new way after giving birth.

This article was co-written by Dua Malik, MA.

For many new mothers, the pressure to "bounce back" begins almost immediately after giving birth. Alongside caring for a newborn, recovering from childbirth, and adjusting to a new identity, many women are met with messages urging them to regain their pre-pregnancy bodies.

How "Bounce Back" Culture Affects Body Image and Recovery

The phrase “bounce back” sounds harmless enough, but it implies that pregnancy is a temporary disruption rather than a major life and physical transition. It suggests that the ultimate goal is to return to who you were before, rather than adapt to who you are now. In doing so, it overlooks the complexities of motherhood and the unique journey each woman experiences as she adjusts to this new stage of life.

Rather than encouraging women to recover at their own pace, these messages often shift the priority toward how quickly they can look like they never experienced pregnancy at all. As a result, a focus on returning to a pre-pregnancy body can become........

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