The pressure to “drop the baby weight” immediately post-partum is an unrealistic and stressful expectation for the majority of new moms – resulting in negative physical and mental health impacts at a time when both are critical for mother and baby.
A new American study by experts across the country has found that when a post-partum woman experiences weight stigma from more sources, she tends to report more depressive symptoms, maladaptive dieting behavior and perceived stress – regardless of pre-pregnancy BMI. More weight stigma resulted in more emotional eating behavior and greater post-partum weight retention – the opposite of the presumed intended effects.
To partners, extended family members and care providers: it is incredibly important to actively support new mothers in establishing healthy eating habits and self-care in the post-partum period, and to let go of unrealistic standards and pressure of what a new mother should look like. Steady, realistic encouragement and support for a healthy post-partum body is definitely the way to go!
I hope you have found this helpful, and do let me know if you have any questions!
If you are hungry for more evidence-based information in your pregnancy, sign up for my free webinar: 7 Pregnancy Myths Debunked – and get the information you need to have a healthy pregnancy and a thriving baby.
And if you are a care-provider looking for evidence-based resources for your pregnant patients, please get in touch with us at support@myhealthypregnancyplan.com.
In health,
Dr Jocelyn Land-Murphy, ND
Terra Life
Disclaimer: The information and content provided is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not professional medical advice, nor is it intended to be a substitute therefore. Please consult the Disclaimer and Terms of Use for full details.
References:
Rodriguez, A. et al. (2019).The psychological burden of baby weight: Pregnancy, weight stigma, and maternal health. Social Science and Medicine, Vol 235.