Bad Postpartum Pictures
May 31, 2006 by kate baggott
Filed under Breastfeeding, Mental Health
There have been some really bad pictures of Britney Spears circulating on the Internet, mostly among her childless fans as testament to how she has let herself go back to her “trailer trash” roots. I find blatantly classic remarks disgusting. As if living in one’s parents’ house entitles anyone to look down on someone else’s living arrangements.
As if having a baby and getting pregnant again immediately weren’t reason to look tired and terrible. I don’t want anyone near me with a camera and, even with our recent Blogebrity coupe, that has been easy for me and my people to control. Being a frumpy mummy is a widespread postpartum phenomenon. Even I am into it and I try to avoid trends.Culturally, I suppose the polar opposite to Britney is Helena Bonham-Carter of Merchant Ivory fame. Several months ago, I showed my husband a photograph of her in a magazine.
“Is she a junky now?” my husband asked.
“Nope. She just had a baby. Breastfeeding does that,” I replied.
“Well, that explains a lot,” my husband says.
And do you know what, I still think is says everything. I embrace my inner exhaustion and the major physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual journey that got me here and sustains me.
Can I get an Amen, sisters?
I can remember wondering if I would ever sleep again and if I’m tired… it definitely shows. And still does. It would be so nice to sleep again like we used to as kids. Guess those days are long gone. From the minute the kids were born, I became a very light sleeper… just in case they needed me for something. So, I know where you are coming from!
Mine have needed me more for the past week. We have a houseguest so all four of us are piled into one room. We have a king-size with the baby between us, and Brian is on a single air mattress at the foot of our bed, but he climbs in every night. Which is when I start waking up every five minutes to make sure he hasn’t rolled over on top of the baby.
Amen Sistah!
Thank you Sarah.