It’s getting harder and harder to be a mother these days. It’s all because of social pressure that tells you to go straight from the delivery room to the gym. You only have a few weeks to recover and get back to your pre-pregnancy state. Otherwise, you’ll be told that you didn’t give it your all and simply let it go. Well-known on the Internet, “fit moms” are proof that if you want, you can.

Fortunately, there are also women like Elise Raquel. A blogger from Australia who talks about motherhood without unnecessary icing and promotes unreal expectations This young mother dared to show what is not talked about out loud. On her Instagram, she posted a photo of her belly just hours after giving birth. Not everyone liked it.

While positive comments dominate, praising her courage and honesty, some say it’s a disincentive to have children.

“Let’s talk about the body after pregnancy. The photographer proposed to take this photo just a few hours after the birth of the baby. When I felt most vulnerable. Under extremely harsh circumstances. I was sore and very emotional. At the same time happy and proud of what I and my body have done together.

It’s a strange feeling to look down and still see your belly even when you’re already holding a baby in your arms. Even if she’s already done it three times. It’s not easy coming home with a baby and still wearing maternity clothes. The first time I was convinced that I was young and would recover quickly. In fact, it never worked.

With each child I gained a few pounds and gained more stretch marks,” Elise wrote.

“I felt the need to hide this condition. I didn’t want to see my body, so why would anyone else want to see it? It took me three pregnancies to understand – a post-pregnancy body is not something to hide. I am extremely proud of what it has accomplished.

I am grateful that my body has the ability to carry and give birth to children in a natural way. I am no longer embarrassed by the many new stretch marks on my skin. Neither should you. Let’s celebrate post-pregnancy bodies and give them all the respect they deserve.

The female body is amazing and I’m proud of what mine has done,”  she argues.

Elise Raquel is pulling back the curtain, hiding what real postpartum bodies can look like. She hopes that by sharing her story, other women will be less harsh on themselves after pregnancy as they learn to appreciate their bodies for what they have given them rather than what they look like.