Letter to my {Post-Partum} Body

Last May I wrote a letter to my body in which I apologized for the way I treated it.  At the time, I wasn't aware I was pregnant nor did I truly appreciate all that my body was about to do.  Since delivering CT, I decided to write a new letter to my body:

Almost 36 weeks pregnant and in labor with our beautiful boy

Dear Body (After Baby),

You amaze me.  You did something I never thought you could - even though I know women's bodies are made to do what you did, I really truly didn't believe you could do it...until you did.  And you did it so well.

When we started this journey I was so judgey of you.  I ridiculed every little inch to pinch and unwanted curve.  Little did I know those were just your way of prepping for baby incubation.

I must admit, I underestimated you.  You win.  You rock!

For almost 9 months you allowed me to carry on as though everything was normal even though I was carrying an extra 35+ pounds on my front side, my back side had lost all its muscle tone, and you even supported me while I continued to run until 31 weeks of pregnancy.  In an of itself, that was monumental.  How strong you are - I had no idea!

What I'm trying to say is, thank you.  Thank you for bringing my miracle into this world.  Thank you for giving me the ability to be a mom - it is truly the greatest gift of all.  Not all bodies were created equal and not everyone has one that supports a growing baby quite like you did.  I'm so blessed and it makes me so angry that I ever had second thoughts about you before.

From here on out, I promise to take care of you.  Each day I will appreciate you and be thankful for the changes you allowed to happen in order to bring me my greatest joy.  I promise not to judge, ridicule, or belittle you.  And while I'm at it, I promise not to put you through the turmoil of stepping on the scale each day or staring at all angles in the mirror for minutes on end.

I will value you and all that you are capable of.  I will appreciate your strength, durability, and flexibility.  I will not forget how far you have gone and how well you bounced back.  I will love you - every little bit of you.

Thank you.  I owe so much to you.

Love,
Me

Ready to go home; 2 days post-partum