Do Public Figures Owe Us Postpartum Relatability?

Nara Smith just welcomed her fourth child, and when she shared photos of herself holding her brand new baby, people had a lot of reactions. I don't like to comment on women's bodies, especially postpartum bodies. But in the photos, Smith flaunts a completely flat, smooth  stomach. Now, critics are slamming her for sharing the images.

Listen, Smith has every right to share these photos. But this is, as I see it, a bit of a nuanced issue. We've been fed so many unrealistic images of what postpartum looks like. We live in a world that glorifies bounce back culture, and makes women feel like their postpartum bodies are to be hidden away until they look exactly like they did pre-pregnancy — when the reality is, most people never look exactly like they did pre-pregnancy. 

Even if you get back into your jeans or hit the same number on the scale, chances are, things will look different, whether you develop some stretch marks or cellulite or discolored skin, or your belly takes on a different shape, or  your hips widen, or your ribs expand, or your feet grow a half a size. I won’t say that Smith’s photos aren’t a depiction of the “normal” postpartum body, but I think it’s fair to say that it’s uncommon to look the way she does in these photos. 

In light of that, the images do feel like the kind of thing that might make another postpartum mom feel insecure. But the question is, does Smith need to take responsibility for this?

I don't know the answer to that. I also don't know if Smith took several selfies before landing on the one she posted, strategically posing and choosing the image that made her body look a certain way. I don't know if she made any edits to the photo, either to change her body shape or smooth out any dimpled skin. At the end of the day, it's not really my business. Smith has a right to share what she wants.

But if you saw those photos and found yourself falling into the comparison trap — I know it's easier said than done, but don't go there. Your postpartum body is yours, and it’s exactly what it needs to be.

Ask Clara: Why do I still look pregnant after delivering?