Motherhood is something most women look forward to. Having to hold their baby after waiting for 9 months is an exhilarating experience. It seems as though nothing could dampen the spirits of a new mother. However, no one prepares you for what happens to your body postpartum. Women tend to suffer from the aches and pains of giving birth. Along with this, they also have to deal with the physical changes their body undergoes. Stretch marks, a pronounced paunch, and thicker thighs are only a few of the things most women face after childbirth.
As a result of these changes, new moms face a lot of pressure after giving birth. Not only do they have to cope with lifestyle changes but also with the physical changes their body is going through. It is quite common for a lot of new moms to feel pressured to lose the weight they gained during pregnancy. Women working in the film industry are not exempt from this either. They may feel even more compelled to look their best after pregnancy because of the attention they receive. Living life under a spotlight is not easy, as you are always subject to criticism. Your every move is analyzed, and people can pass some nasty remarks about your appearance. This makes it even harder for them to cope with the postpartum phase. However, some super moms in the industry who have been fat-shamed and criticized for gaining weight during pregnancy have not held back.
Image: nehadhupia/Instagram
Actress Neha Dhupia is one of these super moms. In the past two years, the actress’ life has gone through a couple of changes. She married her best friend Angad Bedi and then gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.
When the media tried to critique her appearance and fat-shame her, she shut them down. She spoke up boldly against the adverse remarks making some powerful statements when asked about the pressure. “I have always tried to raise my voice in this regard. I believe this pressure needs to stop for everyone, not just celebrities. I feel one should be fit. Fitness is a priority but not “fitting into” society’s standards regarding looks. As a new mom, I want to be fit, healthy, and energetic for my daughter,” the Lust Stories actress said.
Image: nehadhupia/Instagram
The actress has also recently launched the Freedom To Feed initiative, where she raises awareness about breastfeeding and demands that new mothers should be able to freely feed their baby without having to feel sorry about it. She encouraged her followers on Instagram to share their stories and struggles they face promising to share the tagged stories with her ‘little world’. She believes that women should not feel conscious or ashamed for doing something so’ right and beautiful.’
Image: sakpataudi/Instagram
Her best friend, Soha Ali Khan, has also not held back when it came to the issue of being fat-shamed. The actress is known for her posts featuring her 2-year-old daughter, Inaaya. The actress and her husband Kunal Kemmu became parents in 2017 and since then the actress has always openly spoken out about her journey through motherhood. She claims it changed her life and helped her marriage evolve. When talking about the pressures women in the industry face to look their best after giving birth, the film star said that it was high time now for people to start respecting women, especially mothers for who they are rather than focusing on how they look.” She then proceeded to also say that motherhood is a beautiful feeling and that postpartum weight gain is a part of it. Soha said that every mother has the right to choose her fitness regimen and that she should take her own time (to get back in shape).
Image: sakpataudi/Instagram
For all these super moms standing up for what they believe in, we applaud them. Starting a conversation like this is necessary. No one should be critiqued for their appearance or personal choices. And a conversation like this will empower women, especially mothers facing similar battles to stand up for themselves.
