How to feel attractive after having a baby…
It’s beautiful when you become a mother and have your own baby.
You feel like a goddess and you are proud of yourself because you just gave life to a little human being.
As a mom of two, I can tell you that the feeling is indescribable!
But, as much as it’s beautiful to have your own baby, it’s also common to start feeling unattractive after having a baby.
Because pregnancy and childbirth are tough on a woman’s body.
I’ve been there twice and I can tell that for most women, pregnancy/childbirth is probably the toughest thing we’ve ever had to deal with in our lives.
It’s no cakewalk.
So, it is common to experience low self-esteem and body image issues after having a baby.
You may not want to look at yourself in the mirror or even want your significant other to see you naked.
While this is common, it can be detrimental to your mental health and your relationship with your spouse.
And since being new parents is tough enough as it is, feeling unattractive can only make it harder on both of you.
Here are some tips on how to feel attractive again if you are feeling unattractive after having a baby:
How To Feel Attractive After Having a Baby
1. Acknowledge your body
The first thing you need to do is acknowledge your body.
You can’t change what you don’t accept.
I know, you’re probably thinking, “Who accepts a fat belly, stretch marks, extra pounds, and saggy boobs?”
But unless you acknowledge that you have these things, there is no way you will get past them.
And there is no way you will work on changing them.
You must accept the way your body looks.
It’s okay to want to make changes for yourself.
In fact, it’s more than okay.
It’s healthy to want to improve yourself and your physical health.
But until you accept the way your body is now, there’s nothing to improve upon.
2. Don’t put undue pressure on yourself
The pressure to shed baby weight is rampant in our society, as evidenced by magazines and TV shows that continue to feature celebrity moms who have snapped back into shape (with the help of personal trainers, chefs, and nannies) just weeks after giving birth.
Don’t put undue pressure on yourself to look like you did before you had a baby.
You grew another human being in your body.
That is an amazing feat and something to be proud of.
Your body has gone through some extreme changes and it needs time to recover.
I get it, we all want to look like Kate Middleton after giving birth.
But the truth is, it takes a lot of time and effort to get there.
And while it may never return to what it was pre-baby, feeling more comfortable in your own skin will help you to feel more attractive to yourself and to your partner.
Because it can be hard to be affectionate and intimate when you’re feeling self-conscious about the way you look.
So, one of the biggest secrets to being attractive after having a baby is to feel comfortable about your body.
I know that our society places so much pressure on women to lose weight and get back on track as quickly as possible.
But what if we just took some time out for ourselves?
To be able to process the changes that have happened in our lives and not put too much pressure on ourselves?
13. Make time to groom yourself
With a new baby, it can be hard to find the time to look after yourself.
But try to take some time for grooming yourself — even if it’s just having a shower every day and making sure you get dressed properly rather than staying in your nightwear all day.
It might seem as though there’s no point trying to look nice when you’re at home with your baby, but you’ll feel better about yourself if you take care of how you look.
Even just putting on some make-up or doing something with your hair could help give you a boost.
You can make yourself feel more attractive and confident by taking good care of your body.
Self-care is self-love.
Practice self-care.
4. Don’t compare yourself to other women
It’s not easy keeping up with the Kardashians and their post-baby weight loss but try your best not to compare yourself to others.
The effects of pregnancy on your body will not be the same as they are for others.
The amount of weight you gain during pregnancy and the amount you lose after birth can differ from person to person.
Some women find it easy to slim down after giving birth, while others may need to work harder at it.
Some women deal with some complications in pregnancy and childbirth more than others.
Everyone’s bodies are different and we all have our own unique journey when it comes to losing the baby weight.
If you’re constantly comparing yourself to other women, it will only make you feel more insecure and less attractive.
So, instead of looking at other women and wishing you could have their bodies, focus on your own body and what it has achieved.
5. Focus on your assets
After giving birth, we tend to focus on our flaws rather than our assets, which is natural.
However, this isn’t helping anyone.
You don’t have to be a size 2 or have perfect skin to be attractive.
Look at what you love about yourself.
Do you have an awesome smile?
Play that up!
A great butt?
Appreciate it!
You can focus on what you love about yourself instead of looking at the things you think need work.
What do you love about yourself?
It’s okay to make a list of them and focus on them while you work slowly and steadily on your body.
6. Exercise
Not only will exercise help you get back into shape after delivery, but it will also give you more energy and help reduce stress and anxiety — which can help boost your mood.
Exercise is good for your body image too.
As your body changes, your muscles will become stronger and toned.
I enjoy walking or jogging in the morning.
It’s easier and more achievable than going to the gym.
Home exercises are also effective in helping you to achieve your body goals.
I just ordered skipping rope (with counter) for skipping at home and a running purse for my morning jogs.
These little changes have proved effective in helping me shed some pounds and feel attractive.
Just find the right exercise for you and exercise safely.
Regular exercise is great for new moms, but it’s important to start slowly.
Talk with your doctor about safe exercises for you and when you can return to more vigorous activity.
7. Set realistic goals
If you’re a new mom who’s determined to look like Gisele Bundchen six weeks after delivery, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.
The biggest myth about postpartum weight loss is that it should happen fast.
In reality, losing all the weight you gained during pregnancy could take anywhere from several months to a year or longer — and that’s totally normal.
So, you have to be realistic with your body goals, otherwise, you will burn out and give up.
8. Be kind to yourself
Don’t obsess over every pound and try not to beat yourself up for not getting back in shape overnight.
It can take time for your metabolism and body chemistry to return to pre-pregnancy levels.
And if you’re breastfeeding, dieting too aggressively may make you feel more tired than usual because you need extra calories just to keep up with milk production.
Extend yourself a little grace and be gentle with yourself because you have done one of the most amazing jobs on the planet-giving life to another life!
9. Get enough sleep
It might seem impossible, but try to get as much sleep as possible when your baby sleeps — even if that means going to bed early yourself.
Consider asking friends and family members for help with housework or older children (if you have them) so you can rest when the baby does.
10. Eat well
You are what you eat, so it’s important that you eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
This will help your body heal after giving birth and provide energy for taking care of your new baby.
It will also help keep your skin clear and help shed some of the baby fat.
11. Try to wear clothes that make you look and feel good
You don’t have to wear the latest fashion trends, but wearing clothes that flatter your shape will boost your confidence and make you feel sexy again.
12. Get some “me time”
Being a mom is a full-time job, and that’s especially so the first few months after your baby is born.
Understandably, you might feel like you don’t have time to focus on yourself.
But spending time alone can help recharge you.
For example, take up a hobby that involves just you — writing in a journal, exercising, or reading for pleasure.
Or ask your partner or someone else close to you (a grandparent or another family member) to watch your baby.
You need to reconnect with yourself.
If you do not take care of yourself, how will you be able to take care of another human being?
13. Spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself
If it’s hard to find someone around you who will make you feel good about yourself—try a therapist or counselor or support group.
Find someone who understands what’s going on with you and will listen to your concerns and help support you as you try to get through this tough time in your life.
4. Your husband is probably happy just to be with you
Most men are attracted to their wives no matter how they look.
If you were attractive before having a baby, there’s a good chance that you still are even if you don’t realize it yourself.
This means that the problem could actually be in your own mind rather than how you look.
Your husband is probably happy just to be with you and he doesn’t care what you look like as long as you’re happy.
I mean, you made the man a dad!
He’s grateful to you and proud of you.
Keep this in mind so that you don’t let yourself get depressed about how much weight you’ve gained or what other changes have happened to your physical appearance.
15. Ignore the haters
Most people who comment on post-baby weight loss are projecting their own insecurities onto others, so don’t take them seriously or let them get under your skin.
If a doctor gives you any kind of health advice that makes you uncomfortable, ask questions until you understand why he or she thinks it’s important information for you to hear.
16. Limit social media usage
If you use social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, try limiting how much time you spend on them.
It’s easy to become obsessed with these sites, which can lead to feeling unattractive after seeing so many other people who look great all the time.
Don’t worry about what other people are doing on their profiles.
Focus more on enjoying your new family instead of what others are posting online.
17. Set personal development goals
There is more to you than your body, so make an effort to improve other parts of who you are as a person.
Set short-term goals — such as learning a new language or skill — as well as long-term ones — like going back to school or finishing a degree program you started years.
Just find something about yourself other than your body to focus on, such as your career, education, or hobbies.
This will definitely give you the confidence you need to feel good about yourself because feeling and looking attractive goes beyond your physical appearance.
You don’t need to look like a model to be attractive.
It’s the way you carry yourself and your willingness to put in the effort.
