Millie Mackintosh shares postpartum body photo, 9 weeks after giving birth
Millie Mackintosh has received a wave of support after opening up about how she feels about her postpartum body on social media.
The former Made In Chelsea star said it would be a “lie” if she said she felt happy with her post-pregnancy body and that comments she has received online have made things harder.
Alongside the relatable caption, she shared a photo of herself in underwear holding her nine-week-old daughter, Sienna.
The 30-year-old was praised throughout her pregnancy for talking openly about the realities of being a mum-to-be, covering everything from “soaring hormones” to “emotional challenges” in her Instagram posts.
“With Sienna nearing 10 weeks old nothing has given me more purpose than knowing that a small life depends entirely on me to feed and nourish her as she grows,” Mackintosh wrote.
“I try to live a healthy, balanced lifestyle and I count myself lucky that throughout my adult life I’ve felt and identified as pretty body confident but now all that has changed along with every other aspect of my life, which makes me look at my body in a totally new light and it’s been a big adjustment.”
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Many new mums in the UK feel pressure to “bounce back” after giving birth, whether it’s from social media or pressure that they feel internally.
Just recently, doula Beccy Hands explained how the toxic culture of the immediate bounce-back isn’t felt in all parts of the world. In Mexico, for example, stretch marks are called “love lines”.
Mackintosh, who’s married to former co-star, Hugo Taylor, said she had “no intention of rushing to get her body back”.
“Fitting into my pre pregnancy clothes seems a long way off and I have no intention of rushing into ‘getting my body back’ but it would be a lie if I said I feel totally happy and at one with my body post pregnancy.”
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“The process has been made a lot harder by some overly strong and hurtful comments online about my appearance (as much as you try and ignore them),” she continued.
“I’m in awe of what my body has achieved over the last year but I find it hard not seeing the girl I know to be me looking back at me in the mirror,” she admitted.
Mackintosh said that she looks back at her post-pregnancy body fondly, even though she would have previously been critical of her looks, but added: “Sienna is worth every extra inch, pound and stretch mark.
“My body made me a Mother and for that I'll always be grateful.”
