Pressure to be Perfect: Breaking the Chains of Bounce-Back Culture
The pressure to obtain the ‘perfect’ body is well-ingrained in our society. From fitness challenges and diet trends to the media obsession with celebrities and sports people’s bodies, ways to achieve the ideal body permeate throughout our lives.
But the worst part? This unhealthy obsession reaches new levels of intensity when it comes to postpartum bodies. Often, marketers of these challenges and diets specifically target new moms who are likely already in a vulnerable state, and while there is nothing wrong with wanting to get back into shape after giving birth, the promotion of unrealistic standards and expectations is a breeding ground for toxic ‘bounce-back’ culture ideas.
Dealing with the physical recovery related to birth, new and unfamiliar surges of hormones, sleep deprivation, and the responsibility of keeping another tiny human being alive is enough for any new parent, but throwing in the stress of trying to bounce back is an unnecessary addition. If you are a new mother experiencing these issues, it is important to seek professional help from qualified individuals who hold the requisite qualifications from reputable institutes like Felician University’s MA in counseling psychology online.
The Dangers of Toxic Bounce-back Culture
Bounce-back culture – also referred to as snapback culture – celebrates women who are able to look like their pre-pregnancy selves quickly. While getting back into shape post-pregnancy in itself is not harmful, unrealistic expectations set by friends, family, other mothers, and, most prominently, social media can lead to guilt, shame, and stress for a new mother.
Snaps of women looking fit and ready with their newborns drive comments and likes in the thousands on social media, a space where it is already difficult to distinguish illusion from reality. Bounce-back culture also tends to promote the idea that the only way to achieve this ideal state is to start dieting and exercising immediately after the baby is born. It encourages new moms to push beyond their limits at a point in time when they should be focusing on rest and recovery instead.
For mothers who may already feel isolated with a newborn, social media can be heavily relied upon to generate connections with adults. Studies have shown that up to 98% of mothers indicated they had uploaded photos of their child on social media, and 44% of mothers reported greater use of Facebook since the birth of their children.
Repeated use of social media during a vulnerable period, and where exposure to bounce-back ideals is prominent, can result in mothers comparing themselves to what they see online and end with them experiencing higher rates of postpartum depression. This is alongside the obvious physical injuries that can occur from starting a new, intense workout regimen while a mother’s body is still healing – something that can sometimes take months.
Breaking the Chains: How to Safely ‘Bounce-back’
While the toxic bounce-back culture is clearly a societal issue for new moms, bouncing back in a healthy, controlled manner is a perfectly reasonable goal.
To bounce back safely, consider the following;
Set Reasonable Expectations when Losing Weight
It is normal to be frustrated with your postpartum body and the pace at which you are taking to return to ‘form’ – celebrities, after all, seem to bounce back in a matter of weeks. Throwing in a little perspective, though – the rich and famous will have a team of personal trainers and chefs at their disposal, for example – the reality is healthy weight loss is always a slightly longer journey. While you will naturally lose some weight in the first couple of weeks postpartum, your body has spent nine months shifting and changing – be kind to it and yourself and give yourself a more reasonable length of time to achieve your ideal weight goals.
Start with a Focus on Healing Targeted Exercises
Your torso takes a beating during pregnancy, so if you are looking to exercise, focus on strengthening work that will help heal your core instead of only weight-loss techniques.
If you experience rectus abdominis diastasis (a separation of the abdominal wall muscles), then this type of exercise becomes even more important in helping bring the muscles back together.
Continue your Prenatal Vitamins
Continuing to take your prenatal vitamins (on the advice of your doctor, of course) can be beneficial, particularly if you are breastfeeding. They can help restore nutrients lost during pregnancy, support your body while producing breast milk, and give you the energy you need for everyday activity or gentle exercise.
Acceptance
It’s not easy, and the physical and mental toll of a newborn does not help, but accepting your body is the most important way you can help break a toxic bounce-back culture.
You created an entire human being yourself, and are continuing ongoing responsibilities to meet their needs every single day. Recognizing the physical changes as part of the incredible journey you are on will help you respect and accept the new you, and regardless of how you look before and after pregnancy, your life will be filled with new wonders and magical memories.
What's Your Reaction?
