More Than A Belly: The Objectification of New Mothers

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You can stop objectifying new mothers now.

The Duchess of Cambridge is absolutely gorgeous--she's already proven that a few times. And yes, she looked unnervingly stunning eight hours after delivering eight pounds of princess. (I'm guessing she was also in a good deal of pain, and I admire her sense of duty. I wish her all the sleep and rest a new mother can find.)

But can we stop ogling brand new mothers? Can we stop demanding celebrities and ordinary women alike reveal their perfect post baby bodies in five minutes? Can we stop demanding it at all? Some women's bodies go back to the same lines, proportions, and shape they were before they conceived, grew, and carried a child. Some women's bodies grow new lines, change proportions, and shift shape due to their journey. A woman's body isn't done with motherhood once she delivers her child, though. 

Some women breastfeed. Their bodies taking on a whole new course of sustaining life, while the shape of familiar parts change. All of us mommies feed our babies, and when we do that our minds and hands are dedicated to keeping our tiny humans alive.

 Our babies splay themselves across our torsos, just as they do our lives. We watch tiny chests intently, consoled by the even in and out of our babies' breathing. We cradle weak necks and velvety heads, keeping them close to us.

 Our hands are full of tiny humans, rendering us temporarily disabled from other actions. Our eyes, etched in mascara or not, are heavy and weary because they  widen throughout the night to the sound of a brand new cry. And if there is no cry, our eyes widen as we check to insure tiny chests are still breathing. 

Our legs walk thousands of steps, bounce babies, and keep us standing when exhaustion threaten to topple us. And in the case of the Duchess, allow her to walk down steps while the world watches.

Our arms grow new muscles, the muscles of women who carry babies, diaper bags, breast pumps, groceries, brief cases, and anything and everything. The arms of a mother are an astounding feat of nature. 

So yes, our post baby bodies are amazing and worthy of wonder and awe, just not in the way you're assuming. The biological and physical realities of motherhood are exhausting, and our post baby bodies rise above it all and survive. But by debating when rounded abdomens will flatten, or if they will settle with an extra roll, you've managed to objectify women yet again. 

We are more than societal beauty standards--before motherhood and after. I have no doubt that the beautiful Duchess will re-emerge with her usual trim waist. However, that is only a piece of her post baby body. Her whole body carried her princess, survived the princess's exit, and will care for it during her most fragile weeks. That whole body is a piece of wonder, for it is a mother's body.