Postpartum is defined as the period following giving birth, and it can last about six weeks. Nevertheless, a plethora of changes, from mental health to physiology, can alter someone’s life for years to come.
According to a 2023 study published in The Lancet Global Health, every year, at least 40 million women are likely to experience a long-term health problem caused by childbirth.
The study further showed a high burden of postnatal conditions that persisted in the months or even years after giving birth.
These include pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), affecting more than a third (35%) of postpartum women, low back pain (32%), anal incontinence (19%), urinary incontinence (8-31%), anxiety (9-24%), depression (11-17%), perineal pain (11%), fear of childbirth or tokophobia (6-15%), and secondary infertility (11%).
While birthing people might feel isolated during the challenging postpartum period, some celebrities have brought awareness to these trying changes, candidly opening up about their postpartum bodies.
Blake Lively
Blake Lively welcomed her fourth child with Ryan Reynolds in February 2023. The Gossip Girl star and Ryan are devoted parents to their children, James, Inez, Betty, and little Obi.
Taking to her Instagram page in 2021, the 36-year-old actress posted some throwbacks on her story, dating from when she had given birth to Betty.
In one of her posts, Blake spoke out about her frustration that designers don’t make clothes for all bodies, especially for bodies that have just given birth, Elle reported at the time.
Alongside an image of herself from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she wrote: “I put together a @lanvinofficial shirt and dress from @netaporter to make this pretty outfit.
“Because no one had samples that fit me after giving birth.
“And so many clothes from stores didn’t fit either. So. Many.”
Blake continued: “It doesn’t send a great message to women when their bodies don’t fit into what brands have to offer.
“It’s alienating and confusing.
“And I wish I felt as confident then as I do now, a year later looking back.
“That body gave me a baby. And was producing that baby’s entire food supply.
“What a beautiful miracle. But instead of feeling proud, I felt insecure.
“Simply because I didn’t fit into clothes. How silly that is in retrospect.”
Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner previously revealed that she had given up trying to get back to her pre-baby body.
The 52-year-old actress, who shares 18-year-old Violet Anne, 15-year-old Fin, and 12-year-old Samuel with her ex-husband, Ben Affleck, explained that although she works out constantly and has very healthy eating habits, her body “will still look like a woman who’s had three babies.”
As per Hola, in 2021, Jennifer appeared on the Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast and explained that all women have different bodies and different metabolisms.
The 13 Going On 30 star described how “incredible” it is that some people “bounce right back to that slim-hipped, no stomach” after giving birth.
Shining light on the importance of accepting your own body and urging everyone to “be grateful,” Jennifer said: “It carried you this far. It carried babies for you. What else do you want? My goodness.”
Back in 2020, the actress expressed her frustration with constant pregnancy rumors, stating that she had accepted her natural body transformation.
Jennifer also reportedly insisted that she was “not pregnant”: “I‘ve had three kids and there is a bump.”
She added: “From now on, ladies, I will have a bump, and it will be my baby bump.
“Let‘s just all settle in and get used to it. It’s not going anywhere. Its name is Violet, Sam and [Fin].”
Ashley Graham
When Ashley Graham was pregnant with her twins, Roman and Malachi, born on January 7, 2022, whom she shares with her husband, Justin Ervin, she told People in 2021: “I think being in control when you’re pregnant, it just gets thrown out the window.
“And I learned that the hard way when I tried to control everything when I was pregnant with Isaac and I told myself that I was going to bounce right back because I was breastfeeding and everybody told me, ‘Oh, if you breastfeed you’re going to lose all the weight.'”
Ashley and Justin’s first child, Isaac Menelik Giovanni Ervin, was born on January 18, 2020.
The 36-year-old model continued: “And I had a few honest women tell me you will never feel the same.
“So they were just blunt with me and sure enough, I haven’t felt the same.”
Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson had her first child, Ryder, in 2004 with her ex-husband, Chris Robinson, lead singer for The Black Crowes.
Kate welcomed a second child, a son named Bing, in 2011, whom she shares with her ex, Muse lead vocalist and guitarist Matt Bellamy.
In 2018, the 45-year-old actress gave birth to Rani, whom she had with her fiancé, Danny Fujikawa.
Speaking to Redbook magazine for their December 2012 issue, Kate admitted: “When I had [my first son] Ryder, I was 24 and didn’t really experience any changes to my hair or skin.
“But with my second child, I got acne, all my hair fell out after he was born, and I definitely had to work out to drop the weight.
Kate Hudson
Kate Hudson had her first child, Ryder, in 2004 with her ex-husband, Chris Robinson, lead singer for The Black Crowes.
Kate welcomed a second child, a son named Bing, in 2011, whom she shares with her ex, Muse lead vocalist and guitarist Matt Bellamy.
In 2018, the 45-year-old actress gave birth to Rani, whom she had with her fiancé, Danny Fujikawa.
Speaking to Redbook magazine for their December 2012 issue, Kate admitted: “When I had [my first son] Ryder, I was 24 and didn’t really experience any changes to my hair or skin.
“But with my second child, I got acne, all my hair fell out after he was born, and I definitely had to work out to drop the weight.