Canadian influencer gets real about postpartum bodies: 'Feels like expectation city'

Sarah Nicole Landry is challenging beauty standards.

The Canadian influencer, known as The Birds Papaya, took to Instagram on Wednesday with a body-positive message about self-love, the lack of grace extended to new mothers and the pressure to bounce back to their pre-baby bodies.

Landry shared two side-by-side photos of her postpartum abdomen — one cradling her newborn daughter at the time, and the other without her.

Under the snap with her daughter, The mom-of-four, from Guelph, Ont. included on-screen text that read, "Awww!" while the other side read, "Gross."

In the accompanying caption, Landry shared a heartfelt message reminding her fans of the importance of self-acceptance.

She began by observing that having a child or not "does not validate a body or stretch marks."

The content creator also pointed out "postpartum compassion" is a short-lived period for new mothers before their hit with insurmountable expectations by society. "Postpartum compassion lasts for like 2 weeks and then it feels like expectation city."

Landry assured her followers bodies can look like hers briefly, for an entire decade after giving birth, or without ever having a child at all.

"Your body carrying your own life is just as valid as carrying another's," she continued. "It's OK if you struggle with change, I do too, grief is a processing tool."

She wrapped up her message by revealing that while photos she shared were taken in 2021, her body still looks "the same! And that’s OK!"

In the comments, fans praised Landry's vulnerability and thanked her for the important reminder.

"Yes to all of this," an Instagram user wrote.

"I'm in the same boat!" another person shared. "It's definitely a process. Seeing others who look similar is so helpful."

Someone else penned: "These are all such excellent points. I love 'you deserve to carry your own life.'"

"Powerful message," a fan commented.

"This is beautiful. Thank you for being strong and honest real," added another.

In July, fans applauded Landry after she shared a carousel of vulnerable side-by-side photos comparing what her body looks like when her stomach is visible versus when it's "tucked away" in her shorts.

In the caption, the influencer admitted she put off making the post for a week because it made her "deeply uncomfortable, ashamed, nervous. To show what I’m so used to tucking away day to day. It's easier to hide."

"While it's most often behind high rise bottoms and long tops. It’s there," she said of her stomach. "It's part of me. It's part of many bodies. It's part of our society."

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