Too Much Emphasis on the Appearance of Postpartum Moms?

April 30, 2008

It used to be that new mamas debuted their babies after delivery, not their hot postpartum bods.

But, keeping up with Hollywood's trend of mums bouncing back right after babe, Halle Berry unveiled the fruits of her gym labors at Silver Rose Gala and Auction in LA on Sunday.

While there's no denying the actress looks amazing after having daughter, Nahla six weeks ago, our friends at Celebrity Baby Scoop have a shot of her looking just as stunning, but less svelte while shopping yesterday.

Do you think the hoopla of Halle's postpartum perfection sets a ridiculous bar for other child bearing women?

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28 Comments

Tamma1387 5 years 3 weeks

My only complaint is how any site or magazines show the before and after picture of p.p. celebrity mothers and the "before" pics are of when they were pregnant. Its a baby, not 50 pounds of pure fat. Grrr.

luckyme 5 years 3 weeks

I would also say that we put the pressure on ourselves. I know that I put a lot of pressure on myself after having my daughter. I so badly wanted to get back into my pre-pregnancy clothes. I would also wager a bet that I was harder on myself because it was summer. If it were winter and I could have hidden in my big sweaters for a few months, I probably wouldn't have felt as bad.I also wanted to add that not only did I feel the pressure after, but I felt it DURING my pregnancy. I went to a group practice and there was this one doctor that constantly made me feel bad about my weight gain and I wasn't even gaining more than the recommended amount. I remember leaving her office in tears one time. I was doing everything right, eating well, exercising...the whole nine yards...I just happened to pack on the pounds in the second trimester. After that ordeal, I stopped seeing her.

luckyme 5 years 3 weeks

I would also say that we put the pressure on ourselves. I know that I put a lot of pressure on myself after having my daughter. I so badly wanted to get back into my pre-pregnancy clothes. I would also wager a bet that I was harder on myself because it was summer. If it were winter and I could have hidden in my big sweaters for a few months, I probably wouldn't have felt as bad. I also wanted to add that not only did I feel the pressure after, but I felt it DURING my pregnancy. I went to a group practice and there was this one doctor that constantly made me feel bad about my weight gain and I wasn't even gaining more than the recommended amount. I remember leaving her office in tears one time. I was doing everything right, eating well, exercising...the whole nine yards...I just happened to pack on the pounds in the second trimester. After that ordeal, I stopped seeing her.

vmruby 5 years 3 weeks

Yes i think there's way too much importance placed on appearances and getting rid of the baby weight.Most of us can't afford personal trainers to snap us back into our pre pregnancy bodies....

vmruby 5 years 3 weeks

Yes i think there's way too much importance placed on appearances and getting rid of the baby weight.Most of us can't afford personal trainers to snap us back into our pre pregnancy bodies....

Kristinh1012 5 years 3 weeks

I don't know how to answer this. I have had to kids. With my first it actually took a bit for me to lose all of my baby weight. But I figured that was part of having a baby. When I became pregnant with my second, I was in the best shape of my life. After my second, within two weeks, I was actually thinner than I was when I became pregnant. AND that was with eating right and no exercise. I constantly had people talking about my body before they even mentioned the baby. A year later a couple of my friends had their babies and I would constantly hear remarks from them about how "Not everyone can look good right away like you." I was kind of offended and embarassed almost. I NEVER make/made comments about my body or weight and always told them they looked great during and after birth. I also would never expect everyone to bounce right back after having a baby. So I think the pressure is self inflicted but that's just every day life for some people.

Kristinh1012 5 years 3 weeks

Brendelwoman 5 years 3 weeks

She looks great at the event but I love that I got to see a normal 6 week after birth belly on her in the other photo. I gave birth 10 weeks ago and with celebrities I see that they generally know how to dress themselves to disguise the belly. I've been trying the same tricks myself! Nicole Richie chooses to wear flowy garments rather than baggy or super tight. I think celebrities know how to hide their "flaws" a little better than the rest of us so I don't take it as a sign that I need to hurry up and get in shape just as fast as them. We shouldn't compare ourselves to women who have access to trainers and delivered food. That being said, we should focus on nutrition and exercise because these things are good for our emotional and physical health.

keiren63 5 years 3 weeks

I'm confused...every one is going on about how good she looks...but the point of the other picture is that she actually is just like any other woman who has just given birth, she just chose an awful lot of cinching to hide it when in the gold dress. Yes, the media has put too much emphasis on actresses having to look good after giving birth. Why else would someone willingly shove themselves into cinchers and smoothers after giving birth...like you're feeling oh-so-comfortable at the time anyway. It's ridiculous that the praise is all about losing the weight and regaining the body...not for giving birth to a healthy, happy child. Vanity, vanity, vanity...

Advah 5 years 3 weeks

I'm with Romaniagirl. If the media weren't obsessed with it, people could look like what they want and people probably wouldn't even notice.

joannn 5 years 3 weeks

I'm not planning on getting pregnant anytime in the next few years, but I find the obssession with celebs' post baby body ridiculous. How difficult is it to understand the notion of "9 months to put on, 9 months to get rid of"? I remember visiting a tennis board, where a former world number 1 Kim Clijsters was photographed by paps leaving the hospital barely 24 hours after giving birth, obviously she still had a tummy. But people were jumping on her and calling her fat and saying there's still another baby inside. I could not believe these people. I'd die if people expected me to have my pre-baby body back 24 hours later. But sometimes, celebs themselves do not help the cause. You have people like Jamie Pressly who kept talking about going back to gym the moment she gives birth, and Trista Rehn who was whining nationally about 5lbs barely 3 months pp.

joannn 5 years 3 weeks

rgrl 5 years 3 weeks

And I have not ever read anything criticizing a new celeb mom for having put on too much baby weight or keeping it on too long after the baby was born ( and I can think of a few).

rgrl 5 years 3 weeks

Please! I think the emphasis comes from the media. As soon as one has a baby and they appear in public the scrutiny begins! I mean, she just put on some heels and wore a mostly loose fitting dress. She looks good, yes, but I wouldn't say she lost the baby weight already.

kikidawn 5 years 3 weeks

Very well put lickety split! I agree :)

LiLRuck44 5 years 3 weeks

Nice comment minipixie. Should she stay in hiding because she looks good? Just because she looks fabulous 6 weeks after giving birth doesn't mean she focused on working out instead of her baby. I looked great 6 weeks postpartum and I was eating a regular amount of (natural or organic) food. I doubt she's making her appearance to rub her body in other new mothers' faces.

duck duck goose 5 years 3 weeks

Women are constantly bombarded with pressure and expectations about their appearance at every stage of life. We are always compared against other women and we are never able to measure up to fabricated images of Hollywood glamour.Halle looks pretty here. She also looks pretty with a visible post-baby belly in the other image. She's isn't at fault for wearing many layers of spanx and looking especially saucy in that little dress -- she's fortunate.Do you know any (sober) person who would purposely choose to dress slovenly if she had the energy, time, money, resources and help to pull together a look like the one Halle is sporting in the glossy shot at the top of this thread? She can't be blamed for cleaning up (with much help) for an appearance that impacts her career.

duck duck goose 5 years 3 weeks

Women are constantly bombarded with pressure and expectations about their appearance at every stage of life. We are always compared against other women and we are never able to measure up to fabricated images of Hollywood glamour. Halle looks pretty here. She also looks pretty with a visible post-baby belly in the other image. She's isn't at fault for wearing many layers of spanx and looking especially saucy in that little dress -- she's fortunate. Do you know any (sober) person who would purposely choose to dress slovenly if she had the energy, time, money, resources and help to pull together a look like the one Halle is sporting in the glossy shot at the top of this thread? She can't be blamed for cleaning up (with much help) for an appearance that impacts her career.

Maya512 5 years 3 weeks

when you're being put on blogs and people are going over every part of your body with a microscope...it's only natural.

lickety split 5 years 3 weeks

it's not just the postpartum group, it's ALL WOMEN. i was at the gym today and went in sweats and a t-shirt (not a designer outfit like most of the gym goers). wow, the looks i got (including from the staff) and i over heard 2 women talking about how they were hungry but weren't going to eat anymore today. very unhealthy to always focus on what you look like (if you ask me). most of us could however spend a bit more time reflecting on what is inside.

mini_pixie 5 years 3 weeks

thanks! :">

mini_pixie 5 years 3 weeks

thanks! :">

albeli 5 years 3 weeks

Well said, mini_pixie.

albeli 5 years 3 weeks

Well said, mini_pixie.

mini_pixie 5 years 3 weeks

I think there's nothing wrong with her being out at events post-baby whether or not we have seen her daughter yet. The problem is not with Halle or her appearance or how she dressed. The problem is the media/ public going on and on about how she's showing off her "new body". I doubt very much (at least in Halle's case) that that was the point of her attending this event. She may even have gone to the event (in a similar/ same dress even) before Nahla was born.To laud or critizice her "post baby body" is foolish, and that what is creating the hype, not her decision to make a public appearance which is, after all, what celebrities do.

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